Before the coming in of Europeans and the colonization of Africa, Africans engaged themselves in trade and this trade was of two types; local and long distance trade.

Local Trade dealt mainly in locally produced commodities like food stuffs, baskets, nets, arrows, spears and other iron implements and was carried out within the same political unit, sometimes local trade was between many political entities.

A market centre would be established in a given region and operated on a particular day every given month. Some of the these markets would be found in places like Mengo in Buganda, Rubaga in Bugangaizi, Katwe in Toro and many others were established in capital cities like Mwanamotapa, Dar-es-Salaam, Tabora, Ujiiji, Nairobi, Mombasa, Machakos in Kenya, Maputo, Lilongwe, Blantyre in Malawi.

The methods of buying and selling these goods was by barter trading a system that went on until the introduction of the forms of media of exchange for example cowrie shells.

However, the first half of the 19th Century saw the emergence of Long Distance Trade in areas like East Africa which has been defined as the commercial intercourse between alien communities separated by considerable distances and this trade involved a number of communities among which included the Baganda, Banyoro, Nyamwezi, Yao, Ngoni, Arabs and Swahili traders. The Kamba, Luyia, Taitas, Chagga, Kasongo of Zaire, people of the Katanga, Mwanamotapa, people of Malawi and others.

The commodities involved from the interior of East Africa and Central included ivory, skins, gold and later on slaves and from the coast European commodities like guns, beads, cloth, mirrors were imported.

Like in Local Trade the means of exchange was barter which involved the exchange of goods for goods but with time this means of exchange became difficult because of lack of double coincidence, bulky commodities, divisions among others. Therefore a form of currency; cowrie shells was introduced as media of exchange during Long Distance Trade.

The main trading market places included in the case of East Africa Karagwe, Tabora, Dar-es-Salaam, Kilwa, Mombasa and Zanzibar. In case of Central Africa, the headquarters of Mwanamotapa and Mwana-Ya-Mawa kingdom, Maputo, Luanda, Lusaka and others were used.

MAJOR TRADING ROUTES

Long distance trade was conducted through three main routes namely the southern, central and northern routes.

The main trading routes included the northern route which ran from Mombasa through Kamba land to Kikuyu regions. The northern route started from ports of Pangani, Mombasa and Tanga. It passed through north eastern Tanganyika and Nyika plateau of Kenya on its way to Western Kenya, Lake Rudolf and eastern shores of Lake Victoria. The Akamba, Kikuyu and Mrina people were prominent traders along this route dealing in Ivory, Slaves, traditional medicine, poisoned arrows among others.

Another was the central route which ran from Zanzibar through Dar-es-Salaam, Tabora, Nyamwezi land to Zaire as far as Katanga. The central route from the port of Bagamoyo and penetrated the interior across Tanganyika to Ujiji on Lake Tanganyika from where it crossed the lake to reach the resourceful Congo basin. From Tabora, the route diverted northwards to link the kingdoms of Karagwe, Buganda, Ankole and Bunyoro from Tabora, again this central route branched

The North Western route ran from Unyamwezi through Haya or Bukoba then to Buganda as far as Mengo.

Regarding the South Western route, it ran from Angola, Southern Zaire, Luanda court and the coast of Angola. The Southern route lastly from Mwanamotapa kingdom to Maputo while the North Eastern route went from Malawi and Zambia to Kilwa on the coast of East Africa.

The fourth route important to note which partly belonged to the Indian Ocean but largely the Mediterranean Sea system of trade was the Nile valley route. It passed by and sometimes through the navigable section on River Nile. It was dominated by Khartoumers from Sudan who traded with segmentary societies of northern Kenya and northern Uganda.

This route mainly dealt in slaves and ivory. This was the most notorious slave trade route in North Eastern Africa. Arabs in this route could do anything to get slaves. The route also was linked to Atlantic trade system through the Congo network and Sahara route from Lake Chad to Sakim port on Red Sea.

Reasons for Expansion and Growth of Long Distance Trade Of the 19^th Century.

A number of factors have been advanced by historians in their attempts to justify societies participation in this trade and among these factors:-

Availability of commodities: it is believed that some of these societies for example the Nyamwezi, Baganda, Banyoro, greatly participated in this trade majorly because of the presence of surplus commodities like bark-cloth, iron implements, salt ivory, agricultural commodities among others.

Another factor was the increased demand for slaves especially for the clove plantations in Zanzibar, sugar plantations on the French islands of Reunion which forced some of these societies like the Nyamwezi, the Yao to get involved in trade.

