Rosalie Akouele Abbey 
Customary Law 
Slavery and the Slave Trade

The African meaning of slavery was different in its nature and purpose from that which emerged with the Slave Trades. The native institution is at the heart of a cluster of institutions, which marked the end of the last recorded ‘Reorganization’ process. Those among the Africans, who opted for the preservation of their environment, won the debate. Thus, they labeled the losers ‘insurgents’, ordered many of these ancient master smiths, masons and scientists to be put to death. The victors also invented this peculiar form of slavery to contain the ancient technicians and scientists who survived the massacres. Thus, Africa self-disarmed. The descendants of communities thus marginalized, are what are often called, today, ‘castes’ or ‘traditional professional communities’; or still ‘craftsmen’. Not just African slavery, but Reorganization”s institutions were flawed enough to suffer debasements. Human failings as well, helped a self-disarmed continent embrace the new notion of slavery brought on by Africa”s immediate neighbors in the wee years of the last millennium. Amid confusions generated by this upheaval, communities ordered to live apart mingled, as wars raged on to feed the Slave Trades. By the end of the 18th century onwards, Africa was in chaos and taken over by European powers. With the 1960”s theoretical regaining of freedom, Africans unleashed upon themselves wars, disrespect towards each other resulting in gross infringement of human rights to settle issues left unresolved. In the name of development, the new African states made their own every piece of liberally-inspired legal machinery available; turning their back at their past. Yet, therein lie some of the answers African states have been searching for about sixty years now.