When we discuss the history of slavery, the Atlantic slave trade often dominates the conversation. Yet another, far longer, and deeply consequential slave system, the Arab-Islamic slave trade, spanned over 1,300 years, from the 7th to the 20th century, and affected millions of Africans.
Historical estimates suggest that between 17 and 20 million Africans were captured and transported across North Africa and the Middle East during this period, according to scholars such as Tidiane N'Diaye (Le Génocide voilé, 2008) and Paul Lovejoy (Islam's Black Slaves, 2001). Mortality rates en route were extremely high, and the trade included practices such as castration of male captives and the absorption of women into households as concubines.
Comparing the Numbers
| Metric | Arab-Islamic Trade (650–1900) | Atlantic Trade (1500–1866) |
| Estimated captives | 17–20 million | ~12.5 million |
| Mortality en route / in captivity | 80–90% | ~15% |
| Castration of male captives | High | Almost zero |
| Reproduction of enslaved population | Often prevented | Encouraged (natural population growth) |
| Duration | 13 centuries | ~3.5 centuries |
While the Atlantic slave trade produced a lasting African diaspora in the Americas, the Arab-Islamic trade often disrupted family and community continuity, erasing lineage over generations. These historical facts, while documented, rarely appear in university curricula, public discussions, or popular narratives about slavery.
Why It's Less Discussed
Several factors contribute to the relative silence around the Arab-Islamic slave trade:
Focus on Western history: Much modern anti-racist discourse in Western countries focuses on European colonialism and the transatlantic slave trade; the whites are evil racists thesis.
Sensitivity around religion and ethnicity: Critiques of Islamic societies, even historical ones, are often treated as politically sensitive. This can limit the extent to which the topic is discussed in classrooms and media.
Historical narrative framing: Highlighting large-scale slavery outside the Atlantic context challenges simplified narratives of slavery as a "uniquely Western evil."
Remembering the Past
Slavery in the Arab world persisted far longer than in many Western contexts. Saudi Arabia abolished slavery in 1962, Mauritania in 1981 (with full enforcement only from 2007), and the Zanzibar market closed only after British intervention in 1873.
Recognising the scale and impact of these events does not diminish the suffering caused by the transatlantic trade; rather, it offers a fuller picture of global slavery history. Teaching about the Arab-Islamic slave trade alongside the Atlantic trade provides a more complete understanding of African history and the human cost of slavery.
By engaging with these historical facts, scholars, educators, and readers can ensure that millions of Africans whose lives were lost or disrupted are not forgotten, regardless of the geographic or cultural context.