INTERACTION AMONG THE PEOPLE IN AFRICA
History Form II
-INTERACTIONS AMONG THE PEOPLE OF AFRICA
The word Interaction refers to the process by which people come in contact with one
a n o t h e r a n d influence e a c h o t h e r.
Inn pre-colonial Africa Interaction was a state in which people from one community got
into contact with one another community and affect each other. For example, in west
Africa Between 8th – 16th C. AD communities from the Sudanic belt engaged in trade
with the communities from north Africa in the Trans – Sahara trade this led to the
introduction of Islamic religion, growth of states to the people of the Sudanic belt,
intermarriage, and development of new technology.
In east Africa the Swahili coastal city states such as Kilwa, Mombasa, and Zanzibar
flourishes due to trade with Arabs, Persian, and Indian merchants, which led to the
development of unique afro Arab culture and language.
Interactions were major links and contacts which were established by the Africans since
the late Stone Age and Iron Age up to the middle of the 19th century when Africa was
not yet colonized by the Europeans
FACTORS FOR EARLY INTERACTIONS IN THE PRE-COLONIAL AFRICA.
A. S o c i a l f a c t o r s
i. Migration. East Africa belongs to four main language groups namely the Khoisan,
the Cushites, the Nilotes and the Bantu. These early large groups interacted with
the larger Cushites, Bantu and the Nilotes communities that began settling in East
Africa from the first century A.D. Through interaction of one community practiced
medicine interacted with another led to some changes such as introduction of iron
technology in East Africa.
Religion, it played a crucial role in all African societies. Religious beliefs were taken
seriously and affected every phase of life. There was a variety of religious activities
in pre-colonial Africa. These included burial rites purifications, rituals naming of
ceremonies and prayers to bless soldiers before they went to war. Religious activities
took place at different levels such as family level, clan level and community level e.g.
The Bushmen of Congo held prayers before going to hunt as they believed that God
was the source of all food. Among the Asante people of West Africa the king of Asante
(Asantehene) based his right to office on the possession of the Royal or Golden stool,
Asantehene was regarded as the chief priest. Natural cults also existed in many
parts of Africa. Their main aim was to please the spirits and legendary heroes e.g.
the juju practiced in Western Africa the Shona held a cult called Mwari.
Wars, African communities engaged in war from time to time; they fought with
various reasons such as to increase the number of the herds of livestock, to get
fertile land for agriculture purposes and expansion of the kingdom e.g. Buganda
conquered Buddu, Karagwe and Busoga to expand their kingdom by 1839. Egyptian
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army had established their base at Gondokora the area located around Southern
Khartoum and by 1869, Egyptian had raided and destroyed the Lango and Ancholi
region in the modern day Uganda.
iv. M u s i c a n d dances, African music and dances brought people together;
communities’ rites and ceremonies were accompanied by songs and dances. Every
African society developed songs for work, Laborers sang while clearing fields, sowing
and harvesting goods, example of dances were Mdundiko among the Zaramo and
Sindimba of Makonde. The Yomba of West Africa performed Orik music where by
other songs praised or condemned certain characteristics including leadership and
relation with neighbors. Dances were also performed for different purposes; some
dances were open to everyone while others restricted to a certain secret society
professional and artisans example Chagga men and women performed a dance
called Rring during wedding ceremonies and Luguru led their dance called Gubi.
V. Medicine, African’s had medicine men and women who played important role both
spiritually and medically. Those who practice medicine interacted with many
members of the society as patient visited some of the well-known medicine men and
women. Some medicine men and women were also political advisors and leaders
example Kinjekitile Ngwale of Southern Tanganyika most of the medicine were
extracted from plant roots, barks and leaves e.g. The (neem tree) Mwarobaini was
mostly used by various medicine in Matebele.
vi. Marriage, Marriage occupies a position of great importance in African communities.
Every member of the society jugs to build their own family. In Buganda the Kabaka
married from different clans in order to enhance political unity in the kingdom.
Therefore social interactions strengthened through marriage. At the same time
marriage led to emergence of new culture examples Swahili culture as the result of
m i x t u r e of B a n t u a n d A r a b c u l t u r e
B. E c o n o m i c factors
Africa communities also interacted due to economic factors such as
i. Metal working, African communities used various kinds of metal to make tools,
weapons, utensil and ornaments; some of the widely used metals were iron, Bronze,
Gold, Copper and tin. Archaeologists have discovered the remains of early iron
working beneath important religious shrine in the Great lakes region dating back
over 2,000 years ago. Egyptians were the first people known to have used copper;
Benin the Bronze casters had guild called Igun Eronwon, through making various
metal tools people interacted due to the need of the commodities through
interactions.