The emergence of new commodities like mirrors, beads, fire arms which had hitherto not been in place. These therefore forced many of the kings to participate in this trade especially to acquire fire arms that were later to be used in strengthening their kingdoms for example the Nyamwezi, Baganda and Banyoro.

The vital role played by the Indian and other Arab merchant resident in Zanzibar greatly contributed to the growth and expansion of the professional caravan traders. The Indians advanced mainly the caravan traders, which greatly motivated them to carry out adventures in the interior of East Africa leading to the development of long distance trade.

The French sugar industries on the islands of Mauritius, Madagascar and Reunion 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.

Introduction and availability of firearms was also instrumental in contributing to the growth of long distance trade in the 2nd half of the 19th century. The presence of firearms made it easier for Chokwe, Bisa and Nyamwezi people to transform their traditional skills into modern ones to attract the available market and it also aided those who were involved in slave trade to easily acquire captives.

The strategic location of certain communities like the Yao, Nyamwezi who were located between coastal areas and along the central routes where trade was carried out closely related. Some of these geographical settings had a suitable landscape with easy mobility of caravans and therefore gave these people the morale to participate in this trade.

The division of labour or specialization among the Chokwe and seasonal pattern of land use among the Nyamwezi West Central Tanganyika is also seen as having led to the growth and expansion of long distance trade. After preparing the land for planting, men would leave the work of harvesting to women. Men would then travel far off hunting for ivory and transacting trade for several months without checking back on their homes.

Among the Nyamwezi also their growing season lasted from March to November and men would find themselves free to join the long distance trade caravans into the interior of East Africa. This was a great contribution, which led the Nyamwezi people and Chokwe to travel long distances in trade activities as they wait- for a growing season to start.

The growth and expansion of long distance trade was also encouraged by existing inner demand for imported European and Indian products for example clothes and more especially firearms.

Last but not least, some of these societies had a long historical culture of trade even before the advent of the Long Distance Trade for example Baganda, Yao, Kamba, Kikuyu, Nyamwezi did participate in local trade even before the first half of 19th Century.

Lastly, able leadership and trading experiences of some of the African leaders like Mirambo, Nyungu Yamawe, Mutesa I many of whom were good organizers of trade. It is not surprising therefore that the death of these personalities in the 1880’s saw a decline in trade for their successors were not good organizers.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE LONG DISTANCE TRADE

Zanzibar controlled the trade especially at the coast on the island of Zanzibar and Pemba.

The Arabs had strong influence in most of the trading towns. In other words the trade was characterised by strong influence of Arabs.

Trade caravans in this trade were used and were financed by coastal traders and were mostly organised in a high logical manner.

There was labour migration. This characteristic of the trade is barked by the fact that about 15,000-20,000 Nyamwezi had to visit the coast per year.

The other characteristic of the trade was that the caravan personnel was highly specialised. Guards, servants, cooks and guides were distinguished from porters. The route was highly guarded by armed guards. This was to provide security.

Another quality of this trade was that goods or commodities in most cases were traded on credit. The Arabs and Swahili traders under took to repay two or three times the original sum in ivory on their return.

Ivory was the main original commodity trading of slaves came later but the trade was mainly aimed at ivory.

Another characteristic of this long distance trade was that most powerful rulers between 1870-1880’s monopolised ivory trade such as Nyungu ya mawe, Mirambo, Mutesa 1 and Kabalega.

The medium of exchange was by barter trade. There was simply exchange of goods. Most inland people could trade with Zanzibar only through coastal middlemen. These however demanded substantial fee in return for their services.

Trade agents were stationed in all trading towns. The caravan trade was seasonal. It mainly took place in dry seasons after which societies settled and concentrated on agriculture during rainy seasons.

The Role of East African Societies in the Long Distance Trade

The most active societies in the development of the long distance trade in East Africa include, the Nyamwezi the Yao, the Kikuyu, Kamba, Baganda and Banyoro.

It was not until the coming of European colonialists that the long distance trade declined in importance.

ROLE OF THE BAGANDA IN LONG DISTANCE TRADE

In the rise of the Kingdom of Buganda, we mentioned trade as one of the most important factors, which gave Buganda an honourable position among the interlacustrine states.

In 1844 the Arab merchants from the Coast touched the soil of Buganda. The rulers of Buganda continued to control the trading activities, and the Arabs were not warmly received.

