Major ethnic groups brought to Mississippi during the Atlantic slave trade included peoples from West-Central Africa (such as the Kongo, from modern-day Congo and Angola), the Bight of Benin (Yoruba and Fon from Nigeria, Benin, and Togo), the Gold Coast (Akan from Ghana), and the Senegambia region (Mandinka and Wolof from Senegal, Gambia, and Mali). Enslaved people also came from the Bight of Biafra (parts of present-day Nigeria and Cameroon). These groups were largely forced to Mississippi under French, Spanish, and British colonial rule, with the Natchez area being a significant slave market.
Key Ethnic Groups and Regions
West-Central Africa:Enslaved people from this region, including the Kongo, were brought to Mississippi, especially under Spanish colonial rule.
Bight of Benin:This region, encompassing parts of present-day Nigeria, Benin, and Togo, was a major source of enslaved people, including the Yoruba and Fon people, who are mentioned as being brought to French colonial settings like Mississippi.
Gold Coast:Peoples from this region, such as the Akan (from what is now Ghana), also formed a significant part of the enslaved population in the Americas.
Senegambia:The region of modern-day Senegal, Gambia, and parts of Mali supplied many enslaved people, including Mandinka and Wolof peoples, who are noted in historical accounts.
Bight of Biafra:This inlet of the Atlantic, comprising parts of present-day Nigeria and Cameroon, was another area from which enslaved Africans were taken.
Colonial Context
French Colonial Rule:The French introduced enslaved people, including Caribbean Creoles, to Mississippi under the Code Noir.
Spanish Colonial Rule:Under Spanish rule, Spain offered incentives for bringing enslaved people to its territories, and people from the Kongo were brought to the area.
British Rule:The Mississippi Territory also received enslaved Africans, including Jamaican-born people, under British rule.
Market Hubs:The area known as the Forks of the Road in Natchez, Mississippi, served as a major slave market, facilitating the internal trade and dispersal of enslaved people throughout the region.
