How where the west African kingdoms involved in the slave trade?

West African kingdoms played a significant role in the transatlantic slave trade by capturing and selling enslaved individuals to European traders. Many kingdoms, such as the Ashanti and Dahomey, engaged in warfare and raids to acquire captives, whom they exchanged for goods like firearms, textiles, and alcohol. This trade was integral to their economies and power dynamics, but it also had devastating impacts on their societies, leading to social disruption and loss of population. The involvement of these kingdoms was complex, as they navigated both the benefits and the moral implications of the trade.