In 1856, Mutesa I became the new Kabaka of Buganda. Since there was rivalry between Buganda and Bunyoro. the Kabaka needed firearms to fight not only against the Banyoro but also the Egyptians. As a result, he accepted the Arabs and they, in turn, provided him with guns.

However, the Kabaka made it clear that the Coastal merchants could trade with Buganda only if they accepted trade conditions laid down by him.

The Baganda raided the neighbouring states such as Busoga, Bunyoro, Toro and Ankole for slaves and ivory. They even went into the islands ivory from the Galla who in turn received food.

The Pokomo traded with the Swahili in ivory which was exchanged for things they needed most such as hoes and axes.

As a result of these trading activities, markets were established everywhere along the trade route junctions. A good example was Rabat at the Coast near Mombasa where the Chagga, Kamba, Taita, Swahili and other people met and traded with each other.

THE ROLE OF THE NYAMWEZI

The Nyamwezi people of west central Tanzania developed Long Distance trade in several directions before the coastal traders came to their land. They pioneered caravan routes west wars to L Tanganyika and beyond into the upper Zaire region, southwards to Shaba, Northwards to Buganda and about 1800, they reached the east coast.

They occupied a strategic position along the central routes from Zanzibar to the interior. This was a vital factor in Nyamwezi development and active participation in trade during the nineteenth century. This also enabled the Nyamwezi to expand the volume of trade between the interior tribes and the coastal traders

The Nyamwezi supplied iron equipment and sold to Gogo in return for food products. They obtained salt from the coastal traders and supplied it to the interior such as those in Zaire, Ankole and Bunyoro.

From the 1840s, the Nyamwezi hunted elephants and sold ivory on a large scale to the coastal Arabs and Swahili traders. This became one of the major trading commodities for the Nyamwezi. They hunted elephants as far as Zaire and in the later period, they even supplied elephants to the coastal Arabs.

The Nyamwezi further supplied copper from Katanga to the interior tribes particular by the Ha and Sumbwa, who begun to make wire bungle and ornaments out of copper and iron. This proved extremely popular with people living along the trade routes. Later the copper was also used as a form of currency.

The Nyamwezi kept and supplied live stock for example, cattle, sheep, goats, and donkeys, to the coastal Arabs and Swahili traders. They exchanged the animals for other products and as early as 1831, the Nyamwezi hired out the donkeys to transport some of the goods to the coast and back to the interior.

The Nyamwezi further acted as middle men between the interior and the coastal Arabs and Swahili traders. Their central position gave them the advantage to co-ordinate trading transactions between the interior and the coast.

The Nyamwezi also acted as porters for the Arabs and Swahili traders. By 1860’s, this had turned out to be a profession. Then they hired out their labour services and there fore facilitated the transportation of goods between the coast and the interior in the absence of better means of transport.

In the later years, the Nyamwezi supplied slaves to the coastal; Arabs and Swahili traders. Under the rule of Mirambo and Nyamwezi, they extended their territories by exploring the trade in ivory, and slaves using the Ruga – Ruga and Maviti mercenaries. These raided neighbouring small and weaker states and sold the captives to the slave traders.

By 1850s’ some Nyamwezi merchants had established trading posts on the far side of the lake Tanganyika. The most famous of them was called Ngelengwa, better known as Msim. He even extended to settle in Katanga with his band of followers, married into the chiefly family of the area and begun to establish a personal empire. He later became the chief supplier of ivory and copper to the interior tribes of E. Africa.

The Nyamwezi further provided security on the caravan routes between the coast and the interior. Rulers like Mirambo, Nyungu Ya-Mawe and Msiri offered their guards to protect and guide the caravans into the interior. Hence, they provided a conducive atmosphere of security for the growth of commerce and trade.

The rulers of the Nyamwezi particularly Mirambo signed commercial treaties easy flow of trade. Mirambo also established friendly relationships with the interior rulers like Kabaka Mutesa of Buganda, Tipu-Tip and Msiri. This created a conducive atmosphere for the development of commercial links between the coast and the interior.

WHY THE NYAMWEZI LONG DISTANCE TRADE DECLINED FROM 1880 ONWARDS

Competition from the Arabs: Following the treaty between Sayyid Said and Nyamwezi Chief Fundikira around 1839 they faced a strong competition.

After this treaty, the Arabs had to set up their station at Tabora, the Nyamwezi did not react immediately and they made friendly relations as long as the Arabs did not seem to be monopolizing their trade and at that time they were few in number and when time went on, their numbers increased which caused concern among the Nyamwezi.

