Answer:
African rulers played a role in the slave trade by participating in the capture and selling of slaves to European traders. Some African rulers would raid neighboring communities and sell captives to European traders in exchange for goods, such as textiles and firearms. Additionally, some African rulers would use slaves as a form of currency to pay for debts or as a means of social advancement. However, it is important to note that the majority of Africans who were sold into slavery were captured and enslaved by other Africans before being sold to European traders.