Part 8/12:
One central point of contention is that the film presents a simplified view of history. In reality, European powers, such as Britain, heavily pressured and forced African states like Dahomey to cease the slave trade. Historical records show that colonial naval blockades and diplomatic pressures were instrumental in ending the trade, not the internal efforts of the Dahomey warriors.
This nuance is often missing from the movie’s storytelling, leading critics to suggest that the film ultimately magnifies African agency while downplaying or ignoring the role of European colonists and their influence over the slave economy.