Moreover the Arabs had began to take along share of trade without using Nyamwezi as middlemen. This created stiff competition, which the Nyamwezi failed to cope up with.

In 1805, the Arabs killed the Nyamwezi Chief Myasele. At the same time the effects of the Ngoni Invasion were also being felt by Tanganyika and this disrupted the smoothness of Long Distance Trade. This affected the Nyamwezi although later with the rise of Mirambo and Nyungu-ya-mawe it grew up again but with the death of these two chiefs in 1884. The Nyamwezi began to loose hope of Long Distance Trade.

Their empires failed to get strong successors and as such the Nyamwezi failed to fight against the Arabs who with their guns were in a better condition to break down the Nyamwezi monopoly. Moreover the Nyamwezi were betrayed themselves as some joined the Arabs undermined the strength of Nyamwezi community.

Added to the above, with the rise of other participants such as Banyoro, Ganda and the Akamba plus the Arabs led a wise source where to obtain items such as ivory and slaves. For this matter they saw no need to restrict themselves in Nyamwezi economy. These weakened the Nyamwezi and contributed their role of control the monopoly of trade.

Besides the above, ivory was becoming scarce as elephant population had been depleted throughout the regions of centre Tanganyika and beyond. More to that the abolition of slave trade left Nyamwezi with no basis of trade items hence killing their trade links in the interior.

In conclusion therefore, the Nyamwezi had played a fundamental role as middlemen in the Long Distance Trade which led to their growth and prosperity until the coming of colonial rule that abolished slave trade and replaced it with legitimate trade instead of Long Distance Trade.

ROLE OF YAO IN THE LONG DISTANCE TRADE.

The Yao lived in southern Tanganyika. They used to travel long distances across the border to Mozambique, Malawi and coastal areas of East Africa, they were the first to join the long distance trade.

The Yao dominated the southern caravan routes which linked the coastal town of Kilwa to the Northern communities of Mozambique, Malawi and indeed into the interior of central Africa to the interior of Mono motapa.

Under powerful chiefs such as Mpanda, Mataka, Macheba, and Mtalika, the trade along the southern route remained predominantly in Yao’s hands. Coastal traders who travelled in kind came as customers of their rulers. They brought guns, cloth, beads and glass in exchange for slaves.

The Yao became the chief suppliers of slaves to the coastal Arabs and Swahili traders. In the 19^th century, they are remembered as the most active slave traders with growing demand of slaves at the coast and the fact that the Yao rulers wanted to increase their political powers.

The Yao also became the most prominent ivory traders between Malawi and Kilwa. They exchanged their ivory with the coastal traders for the product, items needed by the interior tribes. They ventured into central Africa to hunt for elephants and ivory.

The Yao further became chief suppliers of gold to the coastal traders. Gold was collected from the kingdom of Monomotapa and brought to Kilwa. The rulers of the Yao states gained a lot of wealth to purchase firearms and ammunition for strengthening their military power.

The Yao also provided security to the trade caravans. They acted as guides and guards to the trade caravans deep in the interior of central Africa to collect trade items which they highly demanded at the coast.

The Yao also acted as middlemen between the coastal traders and the tribes of the interior. They guided the coastal traders to areas where they collected the goods themselves from Kilwa and exchanged directly with the interior tribes. It should be noted that the influence of the coastal traders was quite limited in the Yao states.

The Yao established large chiefdoms Northwards and southwards as far as the eastern shores of lake Malawi to Shire valley south of the lake. The Yao commercial contracts were wide spread to the country of Ceve and Bisa. The most famous of these powerful chiefs was Mataka 1, who lived from about 1800 to the late 1870s. He is believed to have had 600 wives.

The Yao rulers often employed Swahili secretaries to make it easy to carry on their business and diplomatic communication with the coast. These usually acted as interpreters between the coastal traders and the interior tribes.

The Yao further introduced the Swahili Arab influence to southern Tanzania for example they introduced styles of architecture and clothing. David Living Stone once remarked.

“ Chief Mataka 1 gave me a square house to live in and indeed most of the houses are square for the Arabs are initiated in every thing.”

Many Yao became Moslems and there was growing Islamic community along the shores of Lake Malawi. Mosque and Quoranic schools were established.

The Yao remained hostile to a number of European visitors because they were afraid of losing their trade. However it must be emphasised that slave raids and slave trade left many villages deserted and destroyed.

It was towards the end of the century that the Yao active participation in the long distance trade came to an end because of German colonisation of Tanganyika.

