Women in Pre-colonial era
Slavery was a form of exploitation. Slave trade was a defining element in the creation of wealth and state power in Africa before the intervention of the European powers during the scramble for Africa. Slaves were used as sex objects, laborers and in extreme cases they were offered as sacrifices to the gods (Wehrs, 2007). Slaves were also recruited in military divisions others performed domestic chores, whereas others were recruited for personal reasons such as prestige of the slave holder (Perbi, 2010). This paper will explore the plight of the female slaves in pre-colonial Africa including the various comparisons that can be generated.
According to historical documentation, most of the slaves in Africa in the pre-colonial period were females. It is estimated that more than two thirds of all slaves found in Africa were females. This has been attributed to the fact that women slaves were highly valued than their male counterparts (Rodriguez, 1997). The reason for the high rating of women slaves has been speculated to be that in pre-colonial, colonial, and even post-colonial Africa, women are the major source of agricultural labor and in addition, women were capable of bearing children who in turn could be an additional source of labor (Pepek, 2010). Women could be treated as sex objects by their masters who also controlled their ability to marry (Lovejoy, 2006). Another argument has it that since slavery was assimilative females were preferred as they could not pass their slavery status to the children especially in a situation where the father is free and the society patrilineal (Rodriguez, 1997).
In most African societies, both the free and enslaved women were disadvantaged and in fact free women were more disadvantaged than the female slaves. This is elaborated by the fact that girls were more likely to be pawned as compared to the boys. It was more common for debtors to give out their daughters or female relatives to creditors to provide labor and in some cases marry them off in cancellation of the debt as part of the bride-price. Women slaves were less likely to buy their freedom since they lacked skills that could earn them some money. Others could not escape from slavery especially if they had children andor had been successfully assimilated into their new community (Rodriguez, 1997).
Slavery can be said to have formed a very important part of human history. In Africa, slavery did last longer than any other part of the world (Lovejoy, 2006). Muslims in particular had more pronounced female slave labor with as free women were secluded whereas the slave women performed the outside labor. In Africa, women slavery continued much longer even after it was abolished due to the fact that the women had no skills as men to help them acquire wage jobs (Rodriguez, 1997). Muslims used female slaves as concubines and that the children born from the concubines or slave wives were accorded some status provided that they were born of free men. Concubines could be offered for sale upon giving birth or were freed following the death of their masters. Other religions demanded slave wives to be incorporated into the community. In situations where the children of the slave women were not accorded full status as those of free men and women, some customs prevented the selling and mistreatment of the enslaved children (Lovejoy, 2006).
It is worthy noting that slavery in pre-colonial Africa took gender disparity to another level as female slaves suffered more when compared to their male counterparts. Slavery has been observed to have continued following the women in its ugly shadow just because the women of the pre-colonial era did not have the required skills to be absorbed into wage labor. The female slaves therefore continued to suffer the effects of slavery even when the vice had been officially abolished in Africa.
According to historical documentation, most of the slaves in Africa in the pre-colonial period were females. It is estimated that more than two thirds of all slaves found in Africa were females. This has been attributed to the fact that women slaves were highly valued than their male counterparts (Rodriguez, 1997). The reason for the high rating of women slaves has been speculated to be that in pre-colonial, colonial, and even post-colonial Africa, women are the major source of agricultural labor and in addition, women were capable of bearing children who in turn could be an additional source of labor (Pepek, 2010). Women could be treated as sex objects by their masters who also controlled their ability to marry (Lovejoy, 2006). Another argument has it that since slavery was assimilative females were preferred as they could not pass their slavery status to the children especially in a situation where the father is free and the society patrilineal (Rodriguez, 1997).
In most African societies, both the free and enslaved women were disadvantaged and in fact free women were more disadvantaged than the female slaves. This is elaborated by the fact that girls were more likely to be pawned as compared to the boys. It was more common for debtors to give out their daughters or female relatives to creditors to provide labor and in some cases marry them off in cancellation of the debt as part of the bride-price. Women slaves were less likely to buy their freedom since they lacked skills that could earn them some money. Others could not escape from slavery especially if they had children andor had been successfully assimilated into their new community (Rodriguez, 1997).
Slavery can be said to have formed a very important part of human history. In Africa, slavery did last longer than any other part of the world (Lovejoy, 2006). Muslims in particular had more pronounced female slave labor with as free women were secluded whereas the slave women performed the outside labor. In Africa, women slavery continued much longer even after it was abolished due to the fact that the women had no skills as men to help them acquire wage jobs (Rodriguez, 1997). Muslims used female slaves as concubines and that the children born from the concubines or slave wives were accorded some status provided that they were born of free men. Concubines could be offered for sale upon giving birth or were freed following the death of their masters. Other religions demanded slave wives to be incorporated into the community. In situations where the children of the slave women were not accorded full status as those of free men and women, some customs prevented the selling and mistreatment of the enslaved children (Lovejoy, 2006).
It is worthy noting that slavery in pre-colonial Africa took gender disparity to another level as female slaves suffered more when compared to their male counterparts. Slavery has been observed to have continued following the women in its ugly shadow just because the women of the pre-colonial era did not have the required skills to be absorbed into wage labor. The female slaves therefore continued to suffer the effects of slavery even when the vice had been officially abolished in Africa.
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