The Arabic Slave Trade is something that is rarely spoken about and often goes unheard of.
When we speak of the enslavement of Africans, many of us like to connect it with Europeans, which is fine, but we should never forget they were not the only ones.
For over 900 years, Africans were enslaved by Arabic slave traders. They would take Africans from all over the continent including West, East, and North Africa forcing them to march thousands of miles to Slave Markets. The men, women, and children were bound together by the waist and neck so that if one died the rest could drag him or her along. These walks became known as the “Death Marches” and an estimated 20 million Africans died on these walks alone.
When we speak of the enslavement of Africans, many of us like to connect it with Europeans, which is fine, but we should never forget they were not the only ones.
For over 900 years, Africans were enslaved by Arabic slave traders. They would take Africans from all over the continent including West, East, and North Africa forcing them to march thousands of miles to Slave Markets. The men, women, and children were bound together by the waist and neck so that if one died the rest could drag him or her along. These walks became known as the “Death Marches” and an estimated 20 million Africans died on these walks alone.
The Arabs believed it was God’s wish to see Africans enslaved and believed they were uncivilized animals. Sound Familiar?
Slaves were beaten and abused regularly. Many African women, young girls, and boys would be used as sex slaves for their owners. Islamic slave holders would stick their swords and other weapons into the vagina of black women and cut off the penis of African men. This was done because they believed Africans had an uncontrollable sex drive.
Many Africans would be forced to convert to Islam believing if they shared the same religion, it would stop the abuse. Muslim slave traders would also promise them freedom after conversion. This did not stop the abuse nor did it gain them their freedom. In Fact, one can argue it made them even more enslaved.
When Europeans entered the slave industry, Muslim slave traders would use the religion to exploit Islamic Africans to bring them other Africans. These Africans would then be sold to Europeans.
Slavery in the holy city of Mecca would not be outlawed until 1966 and in all other Arabic countries until 1990. The Islamic Slave Trade began almost 500 years before the Europeans would come to Africa. It would be a catalyst for the dismantling of the continent and the massive expansion of the Religion.
Had it not been for Islam, European Chattel Slavery may never have occurred. History is quite a teacher and once again as the late Dr. John Henrik Clarke once said, “Africa has no friends. If you want a friend, look in the mirror.”
Written by KingKwajo
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