White Dreams, Black Africa: The British Antislavery Expedition to the River Niger, 1841-1842

This is a highly interesting account of early attempts by British abolitionists to provide Africa with economic alternatives to the slave trade. Some readers may bog down in parliamentary and humanitarian debates on planning antislavery strategy, but this detail is necessary to understand why Britain promoted "legitimate" commerce. The most compelling sections deal with the Niger River Expedition of 1841-2, notable for introducing steamships on inland waterways, and even more for the contributions of Yoruba missionary Samuel Crowther, a charismatic figure in West African history. The Niger expedition ultimately failed to induce lasting changes in the region, but its model farm on the river presaged countless 20th-century development schemes. Temperley's book fits well in courses on Africa, world history, slavery and abolition, even development studies, and should be in print again. L. Sanneh, "Abolitionists Abroad" covers some of the same ground, giving special attention to Bishop Crowther and other African antislavery activists.