OUIDAHgene - From Portugal back to Africa: uncovering the African roots of present-day Portuguese

OUIDAHgene will uncover the dynamics of early slave trade. The population of São Tomé and sub-Saharan lineages found in Portugal will be studied in order to: a) estimate the matching of these with the ones from different Beninese ethnic groups and other countries, b) estimate effective population sizes of slaves using computer simulations and detailed population data from the source and final destinations; and c) compare this data with anthropological and historic registries of slave numbers in Europe, Americas and São Tomé. This is an interdisciplinary project combining Genetics, Anthropology and History that can provide strong insights into this period of History.