Trade in Pre-Colonial Africa ~ wanazuoni Wetu

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.

The Trans Saharan Trade

Trans Saharan trade is also sometimes referred to as caravan trade. It was carried out across the Sahara desert. The trade involved different zones ranging from forest i.e. involving the forest states such as Benin, Oyo, Kanem Bornu and many more, the savannah belt which involved the Western Sudanic states such as Ghana, Mali and Songhai, the Sahara desert and the North Africa, the Mediterranean world and Europe.

Factors for the rise of the Trans Saharan Trade (causes)

The introduction and use of the camels, which were introduced in Africa during 100A.D. CamelS replaced horses and donkeys as they were more resistant to desert conditions and could also move faster to the desert. This therefore facilitated the development of the trade as a more efficient means of transport had been introduced

Political development that during the 7th and 16th century. This includesthe Western Sudanic states whose rulers promoted the expansion of the trade. They ensured this by giving a leading hand, security, freedom of movement and also encouraging people to prepare the goods that were necessary in the trade a thing that did not existed before.

The conquest of North Africa by the Arabs, between 641 and 708 the Arabs conquered North Africa, astraders naturally they introduced their trading system and on top of that they increased the use of camels in North Africa and in the Sahara desert.

Development of production, in various regions of the Sudanic zone the production increased it meant that the supplies of commodity to be used in the trade were available. As no single community is self-sufficient this meant that the different communities had to depend on each other for various raw materials and goods.

Organization of the trade:

commodities used; different regions had different commodities that they concentrated on, from Europe and Muslim North Africa included manufactured goods, textile, copper, silver, woolen garments, brass, tin and horses

From the Sahara were salt mined at Bilma, Taghaza, Taoden, Idjil and Awlil, copper mined at Takkeda, tobacco and dates inclusive.

The savannah region had millet, sorghum, wheat, gum and ostrich feathers and livestock as well as gold that were mined from Wangara.

The forest zone was well known for gold mines at Akan and Lobi, kola nuts, ivory and the slaves.

The first medium of exchange was the barter system where goods were exchanged for goods but as the people became professional traders the medium of exchange also changed the traders started using cowries and at a later stage they started using the French franc and then the Spanish and Australian dollars.

As caravans were organised they had to follow specific trade routes that gave them a sense of direction on their way through the trade. The major trade route that was used included;

From Ghat and Tripoli to Ehyot.
From Ghana to Morocco via Audaghast.
From Timbuktu to Tunis via Taghaza.
From Borno to Tripoli.
From Kano to Tunis and Tripoli via Agades.
From Timbuktu to Tunis via Wangala, Ghademes and Ghat.

The Impact of the Following Types of Trade: Local Trade, Regional Trade

Appraise the impact of the following types of trade: local trade, regional trade

Impacts of the Trans Saharan Trade

Contributed to the formation of West African states and kingdoms, the profits that were raised from trade helped in the development of different states, these were got through the taking over charge or control over the trade routes and every one using that route had to pay tax or tributes.

For example Ghana Empire conquered Audaghast in 990 A.D. in view of controlling the salt mines in that area, Mali and Songhai extended their control as far as Taghaza and Takedda for economic reasons. It is therefore true to say that trade facilitated the rise and consolidation of the different states.

The spread of Islam was greatly accelerated by the Trans Saharan Trade in West and North Africa. The traders were serving two masters at a go as they were traders and also acted as teachers of Islam (evangelists) a thing that improved on the literacy rates in the region.

Growth of towns and cities, due to the trade many areas which were once villages turned into towns in what is known as urbanisation. Small villages turned into large towns and cities such as Kumbi Saleh, Gao, Kano, Jenne, Timbuktu plus many others.

Improvement of political administrations, the caravan trade also improved political administration of the different kingdoms through the use and employment of well educated Muslim traders who had been attracted by the trade. Many of the states were also applying the Islamic ways of administration in their different areas or jurisdiction

Exploitation of natural resources, as the influx of the Whites increased, this marked the beginning of the exploitation of natural resources that were endowed in Africa. It is also believed that this was the time of unequal exchange between Africa and Europe began.

Provision of constant and regular source of income, The attractive profits from trade provided constant and regular source of income for the different states. This was mainly raised from the custom duties that imposed on the imports and over goods of great political importance such as horse and the different metals that were imported into the state.

Trade also provided the sources for undertaking wars of conquest and expansion through the supply of effective means of war fare, such as horses and metals that could be used in the making and designing arms as spears, arrows head and axes.

The Trans Saharan Trade

This was the trading relation between the people of Western Sudan (Sudanic/Savannah region) and the people of North Africa passing across the Sahara desert. Camels were used as the means of transport during this trade. Societies that participated in the Trans Saharan Trade included;

The Berbers of North Africa and brought them to West Africa via the Sahara desert.
The Arabs and the European stationed in the Mediterranean costs of North Africa. These supplied goods to the Berbers and Tuaregs who in turn sold them to the people of West Africa. The said Arabs and purchased the items brought from West Africa.
The West African tribes of both the Sudanic region and the forest regions to include the Mandika, Fulani, Hausa, Edo etc. these supplied items to the Berbers and Tuaregs who crossed the Sahara and purchased the items brought from North Africa.

Commodities involved

From North Africa the commodities were:

Cotton and silk clothes
Swords
Guns and gunpowder
Horses, etc.

from West Africa the commodities were:

slaves
ivory
ostrich feathers
kola nuts
Gold
Salt
Food stuff

Trans Saharan trade was firstly carried out through barter system and there after some media of exchange like cowries shells, silver, coins, etc. replaced the barter system.

