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The Mari Kokebe
· Exhibit — West Africa & the Transatlantic Slave Trade
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A comprehensive research foundation exploring the roles of the Kingdom of Dahomey, Yoruba Kingdoms, and their European counterparts in the Triangular Trade
The Transatlantic Slave Trade, operating from the 16th to the 19th centuries, was a complex economic system that connected Europe, Africa, and the Americas. West African kingdoms played active roles as suppliers in this trade, with the Kingdom of Dahomey and various Yoruba states emerging as major powers whose economies became deeply entwined with the export of human captives.
Africans forcibly transported across the Atlantic
Enslaved people shipped from the Bight of Benin (Dahomey/Yoruba region)
Yoruba people transported, primarily in the 19th century
Years the trade operated at its peak
"The slave trade is the ruling principle of my people. It is the source and the glory of their wealth... the mother lulls the child to sleep with notes of triumph over an enemy reduced to slavery."
— King Ghezo of Dahomey (1818-1858)
The Kingdom of Dahomey was a powerful West African state that existed from approximately 1600 until 1904. Located in what is now southern Benin, it became one of the most prominent African participants in the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
Dahomey emerged in the 17th century, founded by the Fon people. Under kings like Wegbaja and Houegbadja, it developed a highly centralized state with a powerful military and sophisticated bureaucracy. The conquest of the coastal kingdoms of Allada (1724) and Whydah (1727) gave Dahomey direct access to European traders, transforming its economy.
Dahomey's economy became fundamentally dependent on the slave trade. The kingdom developed a military culture focused on capturing prisoners who could be sold to European traders. The royal court maintained a monopoly on the trade, with the king personally controlling all transactions.
One of Dahomey's most distinctive institutions was its elite all-female military regiment, known as the Ahosi or "Dahomey Amazons." These warriors served as the king's bodyguards and were among the army's most effective fighters, participating in slave raids and defending the kingdom.
Established key state institutions and the military framework that would later enable slave raiding.
Conquered coastal kingdoms to gain direct access to European traders, transforming Dahomey into a major slave-trading power.
Reign marked the peak of Dahomean power; famously defended the slave trade against British abolitionist pressure.
Faced increasing European colonial pressure while trying to maintain the slave trade alongside palm oil production.
Last independent king of Dahomey; fought against French colonization in the Franco-Dahomean Wars.
Visual Elements: The royal palace at Abomey with its distinctive bas-reliefs; the "Route of the Enslaved" in Whydah; the vibrant ceremonies of the royal court; the Amazon warriors in training and battle.
Key Scenes: The conquest of Whydah; King Ghezo's court debating British abolitionists; Amazon warriors preparing for battle; the capture and procession of slaves to the coast.
Themes: The moral complexity of African participation in the slave trade; the tension between economic necessity and human cost; the empowerment of women warriors in a patriarchal system.
The Yoruba people, residing in what is now southwestern Nigeria and parts of Benin, were profoundly affected by the Transatlantic Slave Trade, both as traders and as victims.
From the 17th to early 19th centuries, the Oyo Empire was the dominant Yoruba state and a major force in the slave trade. Using its powerful cavalry, Oyo raided neighboring territories and demanded tribute in slaves, which were then sold to European traders at coastal ports like Badagry and Porto-Novo.
The collapse of the Oyo Empire after 1817 led to widespread warfare among Yoruba states (the Yoruba Wars). These conflicts produced a massive number of captives, leading to a dramatic increase in Yoruba people being sold into the Atlantic slave trade, particularly between 1810-1860.
Historians estimate that over 1 million Yoruba people were forcibly transported to the Americas, with the vast majority (over 80%) shipped during the 19th century. This makes the Yoruba one of the most numerous African ethnic groups in the diaspora.
Yoruba cultural traditions survived strongly in the Americas, particularly in:
Visual Elements: The majestic cavalry of the Oyo Empire; the fortified cities of the Yoruba; the chaos of civil war following Oyo's collapse; the cultural resilience in the Americas.
Key Scenes: Oyo cavalry on slave raids; the political turmoil following Oyo's collapse; the forced march of captives to coastal ports; the preservation of Yoruba religion in the Americas.
Themes: The tragedy of Africans enslaving other Africans; cultural survival under extreme duress; the transformation of powerful empires into sources of captives.
The Transatlantic Slave Trade was a collaborative enterprise between African suppliers and European purchasers. Different European powers established trading relationships with various West African states.
| European Power | Primary African Partners | Trading Goods | Key Ports/Forts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal | Various states in Kongo, Angola; later Dahomey | Textiles, firearms, brass goods | Elmina Castle, São João Baptista de Ajudá (Whydah) |
| Britain | Dahomey, Yoruba states, Fante Confederacy | Guns, gunpowder, textiles, alcohol | Cape Coast Castle, James Fort (Accra) |
| France | Dahomey, Bambara states | Firearms, textiles, metal goods | Saint-Louis, Gorée Island, Whydah factory |
| Netherlands | Dahomey, Akwamu, Denkyira | Firearms, textiles, spirits | Elmina (formerly), Mori Fort |
European traders typically did not venture inland but established fortified trading posts (factories) along the coast. These forts existed with the permission of African rulers, who controlled access to the interior and set the terms of trade. The Europeans paid duties and rents to African authorities.
The trade followed a triangular pattern:
Visual Elements: European forts on the African coast; trading negotiations between European captains and African rulers; the horrific conditions of the Middle Passage; the exchange of goods for human beings.
Key Scenes: The complex negotiations at Whydah; the loading of slaves onto ships; the transformation of European goods into African power symbols; the growing abolitionist movement in Europe.
Themes: The economic incentives that drove the trade; the cultural misunderstandings and deliberate dehumanization; the growing moral opposition to slavery in Europe.
The Transatlantic Slave Trade left a profound and lasting impact on West Africa, the Americas, and the world.
The removal of millions of people, predominantly young adults, had devastating demographic consequences. The trade also distorted economic development, incentivizing warfare and slave raiding over other forms of production. The introduction of European firearms intensified conflicts and created a dependency on imported manufactured goods.
Enslaved Africans brought their cultures, religions, languages, and knowledge systems to the Americas, where they blended with European and Indigenous traditions to create new cultural forms that continue to influence music, religion, food, and language throughout the Americas.
The same trade networks and power dynamics established during the slave trade era facilitated the European colonization of Africa in the late 19th century. The abolition of the slave trade also became a justification for colonial intervention.
The memory of the slave trade remains a sensitive and important issue in both Africa and the diaspora. Recent decades have seen increased efforts at memorialization, historical research, and dialogue about this painful history.
This research provides a foundation for creating a powerful animated short film that explores the complex history of West African participation in the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
The film could follow three interconnected storylines that converge:
The film could be accompanied by educational materials exploring:
This film would not seek to assign simple blame but to explore the complex moral landscape of this period, showing how economic systems can create impossible choices and how human resilience can transform even the most traumatic experiences into new forms of cultural expression.