The Remains of a Decaying Land: West Africa
London Times
Writer: Father Charles Benedict
November 11, 1763
Cost: 3p
My recent endeavours have left me flabbergasted and unable to comprehend many of the
terrors I experienced in the wasteland they call West Africa. What once used to be a country
centered around community and prosperity has been long gone, abandoned by both God
and their own people. This country has lost its youth and destroyed its economy because of
the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and is now plagued with political and judicial corruption and
gruesome warfare. The only positive I was able to notice during my time there was the
increased wealth obtained by some of the people living by the coast, but that could not
counteract the overbearing amount of negatives. My efforts to convert these heathens has
been futile, with many treating me with disdain rather than gratitude.
Out of all of the concerning impacts of the slave trade I observed in West Africa, the drastic
demographic change was one of the most noticeable. In contrast to when I first ventured
here years ago, there are considerably less people in the towns I visited due to the tens of
thousands of young men and women that have been taken as slaves. Even those who were
left behind have migrated inland in an attempt to escape the horrors of the slave trade. This
has left many families separated, leaving many orphans and effectively destroying the
family structure. As mostly men were taken away as slaves, the gender roles have changed
vastly, with many women taking up positions previously held by men, such as agricultural
work. It must also be noted that the majority of the men that were taken were young and
strong, which has left a large number of old people. As many older people are infertile, this
has and will continue for generations to come, heavily impact the natural growth and birth
rate of West Africa.
Before the slave trade, I observed a variety of economic activities in West Africa such as
agriculture, textiles and salt productions just to name a few. With the introduction of the
slave trade, the selling of their most valuable resource, their people, has come to be their
primary economic activity, with nearly all other activities being abandoned. Due to the
frequent raids and wars, large amounts of land have been devastated. On top of this, many
farmers were captured as slaves, and those who were not left farming altogether in favour
of slaving. Not only were countless skilled craftsmen taken, but the remaining craftsmen still
in West Africa have been outsold by European imports, essentially destroying the craft
industry. The influx of superior Europeans goods swiftly undermined the local industries
such as salt making, cotton manufacture and metal ware. Due to the large economic
destability, many local businesses are discouraged to keep going.
Corruption and sin has crawled its way through the ranks of the West African states,
causing a shift from a representative, democratic leadership style to an autocratic one.
Once, kind, community leaders, who cared about the welfare of the people have now been
consumed by greed and a lust for wealth and power. The people are not allowed to voice
their opinion and there is harsh punishment for anyone who does.
The judicial system has been completely corrupted, with many being arrested for minor
offences in order to fuel the slave trade.
Quiet possibly the most obvious political impact of the slave trade on West Africa is the
changeover of a previousily productive and relitivality peaceful society into a militeralistic
one. Before the Slave Trade, states in West Africa were generally smaller in size, and
although they did have war from time to time it was in no way comparable to the wars
present now. The importation of advanced European weaponry such as firearms have
caused the wars to be significantly more devastating with more destruction and casualties.
There were several times during my venture through this wasteland where I had bullets fly
past me, forcing me to take cover. MIlitaristic states such as Benin, Oyo and Dahomey have
grown in strength and use their power to impose their authority on neighbouring states. This
has caused tension between the various states, with each one of them attempting to
become the most powerful. The large demand for slaves has also fueled the frequent wars
and village raids across West Africa, with capturing Africans to be sold as slaves being their
primary focus.
Perhaps the only positive impact I observed during my time there was the economic
prosperity enjoyed by West African leaders and farmers along the coast. Through my
research, I learned that many farmers situated on the coast of West Africa make large sums
of wealth by selling goods such as food to the slave ships. Additionally, many West African
rulers have profited greatly off the slave trade, not only gaining wealth but also power. Along
with the sale of their own people, the local provinces have also made large amounts of
money off of the slave trade through an income tax placed on ships. The slave trade also
provided more jobs oppurtuniteis to coastal workers. But the question we must ask
ourselves - is this accumulation of wealth for a few Africans worth the destruction of entire
nations?
All points considered, my heart weeps for the people of West Africa. It has led me to the
conclusion that the slave trade has been devastating for West Africa. Although some have
benefitted from it, many have suffered unbearable tragedies that have left the region in
ruins. Their people have been stolen, beaten, cheated and corrupted beyond any hope of
recovery, which will leave a stain on this region for the foreseeable future. I simply could not
sit back and not say anything. Before God and mankind I pray for the souls of the people
here suffering and for the leaders of both England and West Africa to stop this brutality now!