1561–1856: Total captive flows between Africa and South America were heavily influenced by the prevailing winds and ocean currents of the South Atlantic.

1561–1856: Total captive flows between Africa and South America were heavily influenced by the prevailing winds and ocean currents of the South Atlantic. While West Central Africa was the major source for the entire hemisphere, it was particularly dominant in South America, especially for the markets of Rio de Janeiro and the Río de la Plata. These environmental factors allowed vessels destined for Rio to stop and sell captives in Pernambuco or Bahia, while also facilitating a robust intra-American trade between Brazilian ports and the southern mainland. Approximately 4.9 million captives are documented or estimated to have arrived in South American regions during this long span.