Benin, West AfricaBenin, West Africa Birth place of SlaveryBirth place of Slavery

Door of no return?Door of no return?

As observedAs observed

ByBy

Netiva CaftoriNetiva Caftori

Ouidah, BeninOuidah, Benin

HistoryHistory

The Portuguese began trading African slaves in The Portuguese began trading African slaves in Europe in the 1440s, and by the early 1500s ships Europe in the 1440s, and by the early 1500s ships filled with slaves captured in Africa began sailing filled with slaves captured in Africa began sailing across the Atlantic to the New World. across the Atlantic to the New World.

During the four centuries of the trans-Atlantic slave During the four centuries of the trans-Atlantic slave trade, an estimated 12 million Africans were taken trade, an estimated 12 million Africans were taken from their continent and brought to the New World from their continent and brought to the New World and Europe. and Europe.

Benin, home to ancient kingdomsBenin, home to ancient kingdoms

Allada, Allada, Abomey, Abomey, Porto-Novo, Porto-Novo, Kétou,Kétou, Tchabê, Tchabê, Nikki, Nikki, Kouandé, andKouandé, and Djougou Djougou

They thrived on the They thrived on the commerce of slavery till commerce of slavery till its abolition in 1807, its abolition in 1807, then on palm oil.then on palm oil.

England, Denmark, England, Denmark, Portugal and FrancePortugal and France

1704-Ouidah-French1704-Ouidah-French 1752-Porto-Novo-1752-Porto-Novo-

PortuguesePortuguese

Door of no ReturnDoor of no Return

Slavery LegacySlavery Legacy

The old slave route to the spot on the beach The old slave route to the spot on the beach where it is believed the terrified captives where it is believed the terrified captives boarded ships for the "Middle Passage" -- the boarded ships for the "Middle Passage" -- the route across the ocean to the New World. route across the ocean to the New World.

Many would not survive the trip, cut down by Many would not survive the trip, cut down by disease, malnutrition, abuse or neglect.disease, malnutrition, abuse or neglect.

Some myths Some myths according to Kenneth Addisonaccording to Kenneth Addison

African-Americans came from an uncivilized African-Americans came from an uncivilized continent (arrived in North America in 1619)continent (arrived in North America in 1619)

Africans came to the Americas only as slavesAfricans came to the Americas only as slaves Only 10 Million African slavesOnly 10 Million African slaves Africans enslaved their own ethnic groupsAfricans enslaved their own ethnic groups Slavery was coercive but not brutalSlavery was coercive but not brutal Slavery does not affect African-Americans Slavery does not affect African-Americans

today (abolished in 1865 in US)today (abolished in 1865 in US) African-Americans have contributed little to African-Americans have contributed little to

AmericaAmerica Slavery destroyed African cultureSlavery destroyed African culture

Memorial to those who perishedMemorial to those who perished

GhanaGhana

Acknowledge the truth-seek forgivenAcknowledge the truth-seek forgivenessess

: Kerekou: Kerekou "The kings of Dahomey -- located in Abomey, "The kings of Dahomey -- located in Abomey, in present-day Benin -- aggressively captured in present-day Benin -- aggressively captured and sold neighboring tribespeople to the and sold neighboring tribespeople to the slavers. slavers.

The practice was quite developed, and went on The practice was quite developed, and went on for some three centuries.“for some three centuries.“

The story of the slave trade is kept alive in the The story of the slave trade is kept alive in the songs of village songs of village griotsgriots, or tribal storytellers, , or tribal storytellers, who sing the history of the slave-conquering who sing the history of the slave-conquering kings of Dahomey.kings of Dahomey.

Ouidah, Temple of the pythonsOuidah, Temple of the pythons

The slave trade was officially banned The slave trade was officially banned in the early 1880s in the early 1880s

"The slave trade could not have endured for "The slave trade could not have endured for four centuries and carried nearly 12 million four centuries and carried nearly 12 million people out of Africa without the cooperation people out of Africa without the cooperation of a huge network of African rulers and of a huge network of African rulers and merchants," merchants,"

Prof. Harms of Yale is the author of The Prof. Harms of Yale is the author of The Diligent: A Voyage Through the Worlds of the Diligent: A Voyage Through the Worlds of the Slave Trade, an award-winning book detailing Slave Trade, an award-winning book detailing the day-to-day routine on a French slave vessel the day-to-day routine on a French slave vessel in the 1700s.in the 1700s.

Modern slavery in BeninModern slavery in Benin Benin is a source, transit, and destination Benin is a source, transit, and destination

country for children (seven to 18) trafficked country for children (seven to 18) trafficked for the purposes of forced domestic and for the purposes of forced domestic and commercial labor, including child prostitution. commercial labor, including child prostitution. Estimates on the numbers of trafficking Estimates on the numbers of trafficking victims range between a few hundred and victims range between a few hundred and several thousand each year. Beninese children several thousand each year. Beninese children are trafficked to oil-rich Nigeria, Ghana, are trafficked to oil-rich Nigeria, Ghana, Gabon, Cote d’Ivoire, and Cameroon into Gabon, Cote d’Ivoire, and Cameroon into forced labor situations, including agricultural forced labor situations, including agricultural labor, quarries, domestic service, and labor, quarries, domestic service, and prostitution .prostitution .

Door of returnDoor of return

Socio-cultural groupsSocio-cultural groups Fon (35%), Fon (35%), Adja, Adja, Yoruba, Yoruba, Goun, Goun, Bariba, Bariba, Dendi, Dendi, Somba, Somba, Peuhl, etc..Peuhl, etc..Languages:Languages: Fongbé, Gengné or Fongbé, Gengné or

Mina, Yoruba, Mina, Yoruba,

Baatonu, Dendi, Bariba, Baatonu, Dendi, Bariba, Adja-gbe, Ayizo-gbe, Adja-gbe, Ayizo-gbe, Ditammari, Tem, PeulDitammari, Tem, Peul

6.2 M Beninese:6.2 M Beninese: Cotonou: 850,000Cotonou: 850,000 Porto-Novo: 200,000Porto-Novo: 200,000 Parakou: 110,000Parakou: 110,000 Abomey: 70,000Abomey: 70,000 Natitengou: 60,000Natitengou: 60,000

EconomyEconomy

80% of the people in 80% of the people in agricultureagriculture 40% gnp 40% gnp

Corn, manioc, beans, Corn, manioc, beans, pineapples, ricepineapples, rice

Export cotton (80%), Export cotton (80%), palm oil & peanutspalm oil & peanuts

Industry is poor: textile, Industry is poor: textile, cement, mines, cement, mines, alimentation.alimentation.

Commerce: Cotonou is Commerce: Cotonou is between Lome and between Lome and Lagos & closest to Mali Lagos & closest to Mali & Burkina Faso.& Burkina Faso.