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Journal of Cape Verdean Studies

Abstract

This article explores the ending of slavery in Cabo Verde by using the Committee of Protection of Slaves and Freed-person. Rather than just following the directives from Lisbon, it shows that local leaders were reluctant to establish the institution and cautiously approached the abolition of slavery in the colony. Nevertheless, enslaved Africans and their descendants fully exploited the new laws to gain nominal freedom. Like other parts of the Atlantic world, being freed was a state between manumission and emancipation, because there were struggles over payments, ‘rights’ for the manumitted individuals and mandatory seven years services were required by law.

Note on the Author

Lumumba H. Shabaka is an Assistant Professor in the History Department at Howard University, with a Ph.D. in African History from Michigan State University, 2013. His research interest is social and cultural history of pre-colonial West Africa, slave trade and slavery.

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