UNIT 2: THE LONG DISTANCE TRADE
Key unit competence: By the end of this unit, the learner should be able
to explain the rise, effects and decline of the longdistance trade.
Use dictionary, textbooks, internet to answer the following questions:1. Find out the meaning of the word ‘distance’.This trade was conducted over long distances between the interior of
2. From your knowledge of Entrepreneurship, define trade.3. Now link the two, to explain what long distance trade is.
central and East Africa and the East African coast. This trade involved long
distances. In most cases, it entailed travelling thousands of miles from
one region to another through hostile environment. This trade was done
by well prepared traders, usually organised with sophisticated means
of transport. The traders were also armed with firearms for fighting or
defending themselves in case of danger or attacks on the way. It was led
by experienced men who knew the routes and territories where traders
passed.
Long distance traders were both locals and visitors from the coast and
beyond. The locals included the interior African tribes such as the Yao,
Akamba, Nyamwezi, Baganda, Bisa, Banyoro, Ganda and Kikuyu. These
tribes provided commodities and security to the traders. Visitors to the
interior whose aim was to trade were the Arabs and Europeans. They
brought manufactured products. The interior African tribes provided
the following commodities to traders: ivory, gold, slaves, ostrich feathers,
leopard and zebra skins, copper and rubber while The Arabic/foreign
goods included guns, gunpowder, clothes, iron products, knives, beads,
plates, sugar, saucepans and mirrors.
2.1 Factors for the rise of the long-distance trade
Discuss the factors that must have promoted the rise, expansion and
growth of the long-distance trade in the 19th Century.
Present your findings in class.
The following are the reasons for the rise, expansion and growth of
the long-distance trade:
Let us now look at the reasons that led to rise, expansion and growth ofthe long-distance trade of the 19th Century.
a) Availability of goods in the interior of both East and Central Africa.
Long Distance Trade thrived because of availability of goods for trade.
The goods included gold, ivory, animal skins, slaves and ostrich feathers.
These goods, especially ivory, were highly demanded in India for making
bangles. In Europe and America, the goods were used for making pianokeys and ornaments.
b) Increased demand for slaves in Europe and America.
Slaves were in high demand in Europe and America. This led various
dealers to intensify their search in the interior for slaves. The ready market
and improved ways of exporting them encouraged the traders involved
c) The vital role played by Indian and other Arab merchants in
Zanzibar.
Most Indians and Arabs were professional traders. This contributed to the
growth and expansion of the professional caravan traders. The traders
were greatly motivated to carry out adventures in the interior of East and
Central Africa.d) Increased demand for slaves in the French sugar industries.
The French sugar industries on the Islands of Mauritius, Madagascar and
Re-union also played a big role in the expansion of slave trade. It was this
cheap, free labour in combination with Island climate that favoured the
growth of sugarcane. In addition, capturing slaves had been made easier
by the introduction and availability of firearms.
Availability of firearms made it easier for Chokwe, Bisa and Nyamwezi
people to acquire captives.e) Division of labour.
Specialisation in some interior communities boosted the rise and
development of the long-distance trade. Communities such as Chokwe
and Nyamwezi practised division of labour. After preparing the land for
planting, men would leave the work of harvesting to women. Men would
then travel far off looking for ivory and transacting trade for several months
without coming back home.f) Introduction of cowrie shells as a medium of exchange.
Initially, long distance trade was conducted on barter system. Later on,
cowrie shells were introduced to act as a medium of exchange. This solved
problems such as cheating, and divisibility of some goods experienced
during barter trade. This led to further growth and expansion of the long distance trade.g) The hospitality of interior societies.
Some African societies such as the Baganda warmly welcomed the
traders. The Yao guided and offered food and shelter to the traders. Other
tribes such as the Akamba, Nyamwezi and Buganda related well withcoastal people. This good relationship helped the trade to develop.
h) Favourable climate.
The interior of East Africa was characterised by two types of climates, wet
and dry. March to November was a wet season, allowing people to practise
agriculture. December to February was a dry season. During this period,
the interior communities engaged in long distance trade.i) Increased demand for goods.
