Why was Ouidah a major center of the Atlantic slave trade?

Ouidah (also known as Whydah) became a major center of the Atlantic slave trade primarily due to its strategic position as a coastal port and its integration into the centralized, militarized economy of the Kingdom of Dahomey.123

Key factors contributing to its prominence included:

• Centralized Trade: Ouidah served as the main port for the Kingdom of Dahomey, which organized its society for war to capture people for sale to European traders in exchange for weapons and other goods.124
• European Presence: By the 18th century, various European nations—including the Portuguese, French, Dutch, Danish, and British—established fortified trading posts in Ouidah to secure their share of the trade.15
• Regional Captivity: The town functioned as a collection point for war captives taken from across the region of modern-day Benin, including both coastal communities and northern peoples.36
• Economic Necessity: For the Dahomean state, the slave trade was a vital source of revenue and military technology, as the kingdom relied on the import of firearms to maintain its power and regional influence.24

The trade remained high until the 1840s, when international pressure led to a transition toward palm oil exports.236