West Africa/the Portuguese

Cape Verde

Cape Verde islands among the Atlantic islands where slave labor needed early in European expansion. Settlers there, many Portuguese, established flourishing cotton growing/manufacturing industry, utilized labor from African mainland. Brought Mandinga weavers to the islands,  produced distinctive trade cloth that was staple of WEst African commerce.

São Tomé and Príncipe

1480s Portugal discovered these islands, developed thriving sugar plantations. Became the largest single producer of sugar for the European market by the early 1500s. Their system became model for plantation slavery in Americas/the Caribbean

Kongo

West-central Africa, modern day Angola, by the early 1300s, the main group of villages formed. They opposed the slave trade initially, had pictured possible mutually beneficial exchange with European state but forced to sell captives. Increased interactions with Portuguese in 1500s when Kongolese Christian convert seized throne, became more dependent on export of captives in exchange for Portuguese military support

Afonso I

 Kongolese Christian convert who seized the throne of Kongo in 1506, had close relations with Portugal, trusted their sincerity in their letters, but Portugal mainly wanted slaves, promoted local wars of resistance to him to increase captive supply

Benin

Began in the 900s when the Edo people settled in the rainforests of West Africa, modern day Nigeria. Still expanding in the 1400s, had early interactions selling slaves to the Portuguese in exchange for gold. Highly developed court art, brass, copper heads and figurines

oba

Traditional ruler of Benin, famous one was Ewuare who helped military expansion of Benin in 1400s, directed the selling of slaves to the Portuguese

Lançados

Private traders and officials who defected from Portuguese along the west African coast, undermining the Portuguese monopoly. Often took African wives from local ruling families, securing protection and trading ties. 15th/16th centuries

Crioulo/criollo

Any ethnic group formed during the European colonial era, some mix of African and non-African racial or cultural heritage. Such as Portuguese traveling along coast, some took African wives, created mix

Signares

Black or mixed Senegalese women who had influence via European husbands and patrimony. Were often children from European men and African women. Them and their métis children were a crucial intermediary class. Knowledge of European and African languages and ability to navigate Senegal River, could participate in trade. 15th-19th centuries

Senegal river

Important trade along the river, much of it marks border between modern day Senegal and Mauritania

Saint Louis

Founded in the 17th century by the French to secure their trade interests on the Senegal River. Vital port city for transatlantic trade. Relied on free African women to facilitate commerce, domestic services, cultural intermediaries for European men. Neither strictly French nor absorbed into Wolof societies of valleys

Elmina

Portuguese sailing ships first reached west African coast south of Akan goldfields in 1470s, built their fort Elmina to protect from rival European shipping. Built it in 1482, modern day Ghana. Intense contact between Europeans/Africans

Prazos

Large estate leased to Portuguese colonial settlers and traders in Africa to exploit continent’s resources. Given in exchange for annual fixed fee, semi-feudal system, most commonly found in Zambezi River Valley