In particular africas state of development can only be properly understood in the light of the widespread dismantling of african societies and the methodical and lasting human bloodletting to which the continent was subjected by way. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. One of the most infamous names in the atlantic slave trade, ouidah is today the spiritual capital of benin. As well as being the centre of the voodoo religion, from the 17th to the 19th century, ouidah in southern benin was a major slavetrading post. John the baptist of ouidah is a small fortress built by the portuguese in ouidah on the coast of dahomey originally ajuda, from hweda, on the atlantic coast of modern benin, reached by the portuguese in 1580, after which it grew around the slave trade, for which the slave. The atlantic slave trade and slave life in the americas. There is much history to explore as the slave trade in africa existed for thousands of years. This compilation explores many of the bestknown works on africa, such as things fall apart by chinua achebe nigeria, all gods children need traveling shoes by maya angelou ghana, the viceroy of ouidah by bruce chatwin benin, age of iron by j.
It demonstrates african agency willingness, and, even pride in the prosecution of the slave trade without, however, excluding the culpability of the european counterparts in the trade. The atlantic slave trade or transatlantic slave trade took place across the atlantic ocean from the 16th through to the 19th centuries. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. After the slave route, we visited the temple of pythons. A massive, arched gateway, some 50 feet high, stands alone on the edge of one of the loveliest beaches in west africa. Historians estimate that over the course of two centuries, ouidah alone exported more than one million africans before closing its trade in the 1860s. Sep 07, 2006 slave traders rounded up men, women and children, at times trapping them with nets. Walking the slave route in ouidah, benin happy days. The first slaves were brought to the americas in 1510. Ouidah saw its role in international trade rise when the british built a fort here in 1650. Africa over 250 years after the end of the transatlantic slave trade, some west africans are still trying to come to terms with the involvement of african rulers and. An evil west african king and the atlantic slave trade. Take a boat across lake nokwe, stopping en route to visit the ganvie stilt village.
The viceroy of ouidah and millions of other books are available for amazon. Jan 06, 2014 benin blazes a trail for african modern art with opening of museum in ouidah. Once caught the slaves were forced to walk in chains, hundreds of miles to ouidah. Ouidah s past is closely linked to the slave trade, and here it is still possible to travel the 4 kilometers that thousands of men and women have walked chained, leaving behind their villages their families and their freedom for a future marked by privations, torture and. Political uses of memories of slavery in the republic of benin, by. Ouidah, benin l ess than a mil e from what was once west africas biggest slave port, the departure point for more than a million people in chains, stands.
Ouidah, an indigenous african town in the modern republic of benin, was the. Walking the slave route in ouidah, benin happy days travel blog. Between the seventeenth and the nineteenth centuries, ouidah was the most important embarkation point for slaves in the region of west africa known to outsiders as the slave coast. The social history of a west african slaving port, 17271892 western african studies 9780821415726 by law, robin and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. By the end of the xv century ouidah was already an important portuguese slave trade post. Robin law ouidah, an african town in the republic of benin, was the principal precolonial commercial center of its region and the secondmostimportant town of the dahomey kingdom. It served as a major outlet for the transatlantic slave trade. The reason why some children started crying when they saw us on the street, was due to the sad and cruel souvenirs of the slave trade. It served as a major outlet for the export of slaves for the trans atlantic trade. Jan 04, 2016 an evil west african king and the atlantic slave trade this entry was posted in article and tagged adandozan agonglo brazil gezo portugal slave trade slavery west africa on january 4, 2016 by ana lucia araujo updated 433 days ago. The voodoo trail ouidah, benin activities lonely planet. But for the people of benin, voodoo is a way of life and faith.
The social history of a west african slaving port, 17271892 western african studies hardcover by law, robin isbn. Most important issues of todays world such as development, human rights, and cultural pluralism bear the unmistakable stamp of the transatlantic slave trade. Slave traders rounded up men, women and children, at times trapping them with nets. The social history of a west african slaving port 17271892 western african studies uk ed. He became powerful in ouidah, on the socalled slave coast of west africa, now benin, togo, and parts of the volta region in ghana. Their trip includes overnight visits to ouidah to visit the sacred forest, the history museum of ouidah, and the python temple. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. As well as being the centre of the voodoo religion, from the 17th to the 19th century, ouidah in southern benin was a major slave trading post.
The next stop was to the door of no return in ouidah, the major slavetrading port in old dahomey. His plans exceed his dreams, and soon he is the viceroy of ouidah, master of all slave trading in dahomey. In this temple we saw dozens of pythons snaking freely. Benin blazes a trail for african modern art with opening of museum in ouidah. Their catchment area stretched deep into africa, even as far as ethiopia and sudan. Voodoo vs vodoun and ouidah was never judah youtube. The first main route passed through the sahara but soon african slaves became part of the atlantic slave trade. Outsiders refer to the voodoo religion as a dark, fetish religion and black magic or witchcraft. Wonders of the african world slave kingdoms ouidah. In a scenario that was repeated across west africa, captives were brought here to be sold to merchants who then shipped them across the atlantic to satisfy the demand for slave labour in the plantations and mines of the new world. Top 10 african tribes taken in the atlantic slave trade duration. Once there, they were subjected to a brutal process of brainwashing. Benin blazes a trail for african modern art with opening. Europeans called the bight of benin where ouidah is locatedand the surrounding region the slave coast because of its importance in supplying american markets with african laborers.