THE ROLE OF AKAMBA IN THE LONG DISTANCE TRADE.

The Akamba of the Athi river basin inhabited the land that slopes gradually from the Kikuyu highlands to the Nyika Desert near the coast. They were the most active long distance traders in Kenya.

Early in the 19^th century they made contacts with Swahili and Arab traders on the coast and this led to a rapid extension of their activities their chiefdoms outlet at the coast were Mombasa, Pangani and the important market centre was Kaya Rabai.

Initially the Akamba were semi-nomadic and expert hunters using bows and poisoned arrows. However, they later took up an active role in the traders was Kivoi who made a great name for himself as a hunter of slaves and organised caravans to Kilimanjaro mountains in Kenya and beyond.

The Akamba monopolised the ivory trade in the Mombasa hinterland. Their hunting parties began to take over transportation part of ivory trade from the Nyika middle men Akamba hunter traders worked as far North as mountain Kenya, westwards to the rift valley and southwards as far as Ufigua

The Akamba also exported their local industrial products over a wide area of E. Africa. they were particularly skilled in iron work, using local ore to make arrow heads claims and collars. Their poisoned arrows made from snakes and scorpion kenim mixed with liquids from the bark of a certain tree was generally considered the best by the neighbouring communities such as the Kikuyu.

The Akamba acted as middle men between the coastal traders and other communities to the west especially the Kikuyu to whom they sold coastal goods such as beads, wire and cloth in exchange for live stock and ivory.

The Akamba provided security to the trade caravans crossing the Nyika. The Akamba military system with its reliance on the bow and arrow further enabled them to withstand Masai and Galla raids. In this respect, they guarded and guided trade caravans to the interior and from the coast.

In the later years, the Akamba supplied slaves in the homes and farms as the Akamba had to travel further and further in search of elephants, they also took to a serious slave raiding. As a result, this led to warfare with neighbouring tribes such as the Kikuyu, Pokomo and Masai.

The Akamba trading activities covered a large area by the end of the century. The merchants pushed Northwards beyond mount Kenya into Samburu county and southwards as far as Uzaramo in eastern Tanzania. Hence outside which supplied passing Akamba caravans with food and trade goods.

However by 1970, the Akamba dominance in the trade began to decline because the Zanzibaris directly obtained ivory from the interior. Sold iron products to the Masai and Kikuyu. The Masai civil wars weakened their political power and this encouraged the Arab Swahili traders to move from Mt. Kilimanjaro to mount Kenya.

But even so, the Akamba were important in the commercial life of East Africa until the British colonisation of Kenya after 1895.

Large caravans of 200-300 men were after seen entering market centres of Rabai carrying ivory, Rhinoceros horn, tobacco, honey, wax and occasionally slaves.

THE IMPACT OF THE LONG DISTANCE TRADE

To a large extent, long distance trade in East Africa and central Africa constituted a crisis and revolution as it had both positive and negative effects in its social, political and economic consequences as for example::

Social aspects

Long distance trade led to interaction of diverse societies which led to the spread of various cultures like language and other ways of living in east and central Africa. This broadened peoples' understanding as before the long distance trade, societies have been confined only to their small localities and people were ignorant of what happened beyond their own boundaries. The interaction of interior people with Arabs at the coast made them adopt Swahili language and Islam as a supplementary religion to their traditional beliefs

Long distance trade helped to improve the 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 as friends. Nevertheless, in some cases long distance trade introduced conflicts and hatred among African societies for example the Yao slave dealers were hated by Ukimbu, Hehe and Ngoni people when they often attacked each other in their slave trading activities.

The trade involved itself in the selling of human beings, which greatly depopulated most of east and central African societies for example many people were killed as they were trying to defend themselves against the slave traders while others were adopted and enslaved in distant places hence depopulating many parts of East and Central Africa.

Urbanization impact; as long distance trade expanded in East Africa, the old trading centers were developed into towns. These included Kilwa, Tabora, (Unyanyembe) and Ujiji on Lake Tanganyika.

Emergence of famine and diseases in some areas of East and central Africa as a result of slave raids which forced people to flee their areas of homesteads looking for safer areas. This disorganized the agricultural activities and earlier social economic ventures set up by east and central African people.

Economic effects.

Long distance trade led to the widespread introduction of new commodities in the interior. The previous unknown items for example guns, beads, porcelain materials, clothes and other items were spread into the interior of East and Central Africa. However, introduction of firearms accelerated the slave trade activities because weaker communities could easily be taken into slavery.

