The Last Slave Market

by Alastair Hazell

The African slave trade did not end when Britain passed its landmark law in 1807: on the continent's east coast, Arab slavers were still shipping tens of thousands of Africans to the Middle East. Slavery was ingrained in Arab culture, considered indispensable to their societies and condoned by religious texts. The hub of this industry was the island of Zanzibar, part of Oman's empire, and the British consul there faced a hard task. John Kirk was a Scottish doctor who wound up as Zanzibar's acting consul at a time when British political pressures were mounting to end the Arab slave trade - although the East India Company found it advantagious to ignore it.

John Kirk was the only companion of David Livingstone to emerge untainted from the disastrous, often fatal expedition up the Zambezi River between 1859 and 1863. Three years later, Kirk returned to Africa, to the notorious island of Zanzibar, ancient source of slave trafficking from Africa to the Middle East. Half a century after the abolition of slave trading had been passed into British law, this commerce continued to exist on Africa's east coast, tolerated and even connived at by Britain's empire on the Indian Ocean. But Kirk, appointed as medical officer to the British Consulate in Zanzibar, could do nothing.

This extraordinary - and controversial - book brings Kirk's years in Zanzibar to life. The horrors of the overland passage from the interior, and the Zanzibar slave market itself are vividly described. The final bitter conflict with Livingstone, who blamed Kirk for his own disasters, is retold. But it was Kirk's own success in closing down the slave trade on the island which made him internationally famous. Using private diaries and papers, a long forgotten Victorian hero and an extraordinary chapter in British history are revived in detail.

Genres: History, Africa, Nonfiction, Race

385 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Steffi · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘The Last Slave Market’ (2011) is a follow-up read to my recent visit to the ‘slave trade musem’ in Zanzibar. ‘Naturally’ my primary association with slave trade is the Atlantic, Western organized, trade from Western and Central Africa to the Americas. Prior to going to the museum and reading the book I didn’t really know about the ‘other’ slave trade, known as the ‘Oriental’ or eastern slave trade in which Zanzibar plays a central role in shipping millions of slaves from East and Central Africa’s interior across the Indian Ocean and Red Sea to North Africa, the Middle East for more than a thousand years. It’s estimated that over the 12 centuries from 750 to the 20th century, almost 12 million Africans were traded to the Middle East, North Africa and India (Approximately the same number of people enslaved during colonial slavery between 16th and 19th century).

While modern slavery exists to this day, Zanzibar was the ‘last slave market’, abolishing slave trade (not slavery) in 1876 - 70 years or so after the Atlantic African slave trade was banned by the British and US. The book tells the story of the ‘forgotten Victorian hero’ and British Consul in Zanzibar John Kirk who fought for the end of slave trade. Also interesting how Kirk represents the explorer-botanist-Swahili speaking kind of Consul who was then made redundant once the scramble for Africa set in which needed a totally different kind of imperialist ruler. The heroism part is a little gross but it’s a very interesting historic read nonetheless.

It doesn’t take a lot of imagination though to see the continuation of the ‘abolished slave trade’ in modern forms of third world migrant labour in the Middle East and elsewhere, essentially a legalized version of the same logic of exploitation.

[René · Rating 4 out of 5]

A spell-binding account of Sir John Kirk's efforts at ending the slave trade anchored, for centuries, by Arab traders in the Sultanate of Zanzibar. Dr. Kirk, a botanist and doctor who played the role of Britain's representative in Zanzibar for about 30 years, mostly while appointed counsuls were absent or never replaced, would have won a Nobel prize for peace for his central role in ending this inhumane practice and achieved it against incredible odds and, mostly, indifference from the government of the day in Victorian Britain.

[Emerson Grossmith · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book starts with the author on the shores of Lake Malawi near Cape Maclear and ends in Lamu--both places in Africa I have spend considerable time at and both places I love. However, the book was not as spellbinding as the earlier reviewers had said on the book cover. It was informative and my interest was because of those places mentioned as well as considerable time spent talking about Zanzibar, a place I have also been in. I had heard of the central character, John Kirk, and have a slide of a plaque mentioning his name and other great African explorers of the 18th century and the greatest slaver--Tippu Tip.

I did not realize that after the east coast African slaves left the slave depot of Zanzibar, that their slave boats last destination before the Arabian Gulf and Oman was the Swahili town of Lamu in East Africa, the northern most town in modern-day Kenya. I have been going to Lamu since my first time in 1982. Both Lamu and Zanzibar are UNESCO Heritage Sites, but unlike Zanzibar with its cars and boda boda, Lamu has tried to remain car-free and traditional.
I have a number of friends in Lamu, especially Sheikh Ahmed Badawy, who claims that his family brought the Koran to Lamu and the festival of the Prophet's birthday--the Maulidi. I had the pleasure of witnessing the Maulidi in 1986 and recording it both on tape and slides.

In 2016, my Kenyan family and I stayed in a traditional Swahili house in Shela (next to Lamu) for a couple of months. I don't know if it was the malaria prophylaxis that we were taking, but had weird dreams about the house, and we all thought the place was haunted. My Kenyan wife attributed this to "bad spirits" which initially I thought was a load of hooey. But, in talking to the Swahili gal who managed the house, it turns out that the house had been the home of a famous slaver in this area. Maybe that's where the bad spirits were coming from.