The increased demand for goods by the locals and slaves by the traders
promoted trade. The people in the interior needed goods such as guns,
clothes, glasses and saucepans. Coastal traders on the other hand needed
gold, slaves, copper, skins, feathers and agricultural products (including
honey and tobacco) which could only be obtained from the people in the
interior parts of Africa.j) Political stability in the interior of East Africa.
The East African coast was peaceful and politically stable, creating a
conducive environment for trade. This was characterised by a period
of peace brought about by the rise of powerful African leaders such
as Nyungu ya Mawe, Mirambo, Seyyid Said and Mutesa who provided
security and accommodation to traders. These African leaders organised
trade caravans and provided security to traders. The presence of firearms
also promoted political stability as they were used to provide security to
the traders.
Application Activity 2.1.
Explain some of the reasons that may lead to the rise of trade in your
locality then Compare them with the factors that led to the rise of the
long-distance tradeMake oral presentation.
2.2. Reasons for the decline of the long-distance trade
Ishimwe has been in the business of selling new clothes in Kigali City for
six years now. However, in the recent past, she has been experiencing
low sales.
Discuss some of the reasons that may have led to this situation. Compilea report for class presentation.
a) The trade became less profitable.Just like in the case of Ishimwe, there are some factors that negatively
affected long distance trade. For instance, long distance trade attracted
traders which resulted into competition for market. This led to the flooding of
goods forcing traders to lower prices. This reduced their profit, discouragingthem from continuing. This caused their goods to fetch low profits.
b) Constant interstate wars.Recurrent interstate wars increased insecurity. For example, wars caused
by the Nyamwezi who were using the Ruga Ruga warriors was a threat to
the continuity of this trade. This made many traders to abandon this tradefor fear of being killed.
c) The death of some trade tycoons.
Rich and prominent people in this trade such as Mutesa I and Mirambo
died in 1884. Seyyid Said died in 1846. These kings did not only control but
also financed the organisers of the trade. Their death deprived this tradeof security, hence its downfall.
d) Exhaustion of some vital goods.
The dwindling supply of important goods and commodities such as ivory,
gold, salt, zebra skins, rhino horns and ostrich feathers led to decline of
this trade. These goods were purchased in large quantities due to high
demand. With time, they got depleted due to the increasing demands
for ivory the hunters killed many elephants eventually the number ofelephants reduced, and the supply of ivory declined.
e) The role played by Seyyid Bargash.
He attempted to overthrow Seyyid Said as the leader of Oman at the East
African Coast (Zanzibar). This resulted into fierce fighting between the
supporters of Seyyid Bargash and those of Seyyid Said. This forced SeyyidSaid to close the Zanzibar slave trade market.
f) Abolition of slave trade.
Slaves were at the centre of the long-distance trade. The abolition of slave
trade by Britain and Belgian parliaments caused a sharp decline in the
supply of slaves.
This resulted into reduced slaves in the market. Since many traders
were interested in the slaves, abolition of slave trade culminated into thecollapse of the long-distance trade.
g) Poor means of transport.
Even with experienced traders, roads were poor in the interior. This deterred
the transportation of goods from the interior to the coast and vice versa.
This was partly caused by physical difficulties due to deep valleys, rivers,
lakes and mountains. This provided an obstacle in the transportation ofgoods to East African Coast.
h) Overtaxation.
African chiefs such as Mirambo and kings such as Kabaka charged a lot of
taxes because they wanted to get rich in a short time. This led to reduced
profits in the trade and consequently discouraging traders from the trade.They finally pulled out of the long-distance trade.
i) Scramble for and partition of Africa.
The colonisation of Africa resulted into final collapse of the long-distance
trade. This is because the political, social and economic life of the Africans
was under the control of Europeans. Colonial masters put a stop to long
distance trade. This is because they too required African labour to developtheir colonies.
j) Flooding of European cheap goods in the African market.
The industrial revolution in Europe led to mass production of goods. These
cheap quality products sold more than those traded in during the long distance trade.
