Slavery and the Slave Trade in Ethiopian Studies

Slavery and the Slave Trade in Ethiopian Studies offers a critical reappraisal of the history of slavery in Ethiopia ‒ an enduring yet often marginalized dimension of the country’s past ‒ by foregrounding the internal dynamics of slavery, the domestic slave trade, legal reforms, local interpretations and narratives of slavery and abolition, and the memory of enslavement. Drawing on new archival and ethnographic research, the contributions explore how slavery was embedded in Ethiopia’s social and political fabric and how its legacy continues to shape identities, social hierarchies and historical memory across generations. Spanning disciplinary boundaries, the volume combines historical depth with anthropological sensitivity to illuminate lived experiences, local institutions, and the shifting moral and political claims associated with bondage and freedom. With essays by both established and new scholars, this supplement to Aethiopica opens new avenues for understanding Ethiopia’s modern history. It is an essential resource for scholars of African history as well as readers interested in the long-term impact of slavery and the rise of contemporary Ethiopia.