1644–1807: The slave trade to the Guianas, including British, French, and Dutch territories, was a complex multi-national enterprise that received over 500,0…

1644–1807: The slave trade to the Guianas, including British, French, and Dutch territories, was a complex multi-national enterprise that received over 500,000 captives. West Central Africa and the Bight of Benin were the primary sources of labor, reflecting the commercial ties of Dutch and British merchants. The region’s geography, with its numerous rivers and remote plantations, created unique conditions for both the management of labor and the emergence of maroon communities. Many captives landed in the Guianas were transshipped from other Caribbean hubs, illustrating the integrated nature of the region’s slave markets. This demographic influx turned the Guianas into one of the most culturally diverse sectors of the enslaved African diaspora.