Jan 15, 2018 voodoo vs vodoun and ouidah was never judah. The kingdom of whydah also spelt hueda, whidah, ajuda, ouidah, whidaw, and juda was a kingdom on the coast of west africa in what is now benin. The vast majority of slaves transported to the new world according to written history were not native africans from central and western and eastern parts of the continent, in fact these people have been historically proven to be descendants of early hebrews. Ouidah was the most important embarkation point for slaves in the region of west africa known to outsiders as the slave coast. Benin, west africa, ouidah, ouidah cotonou road on the slave coast benin, west africa, ouidah, mrs kpsouayo carrying the carved wooden figures made to house the soul of her dead twins benin, west africa, ouidah, paterne with the carved wooden figure made to house the soul of his dead twin paterna. All that remain are a handful of essays and other short pieces. Between the seventeenth and the nineteenth centuries, ouidah was the most important embarkation point for slaves in the region of west africa known to outsiders as. Explore benin holidays and discover the best time and places to visit. Laws wellresearched and detailed account of ouidah, provides an insight into how the slave trade was organized and carried out from the african end. Oct 25, 2011 bbc news, benin, benin s dark past of slavery, by sue branford. Africa lost everything and still hasnt recovered from the slave trade w anago. Ouidah, an african town in the republic of benin, was the principal precolonial commercial center of its region and the secondmostimportant town of the dahomey kingdom. Feb 22, 2016 the next stop was to the door of no return in ouidah, the major slave trading port in old dahomey. The slave kingdoms, episode in the series into africa with henry louis gates, jr, bbc 2, 1999.
Dahomey, kingdom in western africa that flourished in the 18th and 19th centuries in the region that is now southern benin. Benin blazes a trail for african modern art with opening of. The abolition of the brazilian slave trade in 1851 and the installation of a british consul in lagos rang the death knell of the atlantic slave trade, and by 1865 palm oil had entirely replaced. It makes me sad, but with the viceroy of ouidah ive come to the last of bruce chatwins longform works. If you arrive for the first time in ouidah in the early morning or late afternoon, when the air is at its coolest, you will be struck immediately by the quality of the light. The birthplace of voodoo and a pivotal platform of the slave trade for nearly three centuries, benin is steeped in a rich and complex history still very much in evidence today. Europeans called the bight of beninwhere ouidah is locatedand the surrounding region the slave coast because of its importance in supplying american markets with african.
In particular africa s state of development can only be properly understood in the light of the widespread dismantling of african societies and the methodical and lasting human bloodletting to which the continent was subjected by way. Coetzee south africa, gorillas in the mist by dian fossey rwanda, and when rain clouds. The social history of a west african slaving port, 1727. It is shown that originally the slave trade was remembered in ouidah. On todays modern maps the place is called ouidah, which means whydah or judah. Welcome,you are looking at books for reading, the the viceroy of ouidah, you will able to read or download in pdf or epub books and notice some of author may have lock the live reading for some of country. Ever since i begun travelling to togo, in 20, i wanted to take the chance to visit the city of ouidah, in benin. Ouidah, an indigenous african town in the modern republic of benin, was the principal precolonial commercial centre of its region. During this period, the relations between the kingdom of dahomey, brazil, and portugal were very dynamic. In 1700, it had a coastline of around 16 kilometres 10 mi. Sep 26, 2019 confronting africa s role in the slave trade.
Benin formerly dahomey is one of several west african countries, ghana is another, that has formally apologized for its role in the slave trade and has erected a memorial to that scarring historical episode. An african country reckons with its history of selling slaves. The social history of a west african slaving port 17271892 western african studies law, robin on. Ouidah or whydah formerly the kingdom of whydah, is a city on the coast of the republic of benin. This is the first detailed study of the towns history and of its role in the atlantic slave trade. According to tradition, at the beginning of the 17th century three brothers vied for the kingdom of allada, which, like neighbouring whydah now ouidah, had grown rich on the slave trade.
An evil west african king and the atlantic slave trade a. Bbc news, benin, benins dark past of slavery, by sue branford. He might have lived a little longer, just to please me by writing more, but thats not the way things worked out. Between the seventeenth and the nineteenth centuries, ouidah was the most important embarkation point for slaves in the region of west africa known to outsiders. Few tourists reach benin yet this west african nation has a remarkable story to tell about one of the most shameful episodes in history. Ouidah also known as whydah is a commercial center in the modern african nation of benin that was one of the most active slave trading ports in all of africa. Originally intended to be a nonfiction biography of a famous slave trader.
Ouidahportonovo take a guided walk along the slave route in ouidah and visit to the temple of the python. Benin formerly dahomey is one of several west african countries, ghana is another, that has formally apologized for its role in the slave trade and has erected a. Kpalimeouidah take a guided forest walk in kpalime, then travel back through lome before crossing the border to ouidah, benin. It was a simple 115 kms 71,46 miles drive from lome. Ouidah, an african town in the republic of benin, was the principal precolonial commercial center of its region and the.