A talk by Cheikh Sene, Ph.D., that emphasizes the long-standing existence of complex local systems of exchange and valuation in Senegambia prior to the Atlantic slave trade.

Wednesday, May 27, 2026
4:00 PM
Bunche Hall, Rm 6275

This presentation examines the role of material objects in shaping the economic and social dynamics of Senegambia during the Atlantic slave trade from the fourteenth to nineteenth centuries. It adopts an economic and cultural approach to highlight the region’s early integration into global circuits of exchange, articulated through both Atlantic and trans-Saharan networks. Drawing on interdisciplinary scholarship, the presentation analyzes the circulation of trade goods — such as textiles, beads, coral, iron, firearms, and cowrie shells — across Europe, North Africa, Asia, and West Africa.

Sene argues that these objects functioned simultaneously as commodities and monetary instruments within African trading systems, challenging interpretations that attribute monetization in Senegambia solely to European influence. Instead, the presentation emphasizes the long-standing existence of complex local systems of exchange and valuation. Beyond their economic function, these objects also carried strong social, political, and symbolic meanings, actively shaping forms of authority, consumption practices, and the material culture of African elites.

This lecture is hosted by the UCLA Department of History and sponsored by the UCLA Black Atlantic Colloquium.

Cost : Free and open to the public

Download file: Cheikh-Sene-Lecture-052726_Poster-55-spc.pdf

Sponsor(s): Department of History, UCLA Atlantic History Colloquium