3rd TOPIC COLONIAL ECONOMY
Topic Specific objectives.
At the end of this topic, a student should be able
Explain the meaning and objectives of colonial economy.
Analyze critically the tactics used to establish colonial economy.
Identify the various sectors of colonial economy.
Explain the features of each sector of the colonial economy.
Assess the impact of the establishment of the various sectors of colonial economy on Africa.
Explain the concept of colonial labor.
Analyze the tactics used to create colonial labor.
Analyze the types of colonial labor.
Assess the impact of the establishment of colonial labor to African societies.
Colonial economy was an aggregate for all economic activities established by the European colonialists in Africa for the purpose of suiting their economic interests. They were interested in finding the new sources of raw materials, markets, investment areas and cheap labor.
They established various activities such as agricultural activities, processing industries, transport and communication, mining industries trade, social services etc.
The main aim of establishing colonial economy in Africa was to solve the challenge facing the Capitalistic production in Western Europe in the 19th century.
These challenges included:
Shortage of Industrial Raw material,
Markets for industrial products,
Cheap labor and
Investment areas.
CHARACTERISTICS {FEATURES} OF COLONIAL ECONOMY
Export oriented economy: What was produced in Africa was intended to develop the European mother lands. They exported raw materials and other benefits resulted from their investments in Africa.
Dependent economy: The colonies were operated using the budgets set in Europe, the wealth obtain in the colonies was not used in developing the particular colony.
The use of foreign currencies: In the colonies, the Europeans and the natives used the currencies of the colony powers and not natives (local) currencies. The system was monopolized by European coins or bank rules e.g. Franca, shillings, etc.
Figure 51; Sterling pound
It was exploitative economy: The Europeans maximized their profit by exploiting the natives through land alienation, forced labor, taxation, low wages, and low prices for African each crops etc.
Small and weak manufacturing sector: The European established few processing industries in Africa so us to minimize the explanation of raw materials. They did not build the manufacturing industries so as to prevent the market of European commodities in Africa.
Mono cultural economies: In most colonial, the Europeans uplifted one cash crop or activity e.g. mining as the main source of export trade for instance copper production in Zambia, Sisal production in Tanganyika etc.
Colonial infrastructure: Most of the transport infrastructures were built to connect the production areas to the coasts so as to soften the easy exportation of raw materials and importation of manufactured goods.
Insist on cash crop production: The natives were forced to produce cash crops so as maximize the exportation of raw materials from African to Europe. In most cases food crops were produced for subsistence not for sale.
The colonial government favored the European investors: The government prepared conducive premises which favored European settler’s production than the natives produced e.g. In Kenya, the establishment of the natives registration act “Kipande system” the master and servant act in favor of the European settles.
Preference of cheap labor: The colonial government created the premises in which the natives subjected to cheap labor of the migrant labor, the contracts labor system through which authorized agencies such as SILABI (Sisal Labor Bureau) in Tanganyika, SWANLA (South West Africa Natives Labor Authority) etc. the natives workers received low wages from investors.
It was accompanied by coercive measures in its implementation. The natives were forced to perform the economic activities. For Example, in some areas, they were forced to grow cash crops, to pay taxes, to be employed by the Europeans, to receive low wages etc.
THE AIM OF COLONIAL ECONOMY
The purpose of colonial economy was to solve the question posed by the European industrial revolution in the 10thCentury. The Europeans demanded for the
• Markets.
• Cheap labor.
• Raw material and the
• Investment areas.
The colonial governments established various colonial administration systems bureaucratic system and so on as to protect the imperialist’s demands.
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF COLONIAL ECONOMY IN EAST AFRICA
The Europeans used the following methods (tactics) in establishing their colonial economies in Africa I the 19th and 20th Century.
The creative method.
The preservative methods.
The destructive methods.
1. CREATIVE TACTICS (METHODS)
The Europeans created and imposed new elements of economy into Africa traditional economies. Some of the elements were present but in small scale. They introduced such elements are:-
Money economy: In the pre-colonial economy, barter system of exchange was dominant. The Europeans introduced money system to be the only mode of making transaction.
Cash crop production: During the pre-colonial era the Africans produced food crops for Subsistence purpose. The Europeans introduced cash crops such as cotton, coffee, Tobacco, sisal etc. they were produced in Africa for export. They were produced by the white settlers and native peasants.
Land alienation: The natives were removed from their fertile lands to allow European investors activities. The natives were left with small plots of land or pushed into the reserve land.
