Krumen and the suppression of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade from West-Africa

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Periodical article

Title:	Krumen and the suppression of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade from West-Africa
Author:	Hargrove, Jarvis L.
Year:	2011
Periodical:	Liberian Studies Journal (ISSN 0024-1989)
Volume:	36
Issue:	2
Pages:	72-98
Language:	English
Geographic terms:	Liberia Sierra Leone
Subjects:	Kru abolition of slavery seamen colonial history
Abstract:	In the years between 1780 and 1808, Britain and the United States took the early steps to close the Trans-Atlantic slave-trade to its citizens. Experiencing some economic change-over, Parliament in March 1807 officially closed the slave trade, with Congress following suit in 1808. In order to combat illegal trade in Africans, both nations promoted the transition to trading legitimate goods. Liberia and Sierra Leone provided bases of operations for naval squadrons to patrol for illegal slavers. The key problem facing these squadrons was finding men to sail the coastline of Africa. Because of a lack of sailors, each nation turned to hiring the Kru people of Liberia's Kru coast. The involvement of the Kru (referred to as Krumen) aided in suppressing the slave trade and in spreading legitimate commerce to other areas of Africa. This work is an analysis of Krumen and their impact on colonial history as workers on board anti-slaving naval vessels in the nineteenth century and later as migrant labourers for several different nations along the coastline of Africa. Notes, ref. [ASC Leiden abstract]