Origins Of Enslaved Africans In Grenada
Between the 17th and 19th centuries, Grenada became a hub for the transatlantic slave trade. Over 129,000 enslaved Africans were brought to the island, mostly through British and French trading companies. These Africans were taken from various parts of West and Central Africa, and while individual tribal identities were often erased, records and ship logs give us clues about their likely origins.
Where do they come from?
Based on ship records and slave registers, the majority of enslaved Africans in Grenada came from the following regions:
| African Region | Estimated Number | Present-Day Countries | Ethnic Groups |
| Bight of Biafra | ~37,000 | Nigeria, Cameroon | Igbo, Ibibio |
| Gold Coast | ~18,000 | Ghana | Akan (Ashanti, Fante) |
| Windward Coast | ~14,000 | Côte d’Ivoire | Kru, Bête, others |
| Sierra Leone / Guinea Coast | ~12,000 | Sierra Leone, Guinea | Temne, Mende, Susu |
| Kongo / Angola | ~12,000 | Angola, DRC, Republic of Congo | Bakongo, Mbundu |
| Senegambia | ~5,000 | Senegal, The Gambia | Mandinka, Wolof |
| Bight of Benin | ~5,800 | Nigeria, Benin, Togo | Yoruba, Fon, Ewe |
These ethnic groups brought with them a rich cultural heritage — including languages, music, spiritual practices, agricultural knowledge, and resistance traditions that have shaped Grenadian society.[1]
- ↑ Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade - Database