Cheap (hired) labor: The natives were directly or indirectly forced to offer their labor force to the Europeans. The natives opted to be hired by the Europeans so as to obtain money for paying taxes and buying taxes and buying other items such as food which they lacked as a result of being alienated from their land. The criminals were forces to work without payments.
Taxation: The colonialists also introduced various types of taxes so as to strengthen to their economies. The natives were taxed by the colonial government.
2. PRESERVATIVE TACTICS (METHODS)
The Europeans preserved some elements of African traditional economies which seem to suit their economic interests. They preserved such elements as
The use of family labor: In pre-colonial era, an African family i.e. Father, mother and children join their effort labor in cultivation and other activities. During the establishment of cash crop production, the natives were provided seeds and technical assistance on how to care for the cash crops by the natives at a very low price. The family labor needed no supervision costs. The natives also produced their food crops without depending on the Europeans.
The use of a hand hoe as the main tool of labor. Europeans preserved it so as to create market for European hand hoes and also to be used as tool of labor for peasant and settler production.
Peasant agriculture in some areas. This was also a means of producing raw materials for European industries.
3. DESTRUCTIVE TACTICS (METHODS)
The Europeans destroyed the elements of African traditions economies which threatened the prosperity of their colonial economies. They destroyed elements such as:-
Destruction of native handcraft industries: They insisted that, in order to ensure markets for European commodities in Africa. The skilled natives were forced to leave their careers and be hired by the Europeans. Some were subjected to torture e.g. cutting their hands etc. typical example being the natives of Belgian, Congo, African technology was also destroyed by the importation of low priced high quality goods from Europe which was the choice of the final consumers in Africa.
Destruction of African medicine: It was considered as a sin before God and witch craftiness to use roots and leaves offered by African local doctors as medicine for sick people. This ensured markets for European medicine.
Destruction of African trade: The African merchants e.g. The Yao, Kamba, Nyamwezi, Ibisa, Ovimbundu, Imbangala and the barter system of exchange were destroyed in favor of European merchants.
Note: The Europeans also established their colonial economies through creating, destroying and preserving their social services related to economic production. They created the state apparatus e.g. Police forces and armies to ensure safety in production. They destroyed the African informal education through established of colonial formal education so as to prepare the skilled labor which would facilitate the prosperity of their colonial economy.
THE SECTORS OF COLONIAL ECONOMY IN AFRICA
A sector is one of the areas into which the economic activity of a country is divided. The following were among the main sectors of economic activities in colonial Africa.
Agricultural sector.
Colonial industries.
Mining sector.
Transport and communication.
Colonial labor.
Trade and commerce.
Colonial social services.
COLONIAL AGRICULTURE
Agriculture is the economic activity which involves crop cultivation and animal husbandry (it is a farming activity). In colonial Africa, large scale farming was performed by the white settlers while small farming was greatly performed by the native peasants.
The following were the main divisions of colonial agriculture sector:-
Settler agriculture (settler economy / farming).
Peasant agriculture (peasant economy).
Plantation agriculture.
SETTLER ECONOMY
A settler is a foreign investor who invests in a new place (strange land) and dwell there permanently. In colonial Africa, settler’s economy was dominated by the white (Europeans) settlers. The white settlers were found in almost all European colonies. In some colonies, the white settlers were found in a big number to an extent of naming these areas as settler’s colonies. For example: in Kenya, Zimbabwe and other areas. Most of the activities of the white settlers included large scale cash crop farming, large scale animal keeping, processing industries management, mining activities and so on.
CHARACTERISTICS OF SETTLER ECONOMY IN COLONIAL AFRICA
Existence of large scale plantations: These plantations were owned by white settlers. They produce abundant cash crops (raw materials) to feed European industries of Europe.
Existence of land alienation: The colonial governments evacuated the natives from their fertile areas to allow settlers large scale production. The natives were pushed to infertile areas or reserved areas.
Direct and indirect forced labor: Settlers large scale production relied on Africa cheap labor. Through taxation, land alienation and natives labor recruitment agencies, the Africans were indirectly forced to serve as cheap labor.
Existence of new taxes and taxation system: For example: The hut taxes, poll tax, Matiti tax and so on in Kenya. Taxation was used as a means of forcing the Africans to be employed by the White Settlers and as a source of colonial government revenue.
Migrant labor: The white settlers preferred to use migrant labor because they were more productive than ordinary local area labor from the nearby people. Migrant laborers were cheap to handle and not so aggressive.
Existence of the native squatters: This was because the natives were evacuated from their fertile areas and overcrowded in the infertile reserve areas. They were used a cheap laborers.
