Trade in Pre-Colonial
Africa
The Basis of Trade in Pre-Colonial Africa
Explain
the basis of trade in pre-colonial Africa
Local
trade
This
was conducted from the village among the homogenous community, it did not
require specific places to act as a markets, there was no need of middle men as
goods passed freely from the hands of producers to consumers.
Many
pre colonial African societies at first developed this trade as it availed them
with the commodities they needed with much ease. People living within a given
community exchanged commodities amongst themselves in order to fill the missing
link; for example, cultivators could exchange their food with the livestock
from the pastoralists, other commodities exchanged included iron tools,
ornaments, animal skins and agricultural produce.
Generally
speaking, the exchange which started with the intention to cement the existing
social bonds amongst the different societies resulted in the growth of several
industries, simulation of production for goods required in the exchange. It
also led to the increase in incomes of the people who actively participated in
the trade, the emergence and development of relationships among people of
different localities for example the Sukuma trading with the Maasai and also
the availability of all goods in the community brought about by increased
production and the expansion in the exchanges.
The Types of Trade, Types of Commodities and the Societies
Involved
Identify
the types of trade, types of commodities and the societies involved
Regional
trade
Trade
between East and Central Africa started from the 1st millennium AD as they
traded in raffia cloth, ivory and hides, copper from Katanga exchanged with
salt from Uvinza.
This
was concerned with the exchange of goods with people from different regions.
This called for specialisation and dealt with the commodities which were
relatively scarce and geographical un evenly distributed among the people of
different ethnic groups. Regional trade involved different regions in the
trading process. In East and Central Africa it came to be known as long
distance trade while in West Africa it was called trans Saharan trade.
Long
Distance Trade
It is
called long distance trade simply because it was carried out long distance as
people/traders had to move for long distance going on exchanging goods with
other societies and the major aim was to get profit for example a salt traders
was exchanged salt foe hoes not because he wanted to use hoes but he wanted re
sell them at a profit later.
Professional
traders (trade being their major occupation) came from Yao, Chewa and Bissa of
Central Africa. Imbangala and vimbundu from Angola, Dyula merchants and the
Marabouts of West Africa. In East Africa the Nyamwezi, Yao and Kamba were
famous long distance traders, through trading and supplying ivory, slaves and
copper to the exterior of East Africa Indian ocean coast. This organisation
required fixed places to act as markets and the use of middlemen as the
entrepreneurs.
In East
Africa it was mainly carried out during the dry season and during the rainy
season they settled down for agricultural activities.
By
the10th century AD the Yao and Chewa were exporting ivory and iron to the
coast. The Shona of Zimbabwe exported ivory and gold to the coast which were
then exported to the Far East and then return they imported glass wear,
cowrie's shells, beads, cotton cloth and porcelain from the far and Middle
East. They used organised caravans for security reasons and distance standard
currency such as bars of iron or copper and slabs of salt.
The
long distance trade was a blessing for many societies in East and Central
Africa as it gave rise to the notorious and professional long distance traders
like Tip Tippu, Mzilikazi, and Mlosi etc
In
addition to that prominent rulers such as Muteesa of Bugnanda, Mirambo of
Unyamwezi, Kimweri of Usambara and Mkwawa of the Uhehe were able to conquer and
rule weaker and neighboring societies. All this was facilitated by the
acquisition of fire arms and ammunition which were important commodities from
the East coast.
Expansion
and consolidation of various kingdoms for example Buganda, Bunyoro, Yao and
Nyamwezi led many of the participants to became very rich and famous from the
huge profits that were enjoyed from the trade.
The
trade acted as a stepping stone for the spread of Islam in the interior of East
Africa. Many of the traders preaching Islam at the same time carrying their
trading activities. Slave trade paved its way to the interior as the interior
was exposed to traders.
Update
TRADE IN THE PRE-COLONIAL AFRICA
Trade is the process of buying and selling of goods and services between people. There was need to trade in order to get all things needed by the communities. Trade tends to develop in any society where there is surplus production.
METHODS OF TRADE.
1. Barter trade is the exchange of goods for goods, for example exchange of pots for goats or maize.
2. A currency method of trade is where money is used. In pre-colonial Africa iron, hoes, rolls of cloth, copper rods, salt and gold were used as money.
LOCAL TRADE.
Refers to the kind of trade which is conducted within the same geographical area.
In local trade goods are exchanged between people living in the same geographical area, such as a town or village. Local trade was not for profit making but just to obtain essential goods. i.e. pastoral communities like the Maasai needed vegetables and grains from cultivators like the Nyakyusa and the Chaga.
Impacts of local trade.
1. Local trade united people within the same area.
2. Communities obtained goods such as tools, weapons, food stuffs and medical herbs.
3. Transport routes were improved.
4. Some important market centers emerged along the market routes.
5. Local trade encouraged communities to expand production.
REGIONAL TRADE.
Regional trade refers to trade conducted from one region to another (Trade conducted between two different geographical regions). Regional trade involved a wider variety of goods compared to local trade. It was not for profit making. For example regional trade were Trans Sahara trade, Long distance trade of East Africa and Central Africa. Regional trade in the pre-colonial Africa took place in 19 th century.
THE KAMBA. The Kamba were leading the long distance trade through northen route in the 19 th century. They Kamba caravan brought ivory, guns, hides and beeswax from the interior. From the Coast they obtained cloth, salt, copper, cowrie’s shells and jewellery.
THE YAO. The Yao traders got beads and cloth from Kilwa. They also captured and sold slaves from neighbouring communities, Yao chiefs such as Mpanda, Mataka, Machemba and Mtalika dominated the Southern route during the long distance trade.
