Why did the Arabs have little interest in the interior of East Africa up 1840?
The Arabs who in the mid 19th century had taken active role in the social and economic affairs of East Africa had before 1840 showed less interest in the interior due to the following reasons: The demand for ivory and slaves was low.
Limited knowledge of the interior.
There were hostiletribes and dangerous wild animals.
There was fear of dangerous disease.
Lack ofdeveloped transport and communication in the interior of EastAfrica.
There was a problem of language barrier.
There werenuclear trade routes in the interior.
There were high operation costs andtherefore low profit margin.
Why Arabs were interested in the interior between 1840 and 1885
Between the period of 1840 and 1885, Arabs became much interested in the interior. This was caused by the following factors. There was increased demand for slaves and ivory. Secondly, the Arrival of Seyyid Said played a very important role. Arabs were very rich and strong at that timer.
There was knowledge of the interior at that time.
Therewas need to eliminate African middlemen.
They were welcomed and cared for bychiefs.
There was need to spread islam.
Clove farms demanded slave labour and therefore theyhad to get them from the interior.
Introduction of Quinine reduced malariawhich many foreigners had feared in the interior.
The Arabs in the interior of east Africa since 1840
The Long Distance Trade forced Arabs to increasingly penetrate the interior of East Africa for a number of reasons.
Need to establish their own trading centres in the interior. Scarcity of trading items along the coast e.g. Ivory, so they had to go into the interior to get the items. Arabs had grown rich and wanted to invest in the interior where there were many opportunities.
The volume of trade had increased and this forced many Arabs inland.
They wanted to eliminate African middlemen in order to control the source of the commodities.
Arrival of more Arabs to the coast after Seyyid Said's influence. This then pushed some Arab traders into the interior.
The rise of Zanzibar as an international market, forced the Arabs to the interior to look for items of trade.
Arabs became jealous of the prosperity and wealth of the African chiefs and middlemen. This brought them in land in order to out compete them.
The rise of large plantations of cloves, coconuts at the coast forced the owners to the interior in search of slave labour.
The financial assistance provided by the Indian Banyans forced the Arabs to organise large caravans.
The need to create more profits after obtaining loans from Indian moneylenders,
Increase in the number of Indian Businessmen in Zanzibar forced out some Arabs to the interior e.g. in 1860, over 6000 Indian traders existed in Zanzibar.
The arrival of European traders at the coast and the interior also forced the Arabs into the interior.
Other Arabs had a second aim of introducing their civilisation in the interior.
The interior tribes e.g. the Nyamwezi and the Baganda were very hospitable or welcoming.
The invitation factor e.g. in 1840 Kabaka Suna II invited Sheik Ahmed bin Ibrahamin to his court to islamise his people.
The presence of defined trade routes attracted the Arabs inland.
The expansion of the trade deep inland in Congo, Sudan, Malawi, Zanzibar, e.t.c forced the Arabs in the interior.
Effects of Arab Penetration into East African Interior Since 1840
The effects of Arab penetration in the interior of East Africa were both positive and negative.
Why didIslam have little impact in the interior of East Africa up 1900?
Although islam had been in the interior of East Africa since 1840, it did not make a strong impact due to the following factors; Arabs had more interest in trade than religion. They were associated with slave trade. Islamic practices like fasting and circumcision made people to fear that religion. Circumcising a strong man with ten wives would make life hard in that family for a long time.
Some Arabs were poor and lacked gifts to give the people in order convince them. There were strong African beliefs and religions. The Arabs were also arrogant and lacked good tactics of winning the hearts of people. Christianity was becoming influential.
Given the above factors, it was not until the late 19th century when factors changed in favour of Islam, in the period before 1900, it had remained a brief case religion. Moslems never constructed schools to educate people as a way of making them accept Islamic religion.
Why did Islam succeed after the 19th century?
Similarity between Islam and African religions for example circumcision and polygamy. There were also conflicts between Christians especially Catholics and Protestants like those in Buganda. Some people resorted to islam for peace.
Christians' involvement in politics made the islam religion more influential.
Arabs had more interest in trade, were rich and more appealing to the common people. Asian traders who were Moslems promoted Islam. There were new duties for Moslems like slaughtering animals which were appealing to the local people who wanted more meat. The promotion of polygamy which most Africans practised made it easy for islam to be accepted..
We are examining the topic are the following sub topics.
Factors that led to the growth ofthe long distance trade
Problems faced by the long distance traders
Role of the Baganda in Long Distance Trade
The Yao in the long distance trade
The Impact of long distance treade
Reasons for the collapse of Long Distance Trade
Why did the Arabs had little interest in the interior of East Africa up 1840?