Nigeria’s dark history of slavery and colonialism has been revisited by journalist Ganiyu Abdullahi. Writing for The Guardian, Abdullahi traces the origins of Nigeria as a commodity, created in the late 19th century when the Royal Niger Company sold its administrative rights to the British government for £865,000. Abdullahi notes that prior to this transaction, various resourceful kingdoms, emirates and towns in Nigeria were crushed, with traditional rulers and people killed, for resisting colonial invasions and enslavement.
It is estimated that 10 million people were enslaved from West Africa alone, dehumanized and shipped overseas like cargo. British, Portuguese, Spanish, German, American and French people are considered guilty of this monumental crime against humanity.
Those who were forced into slavery were typically chained and gagged like animals and sold to European slave merchants on the coast, while ships were not available on the sea. Slaves were also kept in “barracoons,” inhumanly confined, before being shipped overseas.
Women, who were left unchained, were subject to excessive sexual abuse by crewmen. Babies born from such conjugations between Europeans and Africans were stigmatized and called “brown babies.” Despite this history, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, an elder-statesman, revealed that the Soviets still believed that Africans were animals, as they touched the Nigerians to confirm if their black skin would rub off on theirs.
Despite this, most of the European countries, particularly the British and Americans, owe the foundation of their greatness and prosperity to the Negros, whose arts, literature, music and sports have enriched them greatly.