Slavery in Somalia

Slavery in Somalia existed as a part of the East African slave trade and Arab slave trade. To meet the demand for menial labor, Bantus from southeastern Africa slaves were exported via the Zanzibar slave trade and were sold in cumulatively large numbers over the centuries to customers in East Africa and other areas in Northeast Africa and Asia by the Somalis.[1]

The trade routes of slaves in medieval Africa.

Oromo subjects were favoured due to their features compared to other slaves.[2] Additionally, they were not viewed as very different from their Somali owners, thus being higher in price compared to other East Africans.[3]

  1. ^ Campbell, Gwyn (2003). The Structure of Slavery in Indian Ocean Africa and Asia. (1st ed.) London; Portland, OR (US): Routledge. p. ix ISBN 9780714683881
  2. ^ Krapf, Johann Ludwig (1857). Pauline Fatme, First Fruits of the Gallas to Christ Jesus. Germany: The British Library. p. 9.
  3. ^ Besteman (1999), p. 116.