The currency of power and pain: unpacking the materialistic content of commodities in the Gold Coast transatlantic slave trade, c. 1650–1900

This article aims to unpack and analyse the historical manifestations of slavery and the material content of commodities employed during the transatlantic slave trade in the Gold Coast, Ghana, from around 1650–1900. The exchange commodities were not simply economic tools; they held significant ‘materialistic content’ that actively influenced and mirrored the social, political, and cultural contexts of selected Ghanaian communities. The analysis includes reminiscing about the historical manifestation of the slave trade in Ghana, focusing on various imported and exported goods/items. This study utilises document review and interviews through a material culture theoretical framework to examine how Ghanaian scholars actively interpreted, contested, and assigned meaning to these commodities. The findings confirmed that the historical narratives of the transatlantic slave trade serve as a significant testament to the deep inequalities and the reflective suffering endured by millions of people in Ghana. Furthermore, the article indicates that the materialistic aspects of these commodities had a substantial impact on social stratification, political power dynamics, and local industries, while being closely associated with the harsh realities of enslavement. It also highlights the intricate exchanges between the European traders and Ghanaian traditional rulers, where a variety of commodities were exchanged for individuals.