The Odum of Ala Igbo
Hail Biafra!
It's a big number, but the Sokoto Caliphate probably had around 10-12 million people when it was conquered. 
The Walking Qur'an of West Africa
- Thread starter Karb
- Start date
That number still seems very large. Does the author cite that number? Because I don't see where he does. Not trying to be in denial.
The Odum of Ala Igbo
Hail Biafra!
I don't have the book. But it seems to be a figure that's been cited by multiple academic sources.
Are we sure those were slaves and not just the people they conquered?
The Odum of Ala Igbo
Hail Biafra!
Likely slaves since they were found within the Sokoto Caliphate performing uncompensated labour like plantation farming, apparently.
However, I posit that a number of their slaves were from recently subjugated territories in Yorubaland, Nupeland and areas of the Jos Plateau which resisted conquest - but was still a source of slaves.
The Odum of Ala Igbo
Hail Biafra!
The interplay between the collapse of the Oyo Empire, the Yoruba Civil War, the rise of Dahomey/Sokoto and the slave trade is a fascinating one.
The Odum of Ala Igbo
Hail Biafra!
Finally, the area which is now Nigeria has always had a relatively large population. Upwards of around 25 or so million people in 1900. I'm not sure if the figures are that far fetched 
The Odum of Ala Igbo
Hail Biafra!
Finally, the area which is now Nigeria has always had a relatively large population. Upwards of around 25 or so million people in 1900. I'm not sure if the figures are that far fetched
I'm going to revise my population figures for Nigerian territory down. 25 million seems like a lot.
European sources should be taken with a huge grain of salt.. Especially the British. They weren't exactly the most neutral observers.
They tend to exaggerate the Muslim slave trade to minimize their own.
I find it hard to believe that the West African slave trade was anywhere near as extreme as they claim. The East African slave trade we can all agree was almost on an industrial scale. In West Africa, I would imagine it was more "traditional", i.e. most slaves would have been captives of war from hostile tribes, which means there were probably muslim slaves as well.
They tend to exaggerate the Muslim slave trade to minimize their own.
I find it hard to believe that the West African slave trade was anywhere near as extreme as they claim. The East African slave trade we can all agree was almost on an industrial scale. In West Africa, I would imagine it was more "traditional", i.e. most slaves would have been captives of war from hostile tribes, which means there were probably muslim slaves as well.
DING! DING! DING!!!!!!! This is EXACTLY what I meant. What I notice about the Islamic Slave trade in that while it was brutal and disgusting it has been used as a tool for people with agendas. Whites trying to ease their guilt and blacks who are anti-Islamic.
No way was the West African slave trade that large. Especially NOT larger East African coast as you said.
The Odum of Ala Igbo
Hail Biafra!
We'll never truly know
Ummmm. Cool info. Thanks