A Fistful of Shells: West Africa from the Rise of the Slave Trade to the Age of Revolution

A Fistful of Shells: West Africa from the Rise of the Slave Trade to the Age of Revolution by Toby Green

In the forward, the author details why is writing the history and the challenges of doing so. Then the introduction repeats the same points. Then the history gets started. West Africa was once fabulously wealthy. However, much of the historical records for the last half-millenia is spread all over the world. The details of Africa were seen as secondary to other colonial endeavors. Africa has had many small groups that have been in conflict with each other. Slaves, like shells and metals have all served as units of trade.

In the transatlantic slave trade, most of the slaves were African sold by other Africans to Europeans. However, this was often one group selling their captured enemies, no their compatriots. One political leader was sold into American slavery and was able to free himself and return back home. That provides one first-hand story of the trade.

The culture in Africa was later influenced by both American and European culture and agriculture. Slavery had been used by Europeans as justification for interacting in Africa. Europeans helped propagate widespread slavery, then later felt they were the ones that would help end slavery.

This book has some interesting paragraphs, but feels much too long and disorganized.