“The Devastating Legacy of the Transatlantic Slave Trade: How Africa was Castrated and Left Behind”

Story by Fada Amakye

A lecture by Dr. Gamel Nasser Adam, Vice President of Islamic University, has shed light on the profound impact of the transatlantic slave trade on Africa’s development, highlighting how the continent was depopulated, its technology stunted, and its people brutalized.

According to Dr. Adam, Africa was not inferior to the Western world before the slave trade, but rather, its technology was superior in some cases. The transatlantic slave trade, which lasted for 400 years, led to the loss of about 160 million people, mostly from the most productive segments of the population, resulting in social disintegration, economic stagnation, and technological underdevelopment.

The slave trade disrupted Africa’s social stability, preventing the smooth transmission of knowledge, skills, and achievements from one generation to the next. The removal of the most productive members of society, including skilled craftsmen, artisans, and minor miners, left the continent impoverished and stultified.

Dr. Adam emphasized that the consequences of the slave trade are still felt today, with Africa struggling to develop its traditional technologies and accumulate capital.

The Industrial Revolution, which transformed the world, passed Africa by due to the instability and disruption caused by the slave trade.

The lecture highlighted the need for Africa to acknowledge its past and address the ongoing impact of the slave trade on its development. By understanding the historical context, Africans can begin to rebuild and reclaim their place in the world.

:Key points from the lecture:

-Africa was depopulated, with 160 million people lost to the slave trade

-The slave trade disrupted social stability and stunted technological development

-Africa’s most productive members, including skilled craftsmen and artisans, were removed

-The Industrial Revolution passed Africa by due to instability and disruption

-The consequences of the slave trade are still felt today, with Africa struggling to develop and accumulate capital.