Though the history of slavery is a central topic for African, Atlantic world and world history, most of the sources presenting research in this area are European in origin. To cast light on African perspectives, and on the point of view of enslaved men and women, this group of top Africanist scholars has examined both conventional historical sources (such as European travel accounts, colonial documents, court cases, and missionary records) and less-explored sources of information (such as folklore, oral traditions, songs and proverbs, life histories collected by missionaries and colonial officials, correspondence in Arabic, and consular and admiralty interviews with runaway slaves). Each source has a short introduction highlighting its significance and orienting the reader. This first of two volumes provides students and scholars with a trove of African sources for studying African slavery and slave trade.
• The variety and originality of sources accurately describes how Africans experienced and were influenced by the slave trade • Includes conventional historical sources and less-explored sources of information • While most sources are European in origin, these sources cast light on the African perspective and the point of view of enslaved men and women
Contents
Part I. Oral Traditions, Historical Tales, and Interviews; Part II. Songs, Prayers, Proverbs, and Material Culture; Part III. Written Accounts by African Authors; Part IV. European Travelers' Accounts; Part V. Colonial Reports and Documents; Part VI. Voices of Slaves in the Courtroom; Part VII. Missionary Records; Part VIII. Islamic Sources; Part IX. Contemporary African Societies and the Legacy of Slavery.
Review
Advance praise: 'By combining so many studies that give voice to enslaved Africans into a single forum, Bellagamba, Greene, and Klein have transformed the study of slavery in a way that will require a revolutionary reassessment of what we think about slavery and how we study enslavement and resistance … a tour de force of global significance for historians, students, and all people concerned with social justice.' Paul E. Lovejoy, Canada Research Chair in African Diaspora History, York University
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