The trade revealed how productive the interior of East and Central African region was. They saw a lot of ivory, copper, gold, tortoise shells and rhino horns, opportunities which were not yet exploited and Europeans developed an interest to control East and central African areas for easy exploitation of these valuable raw materials.

It eventually came to discourage the production of local commodities such as beans, iron implements, salt and bark cloth manufacture. This was mainly due to two major reasons. Local commodities proved less profitable than slaves and ivory. /The imported commodities like clothes, hoes and sauce pans proved quite superior to local ones.

Further more it began the monetisation process of east and central African economies. The use ofcowshells^ as a medium of exchange increasingly became important in East Africa. By 1870s the use of Cowshells had reached as far deep as Buganda and Bunyoro. By the end of the 19th century even the Indian rupees had spread to Buganda. This greatly Undermined the old system of Barter trade.

The pre-colonial trade stimulated the production of local foodstuffs required to meet food demands of caravan traders who did not carry any food supplies along with them along the way. This gave the natives along various trade routes in East Africa an opportunity to have an income from the sale of food items to the long distance traders.

It led to the development and emergence of people with skills who made names as traders and pioneers in large economic activities of East Africa. Some of the examples of these traders and pioneers include Mirambo, Nyungu Ya Mawe and Tippu Tip.

The demand and sale of ivory led to depletion of elephants as their survival was tampered with the great demand of ivory. The long distance trade therefore demonstrates an example of man's misuse and exploitation of African human and animal resources without any conservation measures put in place.

Political Effects.

The firearms introduced during the long distance trade helped in the strengthening of some African communities which were weak before such that they were even able to stage strong resistance against the invading colonialists in the later years. For example Banyoro, Hehe- Nandi resisted colonialism during the long distance trade. However the guns were also responsible for the depopulation and destruction of wild life notably elephants in search of ivory.

It led to state formation in East Africa. This came about as a result of individuals who acquired wealth and other opportunities from long distance trade that helped them to build larger political kingdoms for example Nyungu ya Mawe, Muteesa I, Mirambo and Msri were able to build their empires as a result of opportunities from long distance trade.

Mirambo created Urambo states, Nyungu ya Mawe formed Ukimbu states while Msri created Shaba state in Eastern Congo. Tip Tippu also built a strong Kasongo Empire. However, some weaker societies like Ngindo and Tonga of South Tanganyika^dec lined as a result of long distance trade activities. These societies could not cope with powerful prosperous societies because of slave trade activities, which depopulated their areas.

Long distance trade communities managed to build themselves large armies which were used to expand their territories for example Nyamwezi had Ruga Ruga, trained especially for plundering and defence of the kingdom. The Banyoro also built its army known as Abarusura, Nyungu Ya Mawe's army (Mviti) while the Baganda were to expand it in all directions because of the guns from long distance trade.

EFFECTS OF LONG DISTANCE TRADE ON PEOPLE OF EAST AND CENTRAL AFRICA

Long Distance Trade had far reaching consequences in the history of East and Central Africa which can be categorized under social, political and economic.

It led to the introduction into East and Central Africa. Commodities that hitherto had not existed some of which included food stuffs like pineapples, maize, rice, cassava, cucumber and some foreign goods like glasses, beads, guns that came to play a very important role in the lifestyle of the peoples of East and Central Africa.

Closely related, Long Distance Trade brought economic development especially given the fact that it opened the regions of East and Central Africa to the outside world.

Furthermore, many of the trade routes used in Long Distance Trade were later on to become real communication and transport systems for this region.

Socially Long Distance Trade led to the introduction of foreign cultures like wearing cotton and silk cloth which enabled many people in these regions to move with the thin modern styles of fashions.

It also led to the introduction of Islam into the various regions of East and Central Africa which greatly helped many of to give up their pagan ways of life and dangerous customs that were characteristic of African societies.

Closely related, Long Distance Trade led to the development of Kiswahili language which became a Lingua -Franca in many of the regions as far as Eastern and the Eastern coastal areas.

One of the most important contributions of Long Distance Trade was that it led to the growth and expansion of various kingdoms like Buganda, Nyamwezi and the birth of strong personalities like Mirambo, Nyungu Yamawe who were later on to dominate the history of the area in the second half of 19th Century. It was therefore greatly due to the acquisition of guns that they were later on to use in expanding their territories as the expense of the weaker societies.

