Olin Chats in the Stacks book talk: Slave Owners of West Africa: Decision Making in the Age of Abolition, 2018-04-25

By the end of World War One, most of West Africa found themselves colonized by either France, Britain, Germany or Portugal. One aspect of colonial rule was the abolition of slavery. The institution of indigenous slavery continues to influence social relations in West Africa today. Professor Sandra Greene will present her new book Slave Owners of West Africa (Indiana University Press, May, 2017). Exploring the lives of three prominent West African slave owners during the age of abolition, Greene discovers the reasons why these individuals reacted to the demise of slavery as they did. Her book emphasizes the notion that the decisions made by these individuals were deeply influenced by their personalities and desires to protect their economic and social status. Their insecurities and sympathies for wives, friends, and other associates had a significant impact on their actions.