Abina Essay

The graphic novel “Abina and the important men” tells the story of a Nigerian woman who is trying to sue her former master for enslaving her even though slavery has been technically outlawed where she lives (pg. 49). Though her situation does fit the British Empire’s definition of slavery the expenses of liberating every slave on the Gold Coast was not feasible at the time, which was why her master is found innocent (pg. 76).

Despite having been the largest trader of slaves at the time, slavery is now technically outlawed in the Gold Coast by the time Abina runs away from her master (pg. 49). Abina was taken to her master’s house by her husband and “left there”. After 10 days of following orders without pay she is told by her master that her husband has left her and she must take a new husband of his choosing (pg. 45). At that moment, she refuses and stands up to her master. He says to both her and the man he presents to her that they will be married because they are his slaves. After this, Abina is presented with threats of being beaten should she not obey (pg.44).

Toward the end of the trial, the judge overseeing this case does in fact believe that Abina was a slave and forced to work against her will (pg.48). He also realizes that financially for both the slave owners of the Gold Coast and the Crown, it is just too expensive to liberate every slave in the protectorate. Britain has just spent a large sum of money annexing the Gold Coast. In addition the area is slowly modernizing, so freeing slaves will destroy the emerging economy (pg.50). Furthermore, if the slaves are all suddenly freed the price of palm oil, a vital resource the British need, will become outrageously expensive because slaves are used in the production of the product.

Overall, the British are willing to let many Africans remain enslaved because they are producing a vital product they need for a low price. It is not possible to make palm oil in England, so they need to travel all the way to West Africa in order to obtain it. While at the time slavery was deemed to be wrong, it just was not feasible for either the Africans or the British to free all of the slaves at once. Therefore, many slave-owners were not welcoming of this new modern change, and the British had to look the other way because there was a resource they needed.

...