Negatively Long Distance Trade led to depopulation as many of the areas were normally raided for slaves and this greatly undermined the economies of these regions and especially given the destruction that was carried out during those raids giving birth to famine and starvation in many of these regions.

Similarly, Long Distance Trade led to the loss of identities because of destruction and assimilation of the weaker societies into the strong one especially because of militaristic superiority and constant raids.

It also led to the loss of influence of African traditional religious because of the introduction of Islam.

Lastly the routes that were used during Long Distance Trade were later on to be used by European imperialists in colonizing East and Central Africa.

Despite the great impact created by Long Distance Trade, it was by the later 1880’s beginning to decline majorly because of the competition by different communities like the Yao, Nyamwezi, Baganda, Kamba, Arabs who had begun competing in trade relations therefore making Long Distance Trade less profitable.

Closely related was a tremendous decrease in the supply of goods like slaves, ivory, given that the human and elephant population was reducing since for the former many people had been sold off while others had died. Hence Long Distance Trade begun to die a natural death.

It also argued that the death of trade organizers like Mirambo, Nyungu Yamawe, Mutesa I in the 1880’s greatly affected the pace at which Long Distance Trade was carried out for their successors greatly lacked commercial acumen in maintaining the organization of trade.

Political and interstate conflicts created a hostile atmosphere which greatly undermined this trade for many of these societies like Kimbu, Pokomo, Zaramo were always in conflict with one another thus creating an atmosphere that greatly undermined close relations among traders for example its believed that Fundikira the king of Unyanyembe died because of these conflicts.

The charging of high levies on traders made trade to become unprofitable thus undermining peoples participation in trade.

The last nail in the coffin of Long Distance Trade was the appearance of Europeans in form of explorers, missionaries, traders, colonizers all whom seemed to condemn the act of slave trade, which was an essential component of Long Distance Trade.

THE NYAMWEZI LONG DISTANCE TRADERS

Question

(a) Why were the Nyamwezi prominent in the Long Distance Trade in the 19th Century?

(b) What factors that led to their decline?

The Nyamwezi were on outstanding community that participated in Long Distance Trade. It was a community of divergent origin who were named “Unyamwezi” by the coastal traders because they were accelerated with a new moon as they always reach at the coast from the West. They are a group of people who occupied the Western and Central Tanganyika and because of that even in trade they became the mediators of trade between the coastal Arabs and communities in the interior of Eastern and Central Africa.

Location Advantage: The Nyamwezi were centrally located and they were in control with the traders far from the coast because they themselves were great traders. The Nyamwezi therefore had to join Long Distance Trade because of their location in East Africa. They could commute from their place to Buganda, Bunyoro in search of trade items. Moreover they were so ruthless especially Mirambo’s Ruga-Ruga army which used to robe trade caravans that would pass on their land when it does not complied to the Nyamwezi people.

Presence of Skilled Traders: Nyamwezi were also lucky to have had skilled traders among themselves who organised trade on a large scale. These skilled traders were also good military leaders and were capable of defending their economic interests. Meanwhile Mirambo and Nyungu-ya-mawe were skilled traders who commanded a large armies of Ruga-Ruga and Mviti soldiers to ensure success in their trade activities. They had also collective initiative and worked as the team to implement their trade.

The Presence of Salt and Iron: Nyamwezi were also able to join and became very important in Long Distance Trade because of being near Iron and salt producing regions. Iron was got all Vinza while salt was mined at Tonga. They therefore sole such items to these societies which could not produce iron and salt for example they carried them to Sumbura people, Segu and Pokoma people near the coast of East Africa.

Besides that, the Nyamwezi society was very resourceful and therefore supplied a lot of items such as ivory, slaves, bee wax, rhinocerous horns and tortoise shells to the coastal people. More to this, Nyamwezi were skilled hunters who easily got elephants and rhinos purposely to extract their desired trade items from them.

Acquisition of Fire Arms: The Nyamwezi were advantaged in that they acquired fire arms at an early stage and this helped them on improving their hunting tactics. The gun was initially used in the acquisition of ivory but later it was used to acquire slaves and for protecting the Long Distance Trade caravans.

The Nyamwezi also were ambitious people: These traders had to get desire to acquire foreign luxurious goods such as guns, beads, clothes, mirrors among others. which could be easily got at the coast in exchange with interior items like ivory, beeswax and slaves.

