THE COLONIAL CONQUERERS FREE THE SLAVES AS SOON AS THEIR MILITARY HOLD IS SECURE
Their labor force leaves and producers collapse. The report that Monsieur Texier, the sous-préfet of Dabakala, found in the archives describes that transformation.
The 40-page narrative by the local administrator begins with the Ivory Coast governor announcing emancipation in two northern centers with large slave populations. He travels from the coast during the rainy season, proof that the order comes from Paris.
At first slaves do not believe that they are free, but when a few slip away and nothing happens, the exodus snowballs. Almost all the captives leave, some to villages that often no longer exist, others with no idea where to go.
At first slaves do not believe that they are free, but when a few slip away and nothing happens, the exodus snowballs. Almost all the captives leave, some to villages that often no longer exist, others with no idea where to go.
The economy of the administrator's district collapses within weeks.
He concludes by doubting that slaves' lives will be better, and by sadly observing the disintegration of societies that had flourished.
He concludes by doubting that slaves' lives will be better, and by sadly observing the disintegration of societies that had flourished.
-- Rapport du Capitaine Schiffer, October 1907, Dabakala archives
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In all but the most inaccessible regions that transformation is complete toward 1907. The colonialists then impose their economies.
The producers
must work the land themselves:
Their descendants still do.
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