During the slave trade, slaves were collected from Africa, particularly the West Coast. Many of these slaves were sold by African leaders or kings, who also engaged in slavery. However, others were kidnapped and captured in various other ways. Slaves had to make the journey from their places of capture to the coast, where they were loaded on large ships.
These ships then made their way across the Atlantic. The journey was dangerous and difficult, and many people died. Those who survived often arrived to the Caribbean colonies first, and were afterwards transported to other places in the Americas.