The Slave Trade in the Indian Ocean: Zanzibar and the Clove Islands

Ouidah: The Slave Coast's Most Feared Fort

In Episode 92 of The Atlantic Slave Trade, Lucas and Luna explore the rise of Ouidah, the Dahomean port that became the epicenter of the Slave Coast. They trace its transformation from a quiet coastal town to a fortified slave-trading hub under King Agaja, who conquered the region in 1727. The episode details the infamous Portuguese Fort of São João Baptista de Ajudá, the role of the Dahomean Amazon warriors in slave raids, and the brutal annual 'Customs' ceremonies where captives were sacrificed. Lucas explains how Ouidah's unique position—neither a European colony nor a fully African kingdom—created a complex web of collaboration and coercion. The conversation also touches on the destruction of nearby rival ports like Offra and Jakin, the life of Francisco Félix de Sousa (the Chacha of Ouidah), and the port's decline after the 1807 abolition. A final segment reflects on what Ouidah means today as a UNESCO World Heritage site and a symbol of the African diaspora's resilience. #Ouidah #SlaveCoast #Dahomey #KingAgaja #AmazonWarriors #FortSãoJoãoBatistadeAjudá #FranciscoFélixdeSousa #Chacha #Offra #Jakin #CustomsCeremony #AtlanticSlaveTrade #FexingoHistory #History #AfricanHistory #Slavery #UNESCO #Diaspora Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

The 1674 Capture of the Golden Galley: A Pirate Slave Ship

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the story of the Golden Galley, a pirate ship that was captured off the coast of West Africa in 1674 with a cargo of enslaved Africans. They discuss the Royal African Company's efforts to suppress rival European traders and pirates, the role of the English navy in protecting the slave trade, and the fate of the captives aboard the ship. The episode also touches on the broader context of the Atlantic slave trade in the late 17th century, including the Dutch and English competition for control of the trade routes. Specific details include the ship's captain, John Pearce, the involvement of the HMS Hunter, and the subsequent trial of the pirates in London. #GoldenGalley #PirateSlaveShip #RoyalAfricanCompany #JohnPearce #HMSHunter #SlaveTrade #1674 #WestAfrica #AtlanticHistory #Piracy #17thCentury #EnglishNavy #DutchSlaveTrade #CapturedShip #Trial #London #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

The 1694 Capture of the Henrietta Marie: Slave Ship Wreck

In 1700, the slave ship Henrietta Marie sank off the Florida Keys, carrying a cargo of iron shackles, beads, and elephant tusks. Discovered in 1972, the wreck became the most tangible artifact of the Middle Passage ever excavated. This episode follows the ship's 1694-1700 voyages from London to the Gold Coast to Jamaica, the lives of the 190 enslaved people it carried, and the forensic evidence that made the wreck a memorial. We examine the discovery by treasure hunters, the controversy over artifact ownership, and the decision to leave shackles on the seafloor as a grave marker. Along the way, we meet Captain John Taylor, the Royal African Company's slave-trading infrastructure at Cape Coast Castle, and the Akan merchants who supplied captives. The episode ends with a reflection on what material culture reveals—and conceals—about the slave trade. #HenriettaMarie #SlaveShip #MiddlePassage #FloridaKeys #MaritimeArchaeology #CapeCoastCastle #GoldCoast #Akan #RoyalAfricanCompany #TreasureHunting #UnderwaterMemorial #IronShackles #ElephantTusk #TransatlanticSlaveTrade #17thCentury #Shipwreck #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

The 1756 Trial of Captain Kimber: A Slave Ship Captain Convicted of Murder

In January 1756, Captain John Kimber of the slave ship Recovery was tried at the Old Bailey for the murder of a 15-year-old enslaved girl. Kimber had ordered her flogged for refusing to eat, and she died days later. The prosecution was brought by Granville Sharp, who used the case to challenge the legal status of the slave trade. The trial became a cause célèbre in London, revealing the brutality of the Middle Passage to a public that had rarely seen it so starkly. This episode explores the evidence presented in court—the testimony of sailors, the condition of the slave ship, and the competing narratives of 'discipline' versus 'murder.' We also examine why Kimber was acquitted, and how the case influenced the growing abolitionist movement in Britain. Sharp's loss in court turned into a propaganda victory, as he published a detailed account that horrified readers and fueled demands for reform. A pivotal moment in the legal and moral battle against the slave trade, often overshadowed by later victories. #CaptainKimber #RecoverySlaveShip #GranvilleSharp #OldBailey #MurderTrial #MiddlePassure #SlaveTrade #Abolition #1756 #London #18thCentury #BritishHistory #LegalHistory #EnslavedGirl #Flogging #History #FexingoHistory #WorldHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

The 1752 Massacre at Calabar: Old Calabar and the Slave Trade

This episode of The Atlantic Slave Trade: Empire Built on Human Suffering explores the 1752 massacre at Old Calabar, a devastating event that exposed the brutal mechanics of the slave trade on the Bight of Biafra. Hosts Lucas and Luna delve into the complex role of the Efik people, the key figures of the era like Duke Ephraim and the slave trader John Bibby, and the infamous 'house system' that turned captives into commodities. They unpack the massacre that killed hundreds of Duke Town's inhabitants, the ensuing power struggles, and the chilling reality of how African intermediaries collaborated with European traders. The conversation touches on the use of the 'blood men'—executioners who killed the weak to avoid wasting ship space—and the long-term impact on the region, including the rise of the Aro Confederacy. This episode challenges simple narratives of victim and perpetrator, revealing a tangled web of commerce, survival, and betrayal that fueled the transatlantic slave trade. #OldCalabar #Efik #BightofBiafra #Massacre1752 #DukeEphraim #JohnBibby #SlaveCoast #Nigeria #CrossRiver #TransatlanticSlaveTrade #HouseSystem #BloodMen #AroConfederacy #AfricanIntermediaries #Slavery #History #FexingoHistory #AtlanticHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]