The Elites and greed

I was weaned with the talk about slave trade. The whiteman, I was told came here to pick our  strongest and brightest for servitude in foreign lands. The film 'Roots' that I watched opened my eyes further to the very extreme inhumane treatment my people suffered on the way and whilst being traded like cattle.

Most of them were sold in markets and became properties of other people. The women were randomly raped and some impregnated and they had no choice. It was a vicious period in history. No words can describe what our brothers and sisters endured and it is important for us to put into context the deep hurt and anger they still feel.

Of recent however, I have come to realise that all over Nigeria, there were collaborators. Our kings, chiefs, some of the elite took part and profited from this events. I was shocked to read about the extent the British took to stop us from this evil trade. 

Our people will raid towns, villages to capture young men and women, then bring them to the white slave traders for sale.  Was I shocked?  I thought different. I was of the impression the white folks went into the land killing and maiming and capturing captives. That my own people had helped in any way was sobering. Are we cursed?

Wars were deliberately wrought in other to satisfy the lust of some of us for cheap wealth. Unfortunately, this terrible blood soaked appetite for wealth has not left us. See the corruption in our countries.

The British banned slave trade in the early 1800s. It took force for them to stop some of our kings and chiefs from continuing the trade.

They blockaded our ports but the Nigerian elite found ways to elude and continue the smuggling. 

At a point, when the ban was accepted for trade in palm products, the local lords went for more slaves to boost their business. 

Is this British revisionist history I'm reading? Are people out there trying to paint the wrong picture? Can this be true? Did some of us really collaborate or am I rushing into judgement here?

Oh please let this part of our history be lies. If its not, then it may just explain the extreme greed of our present rulers. 

Ayanate. 

Continues...