What were some of the reasons why Africans sold fellow Africans into slavery?
First, it is important to understand that slavery among the African states was “an organized activity, sanctioned by law and custom”. All of the various tribes and kingdoms on the west coast of Africa and for some distance inland were in the habit of enslaving other tribes when victorious in war. These captives served (or were used) as concubines, servants, soldiers and laborers. As such they were a vital part of the economy, and had been since the seventh century. In fact, a king’s or chieftain’s power and authority was measured to some extent by the number of slaves he owned. As soon as the Europeans made contact and offered tangible goods such as firearms and liquor, they found chieftains willing to sell to them. Enrichment of some form or another, usually trade goods, weapons, “all types of cloth, coral, rangoes [beads], iron bars, gunpowder, brandy, plates of brass and cowries [a certain kind of marine snail shell much prized by the natives]”. Whether it was because the chieftains
