Figure 1.--Aden for centuries was a port used by Arab slave traders in the Indian Ocean slave trade. The British during the Napoleonic Wars established themselves in Aden and the port became used by the Royal Navy as part of its Anti-Slavery patrols. This CDV shows boys who look to have been rescued from slavery by the British in the 1860s. Unfortunately we do not have details on the boys. The photoigrapher was B. Sorabjee in Aden.

Not a lot is known about the Indian Ocen ports involved in the Indian Ocean slave trade, including Zanzibr until the 19th century. Mostyly Arab nut some Persian trders established trading post along the eastern coastbof Adrica, incliding Mogadishu, Lamu, Malindi, Mombasa, Zanzibar, Kilwa, Mozambique, and Sofala. Ivory was an important attraction, but slaves soon became imprtant. The principal Indian Ocean port of embarcation (entrepôt) for Afrians taken by Arab slavers became Zanzibar. and Kilwa (Tanzania) in the north and Quilimane (Mozambique) in the South. Many other ports were involved in the tranport and marketing of the African captives. Until the 17th century, all of the captured Africans were transported north. We believe the priamry markets were the Arab world meaning Egypt and Mesopotamia and Persia. There is not a lot of documentation on this, but some evidence exists including illustrated documents and travellers' tales indicate that is was a maritime trade. The trade routes led into the Red Sea for Arab/Turkish (Egyptian) markets and into the Persian Gulf for Arab/Turkish (Mesopotamia) and Persian markets. Ships headed into the Red Sea probably called at Aden before heading north in the Red Sea toward Egypt. There was a slave market in Aden. Some if the Africans may have been sold in Aden to local Arabs or to traders ooerating in the Red Sea. Either way, most of the Africans were sold in the larger markets to the north. Cairo had a large slave market sellimg both Africans transported over both the Sahara and the Indian Ocean. Aden was a port of call to obtain water abd supoplies. This chnged when the British established a presence in Aden and Royal Navy ships begn operating to supress the skave trade (19h century). Ships headed toward the Persian Gulf or further east probably called at Socotra. Very few slaves woukd have been sold on Socotra. This was an island in the northern Arabian Sea equakduistanbt from modern Somalia and and Yemen. Muscat was anither port with a slave nmarket. The Arab dhows and jalbas did not cross the Indian Ocean, but stayed close to the coast. While most of the captives went into Arab, Turkish, and Persian market, some slaves were transported further east to Indian and China. Smaller numbers of Africans were sold on India. Arab traders were active in northern India. Mumbai would have been a port of call. As far aswe know no data ecists on this. There were also Africans transprted as far as China. We know that a colony of Arab mercahnts were active in Canton. (12th century). [Bilé] Apoeriod document tells how well-to-do families in Canton had black slaves.

Entrepôts

Not a lot is known about the Indian Ocean ports involved in the Indian Ocean slave trade, including Zanzibar until the 19th century. What is now known as the Swahili Coast is a narrow strip extending along eastern ciast of Africa from Somalia in the north to Mozambique in the south. It is a fushion of Africa people with Arab and sone Persians and then Portuguese. The original inhabitants were Bantu-speaking Africans, who east from the continent’s interior. Swahili culture was born when Arab but some Persian traders established trading post along the eastern coast of Africa (beginning in the 7th century). Several were islands for security reasons. These included including Mogadishu, Lamu, Malindi, Mombasa, Zanzibar, Kilwa, Mozambique, and Sofala. They became major centers of the Swahili culture. Gold, ivory, and spices were important attraction, but slaves soon became important. Arab traderders introduced Islam. African converts associated Ialam with the Arabs and wehen they conveted they begin to see themselves as Arabs. This greatly facilitated the Indian Ocean slave trade. Some Swahili chiefs identifiedmore with the Arabs than the Bantu people. The Arab traders acquired slaves in other areas, but it was the Bantu and other people of East Africa that were their primary victims. And Sahili chiefs were involved. [Unesco] The Suktan of Oman estblished garisons on the islands and 'factories' on the islands of Zanzibar anbd Pemba as wll as Mombasa and Pate. Factories meant places where Arab slave raiders would bring their captives and receiuve payment in goods such as cloth, guns, or other goods or coins. Arab traders lived in the fctiries or nearby selves,accumulating slaves to sell to slavers with ships to tranport the caotives to distabt markets. The principal Indian Ocean port of embarcation (entrepôt) for Afrians taken by Arab slavers became Zanzibar. and Kilwa (Tanzania) in the north and Quilimane (Mozambique) in the South. But smaller numbrs were of slaves were transported from the ither majior Sahilki settkments along the coast.

Markets

Until the 17th century, almost all of the captured Africans were transported north. We believe the priamry markets were the Arab world meaning Egypt and Mesopotamia and Persia. There is not a lot of documentation on this, but some evidence exists including illustrated documents and travellers' tales indicate that is was a maritime trade. The trade routes led into the Red Sea for Arab/Turkish (Egyptian) markets and into the Persian Gulf for Arab/Turkish (Mesopotamia) and Persian markets. Ships headed into the Red Sea probably called at Aden before heading north in the Red Sea toward Egypt. There was a slave market in Aden. Some if the Africans may have been sold in Aden to local Arabs or to traders ooerating in the Red Sea. Either way, most of the Africans were sold in the larger markets to the north. Cairo had a large slave market sellimg both Africans transported over both the Sahara and the Indian Ocean. Aden was a port of call to obtain water and supoplies. This changed when the British established a presence in Aden and Royal Navy ships begn operating to supress the skave trade (19h century). Ships headed toward the Persian Gulf or further east probably called at Socotra. Very few slaves woukd have been sold on Socotra. This was an island in the northern Arabian Sea equal distanbt from modern Somalia and and Yemen. Muscat was a particularly imprtant port with a slave nmarket. Sur was also impotant. Only in the 19th centuety dio we begin to get real statistical data. Some 13,000 captives were transported into the Persian Gulf annually and 4,000-5,000 to Sur in Oman (1860s). [Schomburg] The Arab dhows and jalbas did not cross the Indian Ocean, but stayed close to the coast. While most of the captives went into Arab, Turkish, and Persian market, some slaves were transported further eastto Indian and China. Smaller numbers of Africans were sold in India. One source reports a bustling market with taders reaching the eastern coast. [Schomburg] Arab traders were active in northern India. Mumbai would have been a port of call. As far as we know no data exists on this. There were also Africans transprted as far as China. We know that a colony of Arab mercahnts were active in Canton. (12th century). [Bilé] Apoeriod document tells how well-to-do families in Canton had black slaves.

Sources

Bilé, Serge. Bilé is a jourmnalist that has primarily focused on the Atlantic Slave Trade.

Schomburg Center for Research in Blavk Culture. "The ASfricasn Disapora in ythe Indian Ocean World"

UINESCO. General History of Africa.

Created: 5:11 AM 9/30/2021
Last updated: 5:11 AM 9/30/2021