Throughout history, it is not uncommon for stories to be silenced; especially when such a story is told through the voice of a slave. Slaves did not have the same equal rights as free men. Nor were they seen as individuals in their own right – worth less than the average citizen, able to be sold and exchanged like property. Abina Mansha was a slave who formerly lived in Asante, but came to live in the British colony of the Gold Coast in 1876, after being sold to Guamin Eddoo by her husband, Yawawhah. As Abina claims in her testimony, her purchase was no accident. "Slavery had been abolished throughout the British Empire, a law extended to the Gold Coast in 1874. Yet, ironically, the demand for labor on palm oil plantations and in their owners' homes meant that the slave trade to the Gold Coast did not dry up after the war” (Getz and Clark, 2011, p. 6). but spoken from different perspectives, helps shed light on Abina's personal lifestyle while the date and location give us deeper insight into how the world responded to 19th century Western culture; Although the Atlantic slave trade began in 1441, it was not until almost a century later that Europeans became truly interested in the West African coast. conquering the interior, they concentrated their efforts on obtaining human cargo along the West African coast. During the 1590s, the Dutch challenged the Portuguese monopoly to become the leading slave trading nation (“Africa and the Atlantic Slave Trade,” NA). In addition to the slave trade, it was also during this time that political changes occurred. Europe... middle of paper ...... on Abina's testimony, agree with each other - continually rephrasing the question: "How do you know you were a slave?" "Because of this worldview, they [being the British] often believed that slaves could be legitimately described as "wards", "apprentices", "adopted" children, or even "wives", and refused often to free them or punish the slaves. owners, unless physical abuse can be proven or the evidence is indisputable” (Getz and Clark, 2011, p. 111). In Abina's case, there was no abuse. Works Cited Getz, TR and Clarke, L. (2012). Abina and the Important Men: A Graphic History. New York: Oxford University Press. The National Archives | Exhibitions and online learning | Black presence | Africa and the Caribbean. (nd). Accessed March 18, 2014 from http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pathways/blackhistory/africa_caribbean/africa_trade.htm