The Forgotten Chains: British Colonialism and African Slavery
Traced back to the 17th to 19th centuries, the British colonised most parts of Africa, including my country, Nigeria, through missionary expansion, which aimed to introduce Christianity to the world. The sole purpose of Christianity during those early days was for evangelism and winning lost souls to Christ. They wanted to show the world beyond their country about Christ, until they came to Africa and saw everything was different. These people were not really exposed and had a different racial colour with less intelligence.
The British colonised Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and several other countries. Honestly, each time history talks about them according to written documents, they will describe them as slave masters, because they enjoyed selling off slaves, but the deeper truth about this that was not written, which I understood, is that it was the kings and monarchical leaders who were selling their people. The British don't come with armies, they are even mostly welcomed privately by the kings and queens. All they did was negotiate terms with our leaders, and they never forced people, but our leaders did. Growing up made me understand that we sold our selfs to the British. Back then, in history, there were written documents of slave traders who were also black. All they did was sell people to collect cuts, mirrors, and even clothes or guns.
The British back then were more like businessmen, they saw the use of gold and other opportunities, they negotiated with our leaders, and they also saw we had many resources that we didn't even know the use of. Hence, they took this opportunity and used it, but what I was really against was the illegal treatment and slaes of slaves. This seems so unfair. Each time I get to read about the story, I know the way we feel things back in that century is different from the way we feel things now. Still, they should never have treated a slave badly.
I have little knowledge about the slavery system, but I was very certain that we sold ourselves to them, because we were very populated back then, regardless of how weaponised they are, we could have fought back, but we didn't, which automatically means we were okay with it, or we had ruthless black leaders back then. I hardly know about other countries, but I know for sure we sold ourselves to them, because it is hard to believe a white man from outside came to rule us ruthlessly, especially when his country or townspeople are not even close by. I feel the written history has so many hidden facts that were not discussed; instead, they wrote it against these white people. I know personally the white people also had their own thing but it was not like the way it is written
So many written documents about slavery that speak against the British are not real. Yes, they were slave masters, but our leaders and influential people in Africa then sold poor families to them just for mirrors, gold cups and chains also. So I believe slavery has been in Africa before the colonisation, the British saw it and they felt comfortable with slaves doing all their work and making things easier for them, who would say no when you have someone that can feed your horse and water your plants. The only problem I had with the British was racial discrimination back then, which still happens to date.
This is my entry to Hivelearners weekly prompt, week 187 episode 2
Thank you for reading my post
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No doubt we did sell ourselves to them though when we talk about colour but I doubt anyone sold someone close or a leader selling his own people.
Exactly. 👍
I love that you brought the fact that we sold ourself to them but let’s be straight about history and not cajol ourselves. Yes, they came like they had good intentions but deceived the kings and queen of back then saying they were going to use them for something better. It started that way and people wanted to willingly, they gave gives like cloths, gun and mirrors.
Who would in their right mind exchange mirror for a human life. That’s to show even when they show themselves good, they had hidden intentions.
Let’s not even talk about the greedy kinda who now started forcing people, now you should know that the kings don’t sell their own people, instead they go to other villages and capture them to sell which was what cause the war that happened in the Yoruba land.
Other kings who refuse to align with the demands of the colonialist like king Jaja of Opobo was sent out of his kingdom and he never return. Mangy story about his death are out there but we don’t know what they did to kings who don’t want to sell their lands or give out their people.
So if we are to talk about history, let’s put some facts into it.
I enjoyed your post and it made me write this comment. Thanks you. 😌😌
The king jaja story and also king of Benin was not fully documented, yes he was against it, but other kingdoms where not against it, no one knows the origin of their stories clearly, but one fact is certain, which is that we sold ourself, the aspect of slavery has been since BC during the bible historical days. That is our origin
The only aspect I am against the british was the maltreatment they did for we black people back then, the chains and all.
Let me now gist you, british colonialism was still better, what about the Arab black and white muslims that conquer North africa, through war and forced everyone to become muslims, there where only few documentations about this because people where scared to write about it back then, just like biafra. They came into Nigeria through subsahara trade. although they did not colonize us, but they wanted people to become muslims back then.
And im telling you
We didn’t directly sell ourselves
We were tricked and people who didn’t fall for such trick where killed or sent on exile
Besides we arent talking about the northern part of africa
We are thr west and we know our own history
I’m a history student also
Okay ooo, this are the little I k ow about history,
I tried to upvote you, but it downvoted too, don't know why
Maybe it’s an error