Zanzibar controlled the trade especially at the coast on the islands 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.

 Organisation of the Long Distance Trade

In the organisation of this trade we look at the participants, export, imports, markets, trade items, leaders, roles of each society, routes, exchange, traders, caravans etc.

Interior tribes that participated included theYao, Kamba, Nyamwezi, Baganda, Khartoumers, Egyptians, Banyoro, Yeke, etc.

Coastal participants involved in the trade included Arabs and Swahili.  

The Indian Banyans at the coast provided loans to the traders.

The Swahili acted as middlemen between coastal Arabs and interior Africans.

Kiswahili language was a commercial language.

Exports from the interior included slaves, ivory, gold, wax, skin, hides, and honey.

Imports from outside were guns, gunpowder, metal, wire, mirrors, cloths etc.

Slaves were the most lucrative items of the Long Distance Trade,

Initially the trade was carried out through Barter exchange.

Later cowrie shells and coins were introduced as means of exchange.

Slaves were mostly captured through raids and war.

The Yao provided gold, which they obtained from the Monomutapa Empire in central Africa.

The Kamba provided ivory that they obtained by hunting elephants from forests.

The Nyamwezi provided labour (porters to carry goods from the interior to the coast).

Trading centres in the interior included Tabora, Ujiji, and Bagamoyo.

Along the coast, Zanzibar was the largest trading market.

African chiefs in the interior were chief negotiators for any item on behalf of the society.

Trade was organised in protected caravans either from Zanzibar to the interior or vice versa.

All slaves were chained along their necks, arms or feet as they were transported. This was to ensure that they do not rebel or escape along the way.

The trade was carried out in four major routes i.e. the southern route, central route, and the Northern  route.

The northern route was controlled by the Kamba and it ran through Pangani, Tanga, Mombasa, and - Kilimanjaro to lake Victoria areas.

The central route was dominated by foe Nyamwezi ti ran from Bagamoyo, to Tabora to Karagwe, to Northern Uqanda.

 The southern route was dominated by Ihe Yao. It ran from Kilwa, to lake Malawi areas.

Leading traders in the interior included Mirambo of the Nyamwezi, Mahora of Ukiambu, Nyunguya

Mawe of Unyanyembe, Msiri of the Yeke, Tippu Tip of Eastern Congo, Mwinyi Kheri ol Ujiji, and Mataka and Mponda of Yao land.

Medicine men, rainmakers and fortunetellers also accompanied the caravans so as to detect the weather, good luck and to treat the sick traders.

 

Factors that led to the growth ofthe long distance trade

Characteristics of the Long distance trade

Problems faced by the long distance traders

Role of the Baganda in Long Distance Trade

THE ROLE OF THE NYAMWEZI

The Yao in the long distance trade

AKAMBA IN THE LONG DISTANCE TRADE

THE IMPACT OF THE LONG DISTANCE TRADE

Reasons for the collapse of Long Distance Trade

Why did the Arabs have little interest in the interior of East Africa up 1840?

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[1] From G. St. J. Orde. 1925. The Vanishing Tribes of Kenya. Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincot.