The hot and humid climate of South Carolina was similar to that of West Africa: This made it easier for enslaved West Africans to adapt to life in the new land and to apply their farming techniques successfully.
West Africans had a strong work ethic and a reputation for being skilled and resourceful laborers: This made them particularly valuable to plantation owners in South Carolina, who relied on their labor to generate profits from rice cultivation.
West Africans were also often more resistant to malaria and other tropical diseases than Europeans and Native Americans: This allowed them to work in the fields for longer periods without becoming ill, further increasing their value as laborers.