- Agriculture: Many Africans communities practiced agriculture and different types
of interaction took place in the process. Apart from few communities such as the
pastoral Maasai who never tilled land; other communities cultivated a variety of
crops by using different farming methods, tools and crops were passed from one
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community to another. The Kwavi who were purely pastoral community eventually
became cultivators as the results of their interaction with agricultural societies.
Fishing, Was an economic activity that was practiced by communities that lived
near water bodies such as lakes, rivers and the seas. The Luo were and still are
named fishermen in Pre-colonial East Africa, the Ndengereko’s fished in the river
Rufiji while the Zaramo and other coastal people in the Indian Ocean, such fishing
communities interacted with pastoralists and agriculturalists so as to acquire
animal product and agricultural commodities.
Trade, Trade conducted in pre-colonial period was in barter system, the trade
network was based on the need to access what a community didn’t produce;
Example pastoralists exchanged their animals’ products for vegetable and grains.
The limbo clans among the Luo specialized in occupation such as iron working and
pottery. Between 8th – 16th C. AD communities from the Sudanic belt engaged in
trade with the communities from North Africa in the Trans – Sahara trade. Among
the most important commodities of exchange were iron, gold, slaves and salts
The need to search new areas, Areas with fertile land and reliable rainfall were
very attractive to the people within the regions or those coming from outside the
regions. Agricultural societies kept on shifting from the area with infertile soil to
areas with fertile soil; examples in the Interacustrine regions were densely
populated compared to areas like Central Tanzania and Northern part of Kenya
where population was low
Interaction in the Indian ocean island,
Before colonialism the Indian ocean islands such as Zanzibar, Madagascar, the Comoros
and the Seychelles were integral to a large trade and cultural exchange network that
linked together Africa, the middle east, south Asia and the south east Asia.
P h a s e s o f t h e i n t e r a c t i o n o n t h e I n d i a n o c e a n i s l a n d s
The history of this early interaction between the people from Indian ocean islands and
those from middle and far east can be divided into two phases,
- The first phase was the Ancient Period between the 1st century BCE and the 7th century
CE. This phase involved early contacts among the Austronesian sailors, Chinese, Arabs
and Indian traders. - T h e second phase was the Medieval Period between the 8th and15th centuries CE. This
period was characterized by the expansion of Islamic influence and the rise of Swahili
city-states as trading centers.
T h e third phase was the early modern period between the 15th century and early 19th
century CE with increased trade under local sultanates and early European
explorations. starting with the Portuguese, Arabs, the French, and English
Each phase saw evolving interaction patterns shaped by economic demands, technological
advancements and shifting political dynamics.
Factors which influence the interactions on the Indian ocean
Several conditions facilitated the interactions on the Indian Ocean islands, including
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- the geographical position and maritime trade. For instance, the strategic location of the
islands such as Zanzibar and Madagascar made them serve as crucial stopping points
for the traders travelling between the East African coast, the Middle East, India and
Southeast Asia. - Presence of monsoon winds. The seasonal monsoon winds played an important role in
determining trade routes, thus enabling the making of consistent and predictable
voyages. - Religious factor, cultural and religious connections influenced the pre-colonial
interactions on the Indian Ocean islands. The spread of Islam and indigenous beliefs and
practices created a unique culture across the islands, Arab traders from Oman and
Yemen played a central role in spreading Islam, which became famous in Zanzibar and
the Comoros by the 12″ century. - The rise of political alliances and conflicts, this led to the emergence of interactions on
the Indian Ocean islands. For example, local rulers formed alliance with foreign
merchants to strengthen their economies and political power - Settlement, by the 9h century. Arab traders had established permanent settlements in
Zanzibar and the Comoros. They intermarried with the local Bantu-speaking people, thus
giving rise to Swahili culture, which combines African, Arab a Persian influences. The
construction of stone mosques and Swahili writing are key indicators of this cultural
c o m b i n a t i o n . - Trade. Trade was the main factor in the pre-colonial interactions. The Indian Ocean
islands were rich in resources. For example, Madagascar supplied timber, iron and slaves
to Arab and Indian traders. Likewise, Zanzibar and the Comoros were known for cloves,
ivory and spices
Commodities exchanged during the commercial interaction
Origin o f
v i s i t o r s
Goods brought to Africa Goods taken from
Africa
Arabia Beakers, iron, pans, swords,
glassware, dagger, beads,
o r n a m e n t s .
Ivory, gold, slaves,
tortoise shells,
rhinoceroses’ horns,
C h i n a Porcelain bowls and plates, silk
cloth,
leopard skills, gum,
coal, iron, coconuts oil
Persia Pots, glass bowl, beaker, swords,
o r n a m e n t s ,
etc
India C o t t o n c l o t h , metal implements,
bead, swords, dagger, spears.
Spice land Spices
Maldive islands Cowrie shells
Syria Iron pans, bowls, beaker, swords
Thailand and
Burma
Stone ports and jars