Slavery and the Birth of an African City: Lagos, 1760-1900, 2010, Indiana Press, http://www.alibris.com/booksearch.detail?invid=10827730736&keyword=slavery+and+the+birth+of+an+african+city&qwork=10047051&qsort=&page=1
***Reminder to Atlanta, GA readers: Georgia was a major slave port in the USA. This book provides insight regarding the role of Africa, America, and Europe on the subject.
Author: Kristin Mann
Genre: African history
Synopsis: Readers will find that this book provides the means to connect the industrialization of America, Europe, and Africa. Kristin Mann permits the reader to follow the statistics and the ‘paper trail’ around the world stemming from the Atlantic slave trade. The author’s research informs us of the fact that the city of Lagos, Nigeria (*Lagos is name given by the Portuguese), became a primary hub for the slave industry in late 1400-1500. Slavery (and the monetary benefits therein) contributed to the political rise and fall of many Benin rulers and merchants. Previously, commercial trade was varied and multifaceted between Europeans and Africans. But, the growing need and trend for trade in humans was far more lucrative for both Europeans and Nigerians. One must note that Nigerians were not guidable victims in this enterprise. African wars were fought for the sole purpose of capturing slaves. Documents, provided in the text, illustrate the meticulous recording/tracking of the income generated by the trade in humans. African dynasties developed and were based on this immoral industry. Taxes were levied to support the African nobles. In fact, fixed rates were charged for the privilege afforded to Europeans doing business in Lagos. In many cases, a duty tax was imposed before such goods such as palm oil, ivory, and other good could leave port. Lagos, Nigeria, supplied a great portion of the slaves from West Africa. The early wealth of this African city…. and Nigeria resulted from the trade of humans. And unfortunately, the decline of this city and nation were attributed to the trade of humans.
Readers, this is an enlightening book that expands the conversation on the topic of the Atlantic World. How did Europe continue to advance and Africa regress during the slave trade? The direct answers to this question may be found within the pages of this masterful work.
Critique: I have been traveling over the past weeks. I met with authors, playwrights, and educators in the UK and New York. Upon my return to Atlanta, Georgia, I commenced to read Kristin Mann’s Slavery and the Birth of an African City (2010). I wish that I had read this book before my trip. This book is a major work and it supplies the answers to so many omitted or neglected questions about Africa’s role in the slave industry. I reviewed the statistics and the documents in this book carefully. Africa and a few Africans benefited greatly through the industry of slavery. The trade was regulated and taxed ingeniously by African politicians and rulers. It appeared that racism (as concluded in previous studies) was not a factor at the commencement of these operations. Africans were as savvy as European businessmen. Race and racism did prove to be quite useful, later, in order to justify the inhumanity of this trade.
Ironically, the loss of an empire and an immoral industry have contributed to the decline of the powers of two nations….one in Europe and another on the West African coast. I hope all African and Atlanta World scholars read and learn from this book!
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