Slow Death for Slavery: The Course of Abolition in Northern Nigeria 1897-1936 (African Studies) [Paperback]

Paul E. Lovejoy (Author), Jan S. Hogendorn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 27, 1993 | Series: African Studies (Book 76)

This book examines the decline of slavery in Northern Nigeria during the first forty years of colonial rule. At the time of the British conquest, the Sokoto Caliphate was one of the largest slave societies in modern history. Rather than emancipate slaves, the colonial state abolished the legal status of slavery, encouraging them to buy their freedom. Many were unable to do so, and slavery was not finally abolished until l936. The authors have written a provocative book, raising doubts over the moral legitimacy of both the Sokoto Caliphate and the colonial state.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This volume presents a wealth of meticulous research in order to readjust the commonly accepted textbook view that Britain was the major actor in the abolition of slavery in modern times. In carefully constructed and supported arguments that proceed clearly and logically from chapter to chapter, the authors establish that offical British policy in its portions of the former Sokoto Caliphate in northern Nigeria successfully and deliberately maintained the institution of slavery from the early days of military conquest in 1897 until 1936." International Journal of African Historical Studies

"This is a major work of synthesis, being the culmination of the research the authors have conducted since the 1970s on slavery and its decline in Northern Nigeria. It is essential reading for all those interested in the politics and sctivities of colonial (and other) governments with respect to slavery and its abolition." African Studies Review

"The first book-length study of the Sokoto Caliphate of northern Nigeria, the largest slave society in colonial Africa. Based on 20 years of research, including a collection of oral histories from ex-slaves, the study focuses on the survival of a slave system into the modern world....The work is based on a massive collection of economic data and enhanced by an appendix summarizing the characteristics of the 102,000 slaves who purchased their freedom." Choice

"In this amply documented volume, Paul E. Lovejoy and Jan S. Hogendorn have gone behind the published and often-cited memos of Lord Lugard, founder of Northern Nigeria, to explore the reality of slavery under colonial rule....Theirs is the most detailed and thoughtful analysis to date of slavery and concubinage in Africa; their framework and the priority they attribute to the issue may well be applicable, with some adjustment for racial distinctions, to slave societies in the Americas. The rich narrative, based on ample resources in archives and in oral testimony, reflects an effective collaboration of the authors in research and writing....it is hard to imagine a more comprehensive first effort to address this vast topic." Patrick Manning, American Historical Review

"The abolition of slavery in west Africa was a largely neglected topic until these authors, well known for previous studies of slavery and the slave trade in Africa, began studying it in the 1970s. This throrough and scholarly work presents their findings, which are of interest not only for historians of Africa, but also for those concerned with comparative and world history....Their mastery of the range of original materials has enabled them authoritatively to lay out the political, economic, legal, and social dimensions of their subject and to integrate these dimensions effectively....An impressive example of historical scholarship, Slow Death for Slavery can be considered essential reading for anyone working on west African social and political history in the modern period. It can also be confidently expected to become and long to remain a standard reference in the literature on European colonialism and its impact." Gregory Blue, Journal of World History

Book Description

This book examines the decline of slavery in Northern Nigeria during the first forty years of colonial rule. Rather than emancipate slaves, the state abolished the legal status of slavery, encouraging them to buy their freedom. Since many were unable to do so, slavery was not abolished until 1936.

Product Details

• Paperback: 412 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (August 27, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 052144702X
• ISBN-13: 978-0521447027
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,046,920 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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5.0 out of 5 stars Slavery in Northern Nigeria, October 21, 2009

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Angel Book Reader "book reviewer" (Morgantown, WV) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Slow Death for Slavery: The Course of Abolition in Northern Nigeria 1897-1936 (African Studies) (Paperback)

In nine chapters, the authors discussed the gradual decline of slavery in Northern Nigeria, specifically in the Sokoto Caliphate. Slavery ended as a result of the different policies of the British in this region of Nigeria. The first efforts at ending slavery were stopping the raiding of slaves. Then there was the policy of granting freedom to all children born after April 1, 1901. Later policies allowed slaves to purchase their own freedom or third parties to ransom them. Women received their freedom through marriage or concubinage. The official abolition of slavery by the British was in 1936. The study by Lovejoy and Hogendorn concentrates on the British part of the Sokoto Caliphate because a majority of the slaves were in this area. The process of emancipation of slaves in this area was "jerky;" it took over four decades, from 1897 - 1936. The policy of emancipation was crafted by Sir Frederick Lugard, the High Commissioner of Northern Nigeria (1900-1906.)It was the 1936 abolition of Ordinance No. 19 which had "maintained the status of slavery for individuals born before April 1, 1901" that legally brought slavery to an end in Northern Nigeria.

This book is a thoroughly researched work with hundreds of sources. The authors carefully analyzed their sources to support the main thesis of their book, which is that the British did not end slavery immediately but it was an evolving process which took about four decades. The book also reveals the complexities involved in ending not only the raiding of slaves but also the institution of slavery. The British who originally claimed the reason they invaded the emirates was to end slavery, found themselves partners with the emirs and village leaders who perpetrated slavery in the next four decades. It was not to the British interest to end slavery immediately and thus, they became accomplices in the institution for which they sought to eliminate. While the policies of the British concerning slaves were directed at male slaves, the authors did a good job extracting and presenting the colonial officials' policy on slave women, most especially, concubinage. Their chapter on concubinage is excellent. The authors also devoted a significant portion of their book to discuss the relationship between slavery and the pre-colonial and post-colonial economy.

The book has some weaknesses. While the authors claim that this book results from several years of research in Northern Nigeria, their history is more an "elitist" history. Their focus is on the colonial policies and the emirs/ village heads. The voices of the slave masters and the slaves themselves are rarely heard in the book. A detailed study of this nature should reflect the experiences of the slave masters and the slaves. It would be a different book if those voices were heard. The second weakness I identified in the book is the repetitions. The authors have a tendency to repeat the same facts over and over again. The same things discussed in previous chapters or sections, get mentioned again. While this might be an attempt to drive important points in the book, it makes reading the book burdensome. The last weakness I identified in the book is that the authors ignored the politics of slavery. In every human institution, there is politics. Questions such as these are ignored: To what extent the British were involved in the local politics? Did slaves within an estate have leaders? Were there emirs who were more favorable to the emancipation of slaves? How did village leaders or emirs got chosen? Were there local leaders who worked with the British against their own people and the institution of slavery?

On the whole, I found this book insightful. While more work needs to be done in this area, this is a good start. Historians studying West Africa or slavery would find this book very resourceful. I strongly recommend this book.