The Truth Behind “Africans Sold Africans"

I might lose a few followers for this… but I don't write to gain followers; I write to free nations and let the truth finally set us free:

Some history books still repeat the phrase “Africans sold Africans.” But here’s why that idea is backward:

That line has been told for so long that it has become a kind of shield, one that hides a deeper truth and leaves Africa carrying the weight of a story it didn’t write.

When Europeans first arrived on African shores, they didn’t meet one people called “Africans.”

They met nations — the Akan, Yoruba, Benin, Wolof, Mande, and Congo, each with their own kingdoms, languages, and loyalties.

To say “Africans sold Africans” is like saying “Europeans fought Europeans” without mentioning World War II.

Technically true.

But completely misleading.

The truth is, Africa didn’t sell itself.

Europe arrived with trade goods, weapons, and contracts that few could read, and slowly turned survival into a global system of exploitation.

Local rivalries were fueled by outside forces who understood one thing well:

Divide, and rule.

Over time, wars that once had political meaning became markets for human lives, a system carefully designed to serve demand across the ocean.

So no, this isn’t about blame. It’s about context. Because a lie repeated for 400 years doesn’t become truth, it only becomes habit.

The real lesson isn’t just about history, it’s about memory.

When we let others tell our story, they often rewrite it to fit their comfort zone. And when that happens, generations grow up defending myths instead of understanding systems.

Africa didn’t fall because its people lacked unity; it fell because outside powers learned how to profit from our divisions.

So before we repeat old phrases, let’s ask the fuller question:

Who built the ships?

Who funded the ports?

And who still owns the versions of history we were taught to believe?

History is not about guilt or blame, but about repair and restoration. It’s about repair and understanding. Because once we know the truth, we stop arguing about blame and start rebuilding with clarity.

Reclaim ReEducate ReBuild