An account of research on the
slave trade in Nigeria
J. F. Ade Ajayi and J. E. Inikori
Whereas a number of Nigerians have made important contributions to African
history, for reasons that are difficult to explain, the slave trade is a neglected
theme in Nigeria. However, there are one or two specialists who have specifi-
cally treated some of its aspects and a number of others have dealt with issues
and periods closely connected with it.
Taking the second group first, we have Professor K. O. Dike (now at
the Department of History, Harvard University, United States) whose book,
Trade and Politics in the Niger Delta, touches on a number of issues relating
to the slave trade, especially the impact of abolition. Professor E. J. Alagoa
of the University College, Port Harcourt, has done a large amount of work on
the history of the Niger delta during the slave-trade era. Dr K. Princewill of the
Department of History, University of Ibadan, wrote her Ph.D. thesis on the
impact of external trade on the Fante during the slave-trade era. Dr I. U. A.
Musa of the Department of History, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, has
worked largely on issues closely related to the trans-Saharan slave trade.
Dr Mahdi Adamu of the Department of History, Ahmadu Bello University,
Zaria, has studied the contribution of the central Sudan of West Africa to
the transatlantic slave trade.^1
The present limited researches in Nigeria have raised a number of issues
which should be pursued further. In particular, more work should be done on
the economic and social impact of the slave trade on West African societies.
Of particular interest are the following: (a) export slave trade and the incidence
of wars in West Africa; (b) export slave trade and the expansion of internal
slavery in West Africa; (c) export slave trade and demographic processes in
West Africa; (d) export slave trade and the pattern of settlements in West
Africa; and (e) the economic consequences of the export slave trade, especially
the opportunity cost of the trade for West African economic development.
Research work relating to these topics should be based on a thorough
examination of archival materials and oral evidence. Wherever possible quan-
titative analysis should be applied. The application of social and economic
theory will be particularly helpful both in the selection and evaluation of facts
as well as in the analysis of the ascertained evidence. For this reason, scholars