Has Africa Limbed because of Slavery?

An Estimate by Howard French, in his groundbreaking book: Born in Blackness: Africa, Africans, and the Making of the Modern World, 1471 to the Second World War, estimates that more than 12 million Africans were shipped out of Africa during the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. With such numbers carted away from the continent, debate from both right- and left-wing movements has ranged over a Millenia on the impact of Slavery on the African continent, in terms of manpower, development of technology and organization of nation states. With the continent lagging behind in all these areas, questions abound on whether the continent’s growth was hindered because of slavery.

Even though the African continent is considered to be the cradle of human civilization and the birthplace of humanity, its current position in world affairs does not resonate with its grandstanding history. One cannot help but wonder how Africa lags behind in technology, industrialization, economic growth and development of nation states. However, by taking a look at history, especially the impact of slavery and subsequent entrenchment of imperialism, one begins to understand why the continent is in its current position.

However, by taking a look at history, especially the impact of slavery and subsequent entrenchment of imperialism, one begins to understand why the continent is in its current position.

Before, the slave trade, Most African societies had a wide range of activities that spanned across disciplines such as farming, architecture, arts, and medicine before the coming of slavery. Furthermore, Iconic kingdoms like the Kingdom of Benin, Kongo and other smaller kingdoms had complex economic, social and political systems that enabled these kingdoms to run feudalistic working societies.

Furthermore, in West Africa, historic evidence reveals the existence of the world’s richest empire in Mali. The empire was known as the Mali Empire and was headed by a leader called Mansa Musa in the year 1312. The empire was renowned for trading the highest amount of Gold in the world at the time. It is said that there was a time when Mansa Musa, who was a great diplomat, set off on a historic journey to Egypt and Mecca to establish diplomatic relationships with the outside world. His voyage donated huge amounts of gold and pure metals to mosques, the poor, and the rich along its way to Cairo to create a sensation of Malian grand entry to the world. So much amount of gold was given to the extent that gold prices in the traversed regions plummeted by between 13 to 25 percent for an entire decade. Kingdoms like these show that indicate that Africa was on its unique path of development before the coming of Europeans, Arabs, and Asians to the continent.

However, the introduction of external slavery in the 16^th century completely altered the trajectory of the continent. It should be noted that Africans did indeed practice slavery but slavery bonds only extended for one generation and slaves were considered to be citizens after spending a certain number of years based on the laws of each kingdom. But, with the introduction of external slavery and with the appetite for slavery growing in Europe, as the Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese sought to expand their colonies, a blight upon the African coastal areas was introduced.   So severe was the impact of slavery that authors like French and Walter Rodney have estimated that the population of Africa by 1800 was half of what it was supposed to be because of the huge impact of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade.

So severe was the impact of slavery that authors like French and Walter Rodney have estimated that the population of Africa by 1800 was half of what it was supposed to be because of the huge impact of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade.

Impacts of slavery on African governance and development

In addition to decimating the number of people on the African continent, slavery subverted the existing fabric of political stability in African societies. The coming of slave traders from Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, and England contributed to making slavery a lucrative business in Africa. The business was lucrative to the extent that a person’s wealth was measured by their ability to capture a neighbor or enemies and sell them to slave buyers. The business turned Africans against themselves and eventually destabilized the existing political and governance systems.

Slave hunters sold slaves in exchange for guns, which they then used to increase slave hunts. Increased violence gave the Europeans and Arabs a chance to introduce their influence and then conquer already established Kingdoms like the Kingdom of Kongo through a divide-and-conquer strategy. Consequently, by the year 1800 most of the African kingdoms were conquered and replaced with governments that were fashioned with foreign values and influences. For example, capitalism was introduced where chiefdoms and socialism were the order of the day.

In addition, to destroying the political fabric, the economic might of African kingdoms and societies was completely decimated by Slavery. Increased withdrawal of Africans from the continent through slavery completely hindered economic growth in the continent. The decrease was due to a reduction in human labor and conflicts created during the slavery hunt among Africans themselves and against the intruders. For example, before the slave trade, Africans were the leading traders of gold, iron, resin, spices, orchil, and cattle.  Senegambians imported about 1200 tons of iron for about 400, 000 households in 1600. The iron was imported from West African countries such as Cameroon, Nigeria, and central Africa. Interestingly, by the turn of the 19^th century, most of the communities living in the African coast became largely dependent on European companies for even the most basic items like textiles. This finally brings us to the final question? What if slavery never occurred? Would the continent be different?

This finally brings us to the final question? What if slavery never occurred? Would the continent be different?

If slavery never occurred in the continent, population growth would have probably led to economic growth, forcing existing kingdoms and feudalistic states to innovate. The increased innovation would have spurred agricultural productivity leading to an explosion in population spearheading growth in education, political and economic sectors. As Kingdoms became richer, they would be able to integrate more feudalistic states leading to the formation of nation states that have a shared purpose and meaning, as opposed to current nation states that mostly abide by civil strife because the borders were drawn by imperialists. Taking to account that the first university was established in Timbuktu, most nation states in Africa would probably adopt education, making the continent chart its own path with an education that was holistic to its needs.

As Kingdoms became richer, they would be able to integrate more feudalistic states leading to the formation of nation states that have a shared purpose and meaning, as opposed to current nation states that mostly abide by civil strife because the borders were drawn by imperialists.

Furthermore, the new African nation states would negotiate with European powers on an almost equal footing leading to a balanced trade between Africa and European powers. As such, the continent would never have been colonized and the continent would be charting its own path and destiny in the 21^st century. It is interesting to note that even though Britain paid an equivalent of $300 Billion to its former slaveowners, no reparations have ever been made to families and countries that were impacted by slavery upto present day.

As such, Africa has limbed in terms of economic, socio-cultural and political growth as a result of the slave trade. While the impact in dollar terms cannot be adequately measured, the slave era is a constant reminder of the everlasting impact of Slavery on the continent where a once mighty continent has been reduced to a feeble voice in world affairs.