Colonial Labour and Work Palaver: Labour Conflict in Britain and West Africa

Abstract

This chapter aims to examine the role of West African migrant workers in the context of British colonial trade circa 1880–1960. In particular, it will explore the issue of labour conflict in the two port cities of Liverpool, in the UK, and Freetown, in West Africa. This occurred at two levels. First, it involved intra-class conflict, both in Britain, between white British labour and West African colonial labour, and in West Africa, between different ethnic groups fighting for control over seafaring and stevedoring work. Secondly, it involved confrontation between labour and capital, and again this occurred in both port cities. The main objectives will be to examine the broader structural factors within which such conflict occurred, and to consider the significance of ‘race’ for both class and intra-class relations. Empirical data presented here are based on a case-study of one particular ethnic group – the Kru – and its relationship with both the British colonial authorities and with other West African labour involved in shipping.