Increased Demand for Ivory and Slaves: Besides the above, there was an increased demand for slaves and ivory on the coast of East Africa. This necessitated the Nyamwezi to participate in the Long Distance Trade because these items were accessible to them. The demand for slaves had been caused by introduction of the crop plantations in Zanzibar around 1840’s. The Arabs and the Swahili also encouraged the Nyamwezi to laid that Long Distance Trade so as to supply them with the badly needed ivory. This made the Nyamwezi become famous and prominent in the Central route as the main Long Distance Traders.

The Agricultural Activities which filled well in the French Calendar: They were also lucky to become prominent in the Long Distance Trade because their agricultural activities filled in well with the trade calendar of Long Distance Trade. They were often occupied by the agriculture in the period between March, November and from December to February they would go off their land for trade in far distances so it was because the Nyamwezi had enough time when they were from agriculture that they had to participate and become prominent in the Long Distance Trade during the 19th Century. Moreover, most work was done by women while men were always free to go far for trade.

The collapse of the Southern Route: The collapse of Southern route which was occupied by the Yao traders in 1840’s also contributed to the prominence of the of the Nyamwezi in the Long Distance Trade. The Southern trade route was abandoned and traders resorted to the central trade route which passed through the Nyamwezi land.

Emergence of Commercial Empire Builders: The appearance of the commercial empire builders like Mirambo, Nyugu-ya-mawe also be considered to have contributed greatly to the rise of Nyamwezi to prosperous level in Long Distance Trade businesses. Such men provided leadership which united the Nyamwezi people into strong communities out even the Arabs and Europeans could not compete with at times. These empire although they were made for political prestige, the motivated and articulated the Nyamwezi towards a more organised commercial oriented empire.

It was a convergence point to many traders: Nyamwezi empire was a converging centre for traders operating Ujiji, the Interlacustrian kingdoms Buganda and others from Katanga in Zaire. It was best situated in the trade routes of the Southern Tanganyika that largely contributed to the widening of predominance of Nyamwezi people on the Central route. By 1870 it had became a very important centre for trade because of the Arabs exploitation of Eastern Zaire which increased trade between Ujiji and the coast of East Africa. By 1870’s the Nyamwezi were prosperous in the Long Distance Trade that many communities joined them and acquired a lot of wealth which was used to create large empires, formed large armies and creation of community slave trade. But by the end of 1880’s the Nyamwezi trade just like that of Akamba and the Yao had declined tremendously and by 1900 it had been totally abandoned in favour of legitimate trade.

Why the Nyamwezi Long Distance Trade declined from 1880 onwards.

Competition from the Arabs: Following the treaty between Sayyid Said and Nyamwezi Chief Fundikira around 1839 they faced a strong competition. After this treaty, the Arabs had to set up their station at Kazeh (Tabora), the Nyamwezi did not react immediately and they made friendly as long as the Arabs did not seem to be monpolising their trade and at that time they were few in number and when time went on, their numbers increased which caused concern among the Nyamwezi and they began to feel pains of competition from Arabs in Tabora which was proving fast into a large permanent centre for Arab influence. Moreover the Arabs had began to take along share of trade without using Nyamwezi as middlemen. This created stiff competition which the Nyamwezi failed to cope up with.

In 1805, the Arabs killed the Nyamwezi Chief Myasele. At the same time the effects of the Ngoni Invasion were also being felt by Tanganyika and this disrupted the smoothness of Long Distance Trade. This affected the Nyamwezi although later with the rise of Mirambo and Nyungu-ya-mawe it grew up again but with the death of these two chiefs in 1884. The Nyamwezi began to loose hope of Long Distance Trade. Their empires failed to get strong successors and as such the Nyamwezi failed to fight against the Arabs who with their guns were in a better condition to break down the Nyamwezi monopoly. Moreover the Nyamwezi were betrayed themselves as some joined the Arabs undermined the strength of Nyamwezi community.

Added to the above, with the rise of other appliances such as Banyoro, Ganda and the Akamba plus the Arabs led a wise source where to obtain items such as ivory and slaves. For this matter they sow no need to restrict themselves in Nyamwezi economy. These weakened the Nyamwezi and contributed their role of control the monopoly of trade.

Besides the above, ivory was becoming scarce as elephant population had been depleted throughout the regions of centre Tanganyika and beyond. More to that the abolition of slave trade left Nyamwezi with no basis of trade items hence killing their trade links in the interior.

In conclusion therefore, the Nyamwezi had played a fundamental role as middlemen in the Long Distance Trade which led to the grown and prosperity until the coming of colonial rule that abolished slave trade and replaced it with legitimate trade instead of Long Distance trade.