This, too, led to the collapse of the trade.
Make oral presentation on the reasons that led to the decline of The
long-distance trade.
2.3. Effects of the long-distance trade
Use textbooks to discuss the effects of the long-distance trade. Present
the findings.
a) Social effects.
i. The trade led to interaction of people from varied backgrounds and
cultures in East and Central Africa. For example, the interaction of
interior people with Arabs at the coast led to the origin of Kiswahililanguage and adoption of Islam as a religion.
ii. Long distance trade helped to improve relationship between some
African societies which had been enemies before. For example, the
Akamba and the Nandi tribes in Kenya had to ignore their traditional
differences in order to trade freely.iii. The trade depopulated many places. It involved, among others,
selling of people as slaves. Many people were killed as they tried to
defend themselves against the slave traders. Others were captured,
enslaved and sold.iv. As trade expanded in East and Central Africa, the old trading centres
developed into major towns. These towns included Kilwa, Tabora,
Ujiji and Zanzibar.v. Famine was experienced in some areas. This was as a result of slave
raid which forced people to flee their homes looking for safer areas.
This disorganised the agricultural activities and earlier economicventures set up by East and Central African people.
b) Economic effects.i. It led to the introduction of new commodities in the interior of
East and Central Africa. Such commodities included guns, beads,
porcelain materials and clothes.ii. The trade revealed how productive the interior of East and Central
Africa was. It had a lot of ivory, copper, gold, tortoise shells and rhino
horns. Europeans developed an interest to control East and Central
African areas for easy exploitation of the unexploited resources.iii. The use of cowrie shells as a medium of exchange increasingly
became important in East Africa. For example, they were used in
the kingdoms of Buganda and Bunyoro. By the end of 19th Century,
Indian Rupees had spread to Buganda. This greatly undermined the
old system of barter trade.iv. The trade stimulated the production of local foodstuffs. A lot of
foodstuffs were required to meet the food demands of caravan
traders. The traders did not carry food supplies along with them
during their long journeys. This gave the natives along the various
trade routes in East and Central Africa an opportunity to have anincome from sale of food.
v. The demand and sale of ivory led to the depletion of elephants in
East Africa. Through this trade, there was misuse and exploitation of
African people and animal resources.vi. It led to emergence of people with skills. People such as Mirambo,
Nyungu ya Mawe and Tippu Tip made names as traders and pioneersin large economic activities of East Africa.
c) Political effects.
i. The firearms strengthened security in some African communities.
A lot of African societies that were weak before were able to stage
strong resistances against the invading colonialists in the later years.
ii. The Bunyoro, Hehe and the Nandi resisted colonialism during and
after long distance trade.
iii. Long distance trade led to state formation of East Africa. This came
about as a result of individuals who acquired wealth and other
opportunities from the trade. The trade helped leaders such as
Nyugu ya Mawe, Mutesa I, Mirambo and Misri to build lager political
kingdoms.
iv. The trade led to the collapse of some weak African societies. For
example, Ngindo and Tonga of southern Tanganyika declined as a
result of the long-distance trade activities.
v. Communities that were involved in the long-distance trade managed
to establish large armies which were used to expand their territories.
For example, the Nyamwezi had Ruga Ruga, trained army that
protected and defended the kingdom. The Banyoro also built its
army known as Abalusura. Nyungu ya Mawe’s army was called Mviti.These armies helped their kingdoms to rise and expand.
vi. The trade discouraged the production of local commodities such
as beans, iron implements, salt and bark cloth. This was mainly
because local commodities proved less profitable than slaves and
ivory. Moreso, imported commodities such as clothes, shoes and
saucepans proved quite superior to local ones.
Discuss the effects of the long-distance trade and make an oral
presentation of the results to the class.
1. Explain the meaning of the long-distance trade.
2. Discuss the reasons that led to the rise and growth of the longdistance trade in East and Central Africa.
3. Give reasons that led to the collapse of the long-distance trade
in East and Central Africa.
4. With examples, identify the effects of the long-distance trade in
East and Central Africa.