Slavery, Indenture and Migrant Labour: Maritime Immigration from Mozambique to the Cape, c.1780–1880

From the late 18th to the mid-19th century, Mozambique became a pivotal hub for maritime immigration to the Cape, transitioning from slavery to indentured and migrant labor systems. The study reveals that while international efforts curbed forced immigration by 1818, the demand for labor in Brazil and the Mascarenes sustained a thriving trade, reshaping labor dynamics at the Cape. By the 1860s, pressure shifted toward ending slavery itself, leading to the emergence of contracted migrant labor—mirroring earlier coercive systems. This shift had lasting consequences on South African labor relations, illustrating how historical migration patterns continue to influence social structures.

Harries, P. (2014). Slavery, Indenture and Migrant Labour: Maritime Immigration from Mozambique to the Cape, c.1780–1880. African Studies, 73(3), 323–340. https://doi.org/10.1080/00020184.2014.962871