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How the Arabs Made the Slave Trade Worse

The responsibility of the Arab community in the longevity of the slave trade and its normalization

By ElMehdi ElAzharyPublished 3 years ago 3 min read
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Over the years, the worldwide discourse on slavery was solely focused on the trans-Atlantic slave trade and the wrongdoings of American and European slave merchants. One alternative slavery tradition remains mostly unnoticed and is even treated as a taboo although it absolutely was a key part of African history and had a large impact on the continent.

The trans-Saharan trade, also known as the Eastern slave trade or the Arab Muslim slave trade, is the longest period of slavery in the history of the world (having spanned 1300 years). It took millions of Africans from their homes to work in extremely inhumane conditions in foreign lands.

Official figures and numbers of slaves captured in the trans-Saharan slave trade remain highly contested, but scholars have estimated it to be at about nine million. This slave trade is considered one of the bloodiest in the history of the region. Some even called it a veiled genocide, because of the atrocities slaves were subjected to; from capture to slave markets, to labor fields, and the harrowing journey in between.

The death voyages

The trans-Saharan slave trade was predominantly strong on the east and west coasts.

East, the coastal region, was the preferred route and Zanzibar became a hub for slave traders. Arab merchants would gather there for raw materials like cloves and ivory. After which they would buy black slaves from Zanzibar’s markets to carry the materials and work to plantations abroad.

Slaves from countries like Sudan, Somalia, and Ethiopia would be sold in Zanzibar and then shipped through the Indian Ocean to the Persian Gulf or the Arabic Peninsula where they worked in countries like Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, or Oman. African Muslims, however, were never captured due to Islamic regulations.

When it comes to the west coast, its trans-Saharan slave trade was concentrated from the Niger valley to the Gulf of Guinea. Following the trans-Saharan roads, slaves would then be sold in the Maghreb and the Nile basin, in countries like Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, or Egypt. Their voyage would take up to three months and many slaves used to die from diseases, hunger, or even thirst. An estimated 50% of all slaves died in transit.

The value of female slaves

The Europeans and Americans were mainly interested in strong built young men to work as laborers in their fields.

As for the Arabs, their slave markets witnessed a soaring demand for female slaves. Female slaves were typically captured more than men by a ratio of three to one. They would then be sold as concubines and sex slaves to work in harems. Because of the high demand, female slaves were also twice as expensive as male ones.

As for the male slaves, they either worked as field workers or guards in the harems. They underwent a brutal operation of castration to ensure that they never reproduce in case they get intimate with the females. Most male slaves lost their lives this way.

Liberty Mukomo, a lecturer at the University of Nairobi, says on the topic:

“The practice of castration on black male slaves in the most inhumane manner, altered an entire generation as these men could not reproduce. The Arab masters sired children with black female slaves. This devastation by the men saw those who survived committing suicide. This development explains the modern black Arabs who are still trapped by history.”

Even as one of the key players in the global slave trade, Europe abolished slavery hundreds of years ago and the United States in 1856, most Arab states continued the trade up until late in the 20th century. Malawi, an African nation, didn’t abolish slavery until 2007, and there are many mentions of many Arab countries still being involved clandestinely.

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About the Creator

ElMehdi ElAzhary

Storyteller. Mental health activist. History buff. & Marketing enthusiast. This is your daily dose of unconventional writing.

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