Question

Describe and explore the significance of transatlantic links between Africans and members of the African diaspora in the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

Answer 1

Note: This response is in UK English, please paste the response to MS Word and you should be able to spot discrepancies easily.

(Answer) The late nineteenth and twentieth century was the time of the industrial revolution. However, it wasn’t the best of times for the nations that were colonised. Along with pillage and plunder of goods, human life faced constant upheaval. Countries like Africa, India and many others were the victims of such circumstances and colonies.

Slaves from all over the continent of Africa were unfortunately sold to many regions during and even after the end of the imperial rule. This resulted in a diaspora all over the world and especially in the transatlantic regions.

Even though historians still debate on the exact statistics of how many slaves were uprooted, the estimate is at 11 million or so. As of now, several pan-African movements have developed. These movements acknowledge common roots and the extent of the diaspora across the continents. The ‘African Union’, ‘Organisation of African States’, have recently decided that diaspora and Africans from the continent should be properly represented in discussions and decision making.