[Anne Chappel · Rating 5 out of 5]

An book of outstanding research and good writing. I loved it and am about to re-read it. I would have liked to have more of his wife, Nelly's diary entries. What a brave couple they were, at such a time in the history of the Scramble for Africa. Anyone who is interested in African history should read this book. He brings to light the story of John Kirk, a botanist, doctor and a good man. I was interested to read the end where he does not get offered another posting. He lived till 1922 so he had to experience the horrors of the 1st World War.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite an important book about a truly horrendous practice still going on fairly late in the nineteenth century. The descriptions of 'raw slaves' being treated like cattle are heartbreaking and Hazell's well researched and detailed analysis of the role of John Kirk, humble botanist and once travelling companion of David Livingstone deserves to be read widely.

[Jyothykumar]

Quite engrossing esp the stanley-livingstone part. Since I live in Oman, plenty of interesting relevant history

[Felicity · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellently written, a fascinating and important book about an unsung hero. Answers many questions for travellers along the East African coastline.

[Ian Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging read, well told, with a depth of content, a detailed background, and notes on what was clearly significant research. The first half of the book is more focused on Dr Kirk's adventures in Africa with Livingstone, but is essential to how events unfolded and the part played by British public opinion and their view of "saintly" Livingstone, when we get to tackle the slave trade head on in the last third of the book. I knew next to nothing about any of this, and found it a fascinating story, the Europeans in Africa, before the late nineteenth century scramble began - touched on in the final chapter. I was also not aware of how powerful the Arabian influence and control was on the north and east coast. I did feel there was a certain amount of repetition, especially on Livingstone's personality and Kirk's years of frustration and data collection when biding his time. Inseatd, I would have enjoyed understanding more on the tensions within the Islamic world and the rise of the Mutawas. But overall a thoroughly enjoyable read.

[Bruno Noble · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-written and interesting throughout and frequently thrilling and perhaps more topical than it was when it was published (only 8 years ago), given today’s spotlight on ‘modern’ slavery and people trafficking. I had always thought of slavery as ‘the white man’s burden’ and was — I admit with some relief and a little shame — appeased to read that it had been going on in the Middle East and Africa for millenia and that the Koran condones it. This book has nearly everything — history, religion, commerce, adventure, politics and the psychology of power and influence — and presents it all non-judgmentally in a limpid, unfussy and eminently readable style. The Victorians! Could any other exploring ‘race’ have dragged their boats along dry river beds (achieving, perhaps, 2 yards a day) in their desire to spread Empire and God? This extensively researched and meticulously crafted book was a pleasure to read.

[Marion Roux · Rating 5 out of 5]

A biography that reads like a political intrigue with the ins and outs of the horrors of the slave trade and the interaction of governments and individuals.
Set in the 1800's when , in spite of the British abolition of slavery, the East African slave trade continued unabated. It lasted way longer than the trade on the Western Atlantic seaboard. England saw the problem "as slavery was an established Islamic culture" and "maintaining order in the world was a high priority" and were loathe to rock the boat (pun intended).
Spending many years in Zanzibar, John Kirk eventually turned out to be the reluctant hero in putting a stop to the slave trade.
His encounters with names familiar to us such as Doctor Livingstone, Stanley and Frere are also documented in fair detail.

[The Blaxpat · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting story, but very repetitive. The writing dragged on about 150 pages too long and could have been much more concisely and captivating. And, as always, it's a story about Africa from a White/European perspective, with another savior among them. It's a book worth reading, but it should be read in context of other historiographies of the region and the time.

[David Hartigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating account of the East African slave trade, and how it came to an end.
While I was aware of a history of slaves being taken from Africa, it never occurred to me that it was actually a pre-existing local industry.
And it was Britain that pressed hardest to shut it down. I thought that the British were supposed to always be the baddies!

[SALIM Dahman · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great read and an amazing insight into the the internal power dynamics between the Middle East and the West. Surprised that even the Al Nahyan family of the UAE are mentioned in the book as visitors of this island for trade.

[Erick Njenga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book with a rather ominous ending.

[John Mwangi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been my best read so far, wouldn't mind a second reading

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this as research into the East Africa slave trade about which very little is written. Hazell has written a very informed account, which focusses largely on the slave market in Zanzibar.

[Hema R · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book but could have easily been a smaller book. Was dragged a bit too much. Overall good account of the slave trade in East Africa.

[Kitty Red-Eye · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story I've never heard before, very interesting and well-researched. Every third or so chapter is really good and reads easily. It's also nice (nice?) to have two such famous names as Livingstone and Stanley playing their parts, and a good account of this era of European exploration of Africa. Yet I had to force myself through this book and I'm not entirely sure why. Usually I really like this kind of books. Maybe it's the author's style which doesn't entirely agree with me. No idea. It just wasn't quite the page-turner this genre usually is to me.

[Castaway · Rating 3 out of 5]

The 'hero' of this study seems at times disturbingly phlegmatic but one way or another slavery is reduced in his neck of the Empire-pinkened globe and watching the process is informative.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book.

[Karim Kaddouri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read in Tanzania / Zanzibar - fascinating read v engaging.