African slaves were mostly drawn from the losers of inter tribal wars, plus the trouble makers the tribes didn’t want.
“losers of inter tribal wars,”
How true. In the book THE DEFEAT OF JOHN HAWKINS by Rayner Unwin gives a great description of how he got his slaves.
Made a pact with a local tribal chief to stop invaders.
Blasted down the walls of an invading neighboring village.
The Chief’s men then started slaughtering all inside till Hawkins stopped him and filled his slave ships, then sailed away.
Those left behind were EATEN by the local tribe.
Hawkins then sold slaves all along the Spanish controlled areas of the New World till he was defeated at Vera Cruz.
The Spanish took the remaining slaves and sold them.