The effects of the slave trade on Nigerian society could be categorized into different groups as follows: – Social, political, economic, and technological.
SOCIAL EFFECTS
The introduction of the slave trade caused the following harms:
- It led to the depopulation of Africa.
- It led to the decline of agriculture.
- It equally led to the stratification or demarcation of citizens in Nigeria.
POLITICAL EFFECTS
- It led to the growth of some states e.g. Bonny, Brass, Okrika, etc.
- It raised the Euro influence in the south-eastern parts of the county.
- It was responsible for the rise and fall of some empires – e.g. Oyo.
ECONOMIC EFFECTS
- Economically, slave trade brought about development in Africa.
- It extended the trading activities of African countries to the coast.
- With the idea of the slave trade, the ruling classes were growing financially.
TECHNOLOGICAL EFFECTS
The slave trade brought about the knowledge of technical know-how in Africa. Eg, Canoe building.
CULTURAL EFFECTS
The slave trade extended African culture to the hinterland – Brazil and Cuba, in that the victims went there and practiced some of their native cultures.