How did slavery begin in Africa

Generally, the slave trade was the business of rulers or wealthy and powerful merchants, concerned with their own selfish or narrow interests, rather than those of the continent.

Explanation:

Africa entered into a unique relationship with Europe that resulted in devastation and depopulation of Africa but contributed to the wealth and development of Europe.

Initially, Portuguese started to kidnap people from the west coast of Africa and were forcibly transported across the Atlantic.

Million of people did not survived the passage across the Atlantic, due to the inhuman conditions in which they were transported, and lacked in defeating violent on-board resistance.

Many people who were enslaved in the interior Africa also died on the long journey to the coast. This loss of population was a major factor causing economic underdevelopment.