Complicity (c. 1500s – 1960 CE) (jan 1, 1500 – dec 31, 1960)

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Complicity refers to the involvement of some African leaders and groups in systems that supported colonization and slavery. Long before formal colonization, during the transatlantic slave trade (roughly 1500s–1800s CE), some African rulers and merchants participated in the capture and sale of other Africans to European traders. These decisions were often made under pressure, in exchange for weapons, goods, or political alliances. During the colonial era (1885–1960 CE), some African elites cooperated with European powers by serving as intermediaries, tax collectors, or local chiefs under colonial rule. While some did so for survival or to protect their communities, others gained power or wealth through these roles. This history shows that colonization was not a simple story of outsiders versus victims—it involved complex choices, pressures, and consequences for African societies.

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