Map of Igboland

Human “Slavery”

“The inhabitants of Guinea are indeed in a most deplorable state of slavery, under the arbitrary power of their princes both as to life and property. In the several subordinations to them, every great man is absolute lord of his immediate

Human “Slavery”

dependents…and may at his pleasure consign them to death, or a better market… Is it not in our power to cure the universal evil and set all the kingdoms of the earth free from the dominations of tyrants?…All that can be done in such a case is to communicate as

Human “Slavery”

much liberty and happiness as such circumstances will admit…for by purchasing, or rather ransoming the Negroes from their national tyrants and transplanting them under the benign influences of the law, and gospel,

Human “Slavery”

they are advanced to much greater degrees of felicity, though not to absolute liberty.”

Kingdom of Songhai

Kingdom of Songhai

15th Century Kingdom of Songhai

Arkilla Munnga blanket, Songhai

Arkilla Munnga blanket, Songhai

Dogon Art

Songhai Architecture

Songhai Architecture

Songhai Architecture

Songhai Women

The Asante

The Asante

The Asante

Kingdom of Dahomey

Kingdom of Dahomey

Abomey, Capital of Dahomey

Dahomey Amazons 1890

Dahomey Amazons

A Dahomey Amazon

Igboland, Nigeria

Igboland, Nigeria

Igboland, Nigeria

Olaudah Equiano

Equiano’s Interesting Narrative

Olaudah Equiano

“I must acknowledge, in honor of those sable destroyers of human rights, that I never met with any ill treatment, or saw any offered to their slaves, except tying them, when necessary, to keep

Olaudah Equiano

them from running away…When these people knew we were brother and sister, they indulged us to be together, and the man to whom I supposed we belonged, lay with us,

Olaudah Equiano

he in the middle, while she and I held one another by the hands across his breast all night.; and thus for a while we forgot our misfortunes in the joy of being together.”

Olaudah Equiano

“I got into the hands of a chieftain, in a very pleasant country. This man had two wives and some children, and they all used me extremely well, and did all they could to comfort me; particularly the first wife, who was something like my mother.”

Olaudah Equiano

“I had been about two or three days at his house, when a wealthy widow neighbor of his, came there one evening and brought with her an only son, a young gentleman about my own age and size. Here they saw me; and having taken a fancy to me, I was bought of the merchant and went home with them.

Olaudah Equiano

Her house and premises were situated close to one of those rivulets I have mentioned, and were the finest I ever saw in Africa: they were very extensive, and she had a number of slaves to attend to her.The next day I was washed and perfumed, and when meal time came,

Olaudah Equiano

I was led into the presence of my mistress, and ate and drank before her with her son. This filled me with astonishment; and I could scarce help expressing my surprise that the young gentleman should suffer me, who was bound, to eat with him who was free; and not only so,

Olaudah Equiano

but that he would not at any time either eat or drink till I had taken first, because I was the eldest, which was agreeable to our custom. Indeed, everything here, and all their treatment of me, made me forget that I was a slave.”