Trade routes

The Trans Saharan Trade was carried out via the routes namely:

The western routes
The Central route
The Eastern route

The Western route emerged from Fez in Morocco via Siljilmasa, Taghaza, Taoden, Walata, and Audaghost up to Timbuktu. This route was famous because of salt mines at Taghaza and gold mines Wangara.

The central route emerged at Tunis in Tunisia via Tuat, Taotek, Tadmekket, Timbuktu, Gao, and Kano up to Katsina.

The Eastern route to the other hand emerged from Triplin in Libya, Alexandria and Cairo in Egypt to Bilma via Murzuk, Ghat and Agades. This route was significant because of salt mines in Bilma.

Factors for growth of Trans Saharan Trade

Several factors contributed to the growth and development of Trans Saharan trade. These include:-

Political stability in both North Africa and West Africa, hence a conducive ground forthe trade activities to flourish.
The desire by European traders of such items as ivory, gold and slaves which were tobe obtained only from Western Sudan.
The desire of European commodities by the people of Western Sudan.
Production of surplus commodities such as kola nuts, salt, fish and other food stuffsin Western Sudan. These had to be exported to other regions including NorthAmerica.
The introduction and use of camels as animals of transportation, these were able tocarry huge quantities than horses and human porters. They were also tolerable indesert conditions.

Factors for the fall of Trans Saharan Trade

By the second half of the 19th century, the trans Saharan trade was almost collapse of this trade was a result of the following factors:

Introduction of trans Atlantic trade which altered the trade route of Trans Saharan Trade.
The emergence of other sources of salt and gold needed by European traders due toopening up of mines in the Americas.
Scarcity of water in the desert discouraged the voyages via the desert.
Eruption of wars (jihad) in the Maghreb region particularly Morocco. This disrupted the trade.
Colonisation of West African states by European powers in the last quarter of 19thcentury deteriorated the trading relations with North Africa

Effects of the Trans Saharan Trade

The Trans Saharan Trade had to a lot of effects as follows:-

It led to development and growth of towns and cities in both North Africa and theWestern Sudan, example being Walata, Kano, and Timbuktu etc.
It led to emergence of rich merchants classes in Western Sudan as these merchants accumulated a lot of wealth from the trade.
It led to the spread of Islam, Arabic culture and language in Western Sudan.
It led to intermarriages between the people of Western Sudan, the Arabs and AfroArabs from North Africa.
It led to the growth and consolidation of Sudanic states namely Ghana, Mali, Songhaiand Kanem Bornu.vi. It stimulated the state of warfare between Western Sudanic states and forest states dueto the desire for slaves.

Mining and hand craft industries

Mining

This is the extraction of minerals from the underground parent rocks. By the period before and around the 19th century, minerals that were being mined in Africa include the following:-

Copper
Gold
Iron
Bronze
Silver
Salt.

Most of the minerals were to be taken to handcraft industries where they were then processed into different items. Some other minerals such as salt were to be consumed directly while some other minerals were to be used as media of exchange in trading activities.

Prominent areas in Africa where mining activities were being practiced include the following:-

Katanga in Zaire where there were copper mines.
Tshikapa in Zaire, Machili, Lusu, Klambo falls and Ingombe ilede.
Gokomere, Mabven, Malapiti and Chivi in the Limpompo valley of Zimbabwe iron wasmined.
Mashona and Matebele lands in Zimbabwe as well as Ashanti in Ghana where gold wasbeing mined.
Uvinza in Western Tanzania and Taghaza in Mauritania where there were extraction ofsalts.

Hand crafts industries

These were factories that manufactured different items through the use of machines operated manually (by hand). Such industries include those that dealt with metal works namely:

Iron processing industries
Copper processing industries
Salt making industries

The said metal working industries were mainly located near their respective mining areas. Prominent societies that were experts in metal works include:

The people of Chipembe, and Kalomo in Zambia, the people of Mwavarambo,Phopo and Nkope Bay in Malawi as well as the Yoruba and the Edo of Nigeriawho were experts in iron smelting industries.
The Shona and Ndebele of Zimbabwe, the Akan and the Asante of Ghana whowere famous in gold coast smithing industries.
The Manganja of Malawi and the people of Taghaza were experts in salt making industries.

Other industries apart from metal work industries dealt with cotton and raffia cloth making among the Fulbe, the Felleme and Trakrur of Senegal and among the societies Guinea and Zimbabwe.

Other industries were those dealing with Basketry, Pottery and wood carving. Wood carving industries were common among the Makonde of Tanzania and the Yoruba of Nigeria.

Items made from the said handcraft industries were to be sold in exchange with other products like agricultural products, animal products etc.

THE MAP OF TRANS SAHARAN TRADE ROUTES

BASIC ASSIGNMENT/ACTIVITIES TO DO

Define the following terms Technology Agriculture Trade Environment Development
List the four agricultural processes that were carried out among the different societies in East Africa.
Mention any four advantages and effects of agriculture to the different African societies.
Mention the different handcrafts that existed in pre colonial African societies.
Outline the different types of trade that where present in the pre colonial African societies.
What factors contributed to the development of trans Saharan trade?
Mention the different regions that participated in the Trans Saharan trade.
Mention four notorious and professional long distance traders.
List the different methods in the obtaining and processing of salt in the pre colonial African societies.
What factors gave rise to the Trans Saharan trade?
List four principles of trade routes that were used in trans Saharan slave trade.
What were the impacts or effects of trans Saharan trade?