The transatlantic slave trade relied on local African intermediaries due to European limitations in geography and disease immunity.
The kingdom of Appolonia in modern Ghana stands out by recording only 352 slave exports over four centuries.
The Amonle pact, a sacred ritual and blood oath, prohibited the sale of Appolonia subjects, effectively resisting the trade.
Appolonia’s history challenges simplistic victim-perpetrator narratives, adding complexity to modern discussions on reparations and historical justice.