Epilogue

In the epilogue, the author laments the marginalization of African history even in this day of global history. He then puts forward the claim that the sorts of sacred/pagan societies we have encountered on the Slave Coast were in no way unique to that region and may have constituted a long-standing, widespread norm. The author reflects on the neglect Ouidah suffered from until the emergence of “ethnic tourism”, something which has not really been a success. Visitors from overseas prefer Senegal and especially Ghana, where there are many old European forts still standing, and on the sea-shore. This sharply contrasts with the Slave Coast, the epicentre of the slave trade in West Africa, where only one small fort is left standing, and inland at that.