Slave Raiding
As women became warriors and engaged in slave raiding they became economically productive and their labors brought vast wealth into the kingdom. King Tegbessou made £250,000 a year selling people into slavery in 1750.[1] King Gezo also utilized the revenues from the women warriors to lower taxes, and stimulate other areas of economic growth, namely the agricultural and mercantile economies of Dahomey. Additionally, the work of the women warriors served the reproduction responsibilities within the palace. The warriors reproduced themselves by capturing slaves who were added to the ranks of female soldiers.
The female warriors gained economic benefit and earned income from the captives and other trophies they brought back from warring and slave raiding. This in turn empowered the warriors to have a more commanding role in determining their future and the future of Dahomey. As their power rose inside the palace, the women gained a stronger voice in Dahomean political matters. Women were actively politicking and their advice and counsel were sought after.[2] They helped determine if they went to war, and with whom. As wives of the king and soldiers in the army, the female soldiers helped shape the policies of the country.[3] Capturing and either trading, training, or using captives as farm laborers was a major way the female solider produced and reproduced in Dahomey.
The female warriors of Dahomey gained great fortune from their war conquests and slave raiding. Archibald Dalzel, the governor of Cape-Coast Castle located in Ghana, stated that the king paid for every head or captive they brought back.[4] In 1708, King Trudo, aka: King Agaja, wanted part of the Sea Trade and refused to be cut out by a middle man. He saw the advantage of European weapons for gaining greater success. European traffic was stirring up a need for people to own more areas by the coast,[5] which meant going to war. In order to claim more territory and get access to the sea, King Agaja Trudo needed to bolster his fighting force so he turned to women.[6] Women rose to the challenge willingly taking on the role of fighter.
[1] "The Story of Africa| BBC World Service." BBC News. Accessed July 01, 2017. http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/africa/features/storyofafrica/9chapter2.shtml.
[2] Yoder, "Fly," 419.
[3] E. Chaudoin, Trois mois de captivité au Dahomey (Paris: Hachette, 1891),269-270 , https://archive.org/details/troismoisdecapt00chaugoog.
[4] Dalzel, Dahomey, xii.
[5] Ibid, 8.
[6] Dalzel, Dahomey, 8.
As women became warriors and engaged in slave raiding they became economically productive and their labors brought vast wealth into the kingdom. King Tegbessou made £250,000 a year selling people into slavery in 1750.[1] King Gezo also utilized the revenues from the women warriors to lower taxes, and stimulate other areas of economic growth, namely the agricultural and mercantile economies of Dahomey. Additionally, the work of the women warriors served the reproduction responsibilities within the palace. The warriors reproduced themselves by capturing slaves who were added to the ranks of female soldiers.
The female warriors gained economic benefit and earned income from the captives and other trophies they brought back from warring and slave raiding. This in turn empowered the warriors to have a more commanding role in determining their future and the future of Dahomey. As their power rose inside the palace, the women gained a stronger voice in Dahomean political matters. Women were actively politicking and their advice and counsel were sought after.[2] They helped determine if they went to war, and with whom. As wives of the king and soldiers in the army, the female soldiers helped shape the policies of the country.[3] Capturing and either trading, training, or using captives as farm laborers was a major way the female solider produced and reproduced in Dahomey.
The female warriors of Dahomey gained great fortune from their war conquests and slave raiding. Archibald Dalzel, the governor of Cape-Coast Castle located in Ghana, stated that the king paid for every head or captive they brought back.[4] In 1708, King Trudo, aka: King Agaja, wanted part of the Sea Trade and refused to be cut out by a middle man. He saw the advantage of European weapons for gaining greater success. European traffic was stirring up a need for people to own more areas by the coast,[5] which meant going to war. In order to claim more territory and get access to the sea, King Agaja Trudo needed to bolster his fighting force so he turned to women.[6] Women rose to the challenge willingly taking on the role of fighter.
[1] "The Story of Africa| BBC World Service." BBC News. Accessed July 01, 2017. http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/africa/features/storyofafrica/9chapter2.shtml.
[2] Yoder, "Fly," 419.
[3] E. Chaudoin, Trois mois de captivité au Dahomey (Paris: Hachette, 1891),269-270 , https://archive.org/details/troismoisdecapt00chaugoog.
[4] Dalzel, Dahomey, xii.
[5] Ibid, 8.
[6] Dalzel, Dahomey, 8.