ABSTRACT
Few African sailors boarded transatlantic slave ships, but their importance exceeded their numbers. They played important roles in the operation of the slave trade, especially along
the African coast during slave acquisition. Based on Portuguese ship licenses, this study discusses the presence of African enslaved seamen on board Portuguese vessels. Although in captivity, slave sailors enjoyed some degree of freedom denied most slaves during the
Atlantic crossing. Their language skills allowed them to work as interpreters, mediating interactions between slave captains and African merchants, as well as between slaves under the deck and the crew. African crew members were active participants in the transformation of the Atlantic world.
