Essay On Abina Men And Women

During the late 19th century, numerous rigorous changes were occurring in the British colonies in Africa. Throughout many years of slave trade that occurred in the Gold Coast of Africa, slavery had been abolished in 1874 under the British Empire (6). Even though slave trade was abolished, many slaves had a difficult time trying to liberate themselves from former “masters.” Adult male slaves had an easier way of escaping from their masters, as a result, most slave owners kept a higher percentage of women as slaves due to their “harder working and potentially being their wives (108).” Another reason for having more women slaves is because they were seen as being “less able to run away or to report their masters to the British.” Women like Abina …show more content…
Men had it much easier to avoid being slaves compared to woman because of their strength and ability to run away. Women had a much more difficult time trying to liberate themselves than anyone else. Women were also characterized as harder workers; this trait was valued by the masters and even saw them as possible wives. There were no “important women” in the British colonies, all of the masters were men. Abina Mansah spent much of her life as a slave after being kidnapped from her home in Asante (6). It all began when Abinas former master sold her to Quamina Eddoo (6). With Qumine Eddoo being her new master, he attempted to force Abina to marry Tando. Abina refused to do so and argued that slavery is illegal. Abina believed that in the Cape Coast all people are free of slavery. After escaping into Cape Coast, she met James Davis, her new master who provided her with shelter and food. One day in the Cape Coast, her old master Eddoo found her and demanded for Abina to come back to his land (11). As a result, Abina and Davis wrote a letter to the magistrate so Abinas voice can be heard that illegal slave work is being done at Eddooo compound. Throughout the testimony, we heard the voice of Abina who forced men of the court to hear what she had experienced under Eddoo. In the end of the novel Quamina Eddoo pleaded not-guilty and the jury was always one-sided against …show more content…
James Davis lived in Cape Coast which was once an independent African city state but no “the leading port of the British gold coast colony (8).” Davis is a “young and ambitious interpreter for the colonial courts” and worked for the British (10). He provided Abina with an opportunity to make money as his maid, provide her with shelter, and food. Once Abina was found by Quamina Eddoo in the Cape Coast, she was forced to send a submit a paper to the magistrate and face Quamina Eddoo in court for illegal slavery. James Davis helped Abina attempt to prove Magistrate William Melton that Eddoo should be proven guilty. James Davis is an important man due to his great ability to interpret language for the colonial colonies. James Davis also reminded Abina that Quamina Eddoo is an important man, the British did not like to affiliate themselves with them, but he Davis volunteered to help Abina. In the graphic novel, there were many important men who were introduced in the court. Thomas Aminissah was a landowner and leading member of the Wesleyan Methodists congregation. Johnathan Dawson was a trader in palm oil, son of british merchant, and the grandson of a chief. Nana Ampofa was a leading chief of the protectorate (68-69). All of these “important men” had something in common, they all had money and were very good at speaking