Slavery and the birth of an African city : Lagos, 1760-1900

As the slave trade entered its last, illegal phase in the 19th century, the town of Lagos on West Africa's Bight of Benin became one of the most important port cities north of the equator. Slavery and the Birth of an African City explores the reasons for Lagos's sudden rise to power. By linking the histories of international slave markets to those of the regional suppliers and slave traders, Kristin Mann shows how the African slave trade forever altered the destiny of the tiny kingdom of Lagos. This magisterial work uncovers the relationship between African slavery and the growth of one of Africa's most vibrant cities. As The Slave Trade Entered Its Last, Illegal Phase In The Nineteenth Century, The Town Of Lagos On West Africa's Bight Of Benin Became One Of The Most Important Port Cities North Of The Equator, Slavery And The Birth Of An African City Explores The Reasons For Lagos's Sudden Rise To Power. By Linking The Histories Of International Slave Markets To Those Of The Regional Suppliers And Slave Traders, Mann Shows How The African Slave Trade Forever Altered The Destiny Of The Tiny Kingdom Of Lagos. This Magisterial Work Uncovers The Relationship Between African Slavery And The Growth Of One Of Africa's Most Vibrant Cities.--jacket. The Rise Of Lagos As An Atlantic Port, C. 1760-1851 -- Trade, Oligarchy, And The Transformation Of The Precolonial State -- The Original Sin : Anti-slavery, Imperial Expansion, And Early Colonial Rule -- Innocent Commerce : Boom And Bust In The Palm Produce Trade -- Britain And Domestic Slavery -- Redefining The Owner-slave Relationship : Work, Ideology, And The Demand For People -- The Changing Meaning Of Land In The Urban Economy And Culture -- Strategies Of Struggle And Mechanisms Of Control : Quotidian Conflicts And Court Cases. Kristin Mann. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 423-457) And Index. As the slave trade entered its last, illegal phase in the 19th century, the town of Lagos on West Africa's Bight of Benin became one of the most important port cities north of the equator. This work explores the reasons for Lagos' sudden rise to power. It uncovers the relationship between African slavery and the growth of Lagos