1655–1775: Jamaica emerged as the premier destination for enslaved Africans in the British Empire, receiving over 600,000 captives during the century precedi…

1655–1775: Jamaica emerged as the premier destination for enslaved Africans in the British Empire, receiving over 600,000 captives during the century preceding the American Revolution. The Bight of Biafra and the Gold Coast were the primary sources of labor, reflecting the specific commercial networks of merchants from Bristol and Liverpool. British slaving vessels accounted for nearly all documented arrivals, illustrating the high level of efficiency in the imperial maritime system. The massive and continuous inflow of people from these specific African regions shaped the distinct Akan and Igbo cultural influences found in Jamaican society.