THE NYAMWEZI. The Nyamwezi dominated the central routeconducted trade between the interior of Tanganyika and the coast. The Nyamwezi sold slaves and ivory, hide rhinoceros horn.
Nyamwezi traders succeeded because of the following reasons.
1. The Nyamwezi leaders such as the Msirikazi, Nyungu ya Mawe and Mirambo supported the trade.
2. Nyamwezi were centrally placed on the route to the coast.
3. High demand for trade items such as ivory and slaves.
4. There was existence of variety of trade items such as ivory and gold.
5. Zanzibar needed slaves and ivory in the 1800 AD.
By the 1830 AD there were three main trade routes i.e.
1. The Southern route: controlled by Yao.
2. The Central route: controlled by the Nyamwezi.
3. The Northern route: controlled by the Kamba traders from the coast brought cloth, beads, wire and guns.
-from interior goods were ivory and slaves.
Impacts/ effects of regional trade.
Positive consequences/impacts.
1. Some traders became very rich.e.g Mirambo and Isike.
2. The communities were able to obtain new commodities e.g guns, clothes, beads, ivory, etc.
3. The rise of trade centers such as Saadans, Pangani, Bagamoyo, Tabora,Ujiji, Voi, and Taveta.
4. The rise of trade routes.
5. The rise of powerful Empires/Kingdoms such as Nyamwezi.
6. New food crops such as maize, rice and cassava were introduced.
7. Spread of Islam by the Arabs to the interior Tabora and Ujiji.
Negative impacts.
1. The rise of inter-tribal wars in Oder to get slaves.
2. Many elephants were killed as there was high demand of Ivory.
3. It led to depopulation and under development in some areas.
4. Slave raids caused insecurity and loss of innocent lives.
5. Foreigners used trade routes to reach to the interior.
6. Exploitation of African wealth by Europeans and Asians.
7. Decline of local industries in Africa.
Update
TRADE IN THE PRE-COLONIAL AFRICA
Trade is the process of buying and selling of goods and services between people. There was need to trade in order to get all things needed by the communities. Trade tends to develop in any society where there is surplus production.
METHODS OF TRADE.
1. Barter trade is the exchange of goods for goods, for example exchange of pots for goats or maize.
2. A currency method of trade is where money is used. In pre-colonial Africa iron, hoes, rolls of cloth, copper rods, salt and gold were used as money.
LOCAL TRADE.
Refers to the kind of trade which is conducted within the same geographical area.
In local trade goods are exchanged between people living in the same geographical area, such as a town or village. Local trade was not for profit making but just to obtain essential goods. i.e. pastoral communities like the Maasai needed vegetables and grains from cultivators like the Nyakyusa and the Chaga.
Impacts of local trade.
1. Local trade united people within the same area.
2. Communities obtained goods such as tools, weapons, food stuffs and medical herbs.
3. Transport routes were improved.
4. Some important market centers emerged along the market routes.
5. Local trade encouraged communities to expand production.
Regional trade refers to trade conducted from one region to another (Trade conducted between two different geographical regions). Regional trade involved a wider variety of goods compared to local trade. It was not for profit making. For example regional trade were Trans Sahara trade, Long distance trade of East Africa and Central Africa. Regional trade in the pre-colonial Africa took place in 19 th century.
THE KAMBA. The Kamba were leading the long distance trade through northen route in the 19 th century. They Kamba caravan brought ivory, guns, hides and beeswax from the interior. From the Coast they obtained cloth, salt, copper, cowrie’s shells and jewellery.
THE YAO. The Yao traders got beads and cloth from Kilwa. They also captured and sold slaves from neighbouring communities, Yao chiefs such as Mpanda, Mataka, Machemba and Mtalika dominated the Southern route during the long distance trade.
THE NYAMWEZI. The Nyamwezi dominated the central routeconducted trade between the interior of Tanganyika and the coast. The Nyamwezi sold slaves and ivory, hide rhinoceros horn.
Nyamwezi traders succeeded because of the following reasons.
1. The Nyamwezi leaders such as the Msirikazi, Nyungu ya Mawe and Mirambo supported the trade.
2. Nyamwezi were centrally placed on the route to the coast.
3. High demand for trade items such as ivory and slaves.
4. There was existence of variety of trade items such as ivory and gold.
5. Zanzibar needed slaves and ivory in the 1800 AD.
By the 1830 AD there were three main trade routes i.e.
1. The Southern route: controlled by Yao.
2. The Central route: controlled by the Nyamwezi.
3. The Northern route: controlled by the Kamba traders from the coast brought cloth, beads, wire and guns.
-from interior goods were ivory and slaves.
Impacts/ effects of regional trade.
Positive consequences/impacts.
1. Some traders became very rich.e.g Mirambo and Isike.
2. The communities were able to obtain new commodities e.g guns, clothes, beads, ivory, etc.
3. The rise of trade centers such as Saadans, Pangani, Bagamoyo, Tabora,Ujiji, Voi, and Taveta.
4. The rise of trade routes.
5. The rise of powerful Empires/Kingdoms such as Nyamwezi.
6. New food crops such as maize, rice and cassava were introduced.
7. Spread of Islam by the Arabs to the interior Tabora and Ujiji.
Negative impacts.
1. The rise of inter-tribal wars in Oder to get slaves.
2. Many elephants were killed as there was high demand of Ivory.
3. It led to depopulation and under development in some areas.
4. Slave raids caused insecurity and loss of innocent lives.
5. Foreigners used trade routes to reach to the interior.
6. Exploitation of African wealth by Europeans and Asians.
7. Decline of local industries in Africa.
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