The impact of the abolition movement on the social and political development of West Africa in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries

bibliographic database
Line

Periodical article

Title:	The impact of the abolition movement on the social and political development of West Africa in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries
Author:	Oloruntimehin, B. Olatunji
Year:	1971
Periodical:	African Notes: Bulletin of the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan
Volume:	7
Issue:	1
Pages:	33-58
Language:	English
Geographic term:	West Africa
Subjects:	abolition of slavery economic development social development
Abstract:	The bleak picture of conditions of life in West Africa in the period immediately before the abolitionist movement - it was often claimed that the West African States were in rapid decline and that the slave trade, usually said to be all-pervading and devastating, was a major factor contributing to a process of political and social decay - is inaccurate and based upon ignorance of the true situation in these states, also leads to a misunderstanding of the issues involved in the abolitionist movement and exaggerates its impact on the West African States. The abolitionists and missionaries made considerable contributions to the development of West Africa, but there has been generally an overstatement of their contributions to the 'Salvation' and progress of the West African peoples. Attempted in this paper is to put these contributions in the proper context through a more balanced and objective analysis of available material. Notes.