The Forgotten Women of the Atlantic Slave Trade

While we often think of the Atlantic slave trade as a story dominated by male traders and enslaved men, the reality was far more complex. This episode explores the critical role of African women in the transatlantic economy, from the royal courts of Ouidah to the trading posts of the Gold Coast. We examine how figures like Queen Mother Ahia and merchant princesses navigated a patriarchal system to wield immense power, selling captives while maintaining their own social status. You will learn about the specific dynamics in the Kingdom of Whydah, the practice of polygamy as political alliance, and how European merchants adapted their strategies to court female influence. The narrative also touches on the tragic fate of women captured during raids, distinguishing between those who became elite concubines and those sent across the ocean. By focusing on these overlooked voices, we see how gender shaped the mechanics of human trafficking in the 17th and 18th centuries. #AtlanticSlaveTrade #AfricanHistory #WomenInHistory #KingdomOfWhydah #Ouidah #GoldCoast #QueenMotherAhia #TransatlanticTrade #GenderAndPower #PreColonialAfrica #EuropeanColonialism #SlaveryEconomics #AfricanRoyalty #MerchantPrincesses #FexingoHistory #HistoryPodcast #HistoricalResearch #WorldHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo