Essay on Abina Mansha, A Slave - 895 Words

Throughout history, it is not uncommon for stories to become silenced; especially, when such a story is being told by the voice of a slaves. Slaves were not granted the same equal rights as the free men. They also were not seen as whole individuals -- worth less than the average citizen, to be sold and traded as property. Abina Mansha was a female slave whom once lived in Asante but came to live in the British Gold Coast Colony during 1876, after being sold to Guamin Eddoo by her husband, Yawawhah. As Abina claims in her testimony, her purchase was no accident. Slavery had been abolished throughout the British Empire, a law extended into the Gold Coast in 1874. Yet ironically, the demand for laborers on the growing palm oil plantations†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å". . . Forts built by the Portuguese and Dutch on the Gold Coast (modern Ghana) were captured by the British in 1667† (â€Å"Africa and the Atlantic Slave Trade†, NA), and later, â€Å". . . New technol ogies and medicines . . . allowed the Europeans to pursue military and political power further into the interior† (Getz and Clark, 2011, p. 103) The British fought to control the area specifically for the gold, and palm oil – an ingredient used for the production of soap, and as machine lubricant. â€Å"Second, the industrial Revolution enabled Britain in particular to enlarge its military and commercial power to the point that it was able to eventually drive the other European powers out of the region, with the Danish (1850) and Dutch (1871-1872) being the last to leave† (Getz and Clark, 2011, p. 103). After Britain gained control of the region, new rules were placed into effect. Most Africans adapted to the sudden changes: becoming English-speaking Africans, accepting jobs from the British, trading with the British and even marrying British citizens. â€Å"It was this these men who tried to create European-style but independent states such as the Accra Confed eration and who wrote a constitution for the Fante Confederation of 1873† (Getz and Clark, 2011, p. 106). Yet, despite these positive effects, negative effects also existed. In the 1670s, with sugar becoming high demand, the need for slaves increased. â€Å". . . Europeans