Existence of laws in favor of the white settlers: Example. In Kenya, the master and servant act, the native registration ordinance (Kipande system) and others. The colonial government made sure that the settler production is succeeding.
STUDY CASE
SETTLER ECONOMY IN KENYA
Kenya was among the British colonies in which the colonial governments promoted settler economy. In the early 1900s, the Governor {High commissioner} of Kenya, Sir Charles Elliot, promoted settler economy by inviting the white settlers from Britain, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Holland and others. In 1922 onwards Governor Robert Corydon accelerated the efforts invented by Governor Charles Elliot.
REASONS FOR SETTLER ECONOMY IN KENYA
Settler economy in British East Africa (Kenya) was influenced by the following reasons:
The need for abundant raw materials: settler production was believed to be the only means in which the British could achieve the quality of raw materials demanded to feed the industries in Europe.
Conducive climate: The Kenyan highlands (central and Western, the rift valley etc.) were very fertile with enough rainfall suitable for various agricultural activities. This too promoted settler production.
Underdeveloped peasant production: In pre-colonial Kenya, peasant production was not much developed as it was in Southern Uganda. In Kenya the peasant production was mainly for substance. In the Northern part, most of the natives were nomadic pastoralists. The central and southern parts were occupied by poor peasants not Kulaks.
Railways line construction costs: The colonial government used settler production as a means of covering the expenses incurred in the construction of the Kenya – Uganda railway. Settler economy was the only means of obtaining revenue for settling the loan borrowed for railway line construction.
It was a crown land: According to the British, a crown colony is entitled totally to the British and ought to be dwelt by the British. This gave them courage of inviting the white settlers.
Presence of enough cheap labor: This also encouraged the British to venture into settler production large population of poor peasants ensured them a constant labor supply.
Easy transportation and communication: The presence of artificial and natural harbor in Mombasa (Malindi), the railway line and roads attracted the white settlers to invest in Kenya.
The role of colonial government: The colonial government enacted the laws which attracted white settlers. For example the native registration ordinances, the master and servant act and so on. In 1923, the Devonshire white paper also gave white settlers more rights in the Kenyan highlands.
Note: Settlers production in Kenya didn’t go smoothly. It encountered serious problems at its
Initial stages.
THE PROBLEMS OF SETTLER PRODUCTION IN KENYA
Shortage of capital: Many white settlers lacked enough capital to establish plantations, paying wages, buying farm implements and so on.
The plants and animals diseases: It was a serious problem in the initial stages of settler production e.g. Rift valley fever (RVF) which started in 1914 in the Kenyan Rift Valley in the animal farm of lord Delamare who migrated from south Africa.
Lack of constant labor supply: The natives were not working constantly in the white settlers projects because they were not well paid.
Another problem was the challenges from the Asian community: The Asians rose against the white settlers because the colonial government favored whites than other races in politics, social and economic aspects. Asians challenged the whites by aiming to impose the India Rupee in the Kenyan circulation of money.
SOLUTION OF THE ABOVE CHALLENGES
The shortage of capital: The Kenyan colonial government solved this problem by providing the white settler with bank loans for purchasing the implements bank loans to handle the problem.
Plant and animal diseases: Example the Rift Valley fever discovered in 1914 in the animal farm of Lord Delamere in Laikipia area and other diseases. The colonial government provided the white settlers insecticides and pesticides to handle diseases. It also gave them other bank loans to handle the problem.
Shortage of constant labor supply: To ensure constant labor supply in settler production in Kenya. The colonial government took the following measures:-
WAYS USED TO OBTAIN CHEAP LABOR
Intensification of land alienation: The colonial government had to establish many taxes such as hut tax, poll tax and others so as to force the natives to seek for money for paying taxes through being employed by the white setters.
The use of migrant labor: The white settlers were also convinced to use migrant laborers. Migrant laborers were less resistant to hard work.
Establishment of labor colleges and schools: To improve the quality of labor force, the colonial government established colleges and schools where the natives were unskilled with various qualities required by white settlers in their productions. E.g. Farm and veterinary assistants.
Establishment of new feeder roads: Also the colonial government had to establish new infrastructure network such as feeder roads so as to ease the recruitment of many migrant laborers from the interior of Kenya.
The master servant act: In 1906, the colonial government of Kenya enacted the master and servant act. According to this law, the natives were required to stay in their employment until the end of the contract. The act guided the employers and employees in favor of the white settlers.
The native’s registration ordinance: The Kenyan colonial government enacted this ordinance so as to identify the native’s residential areas, working places and movements. The natives were required to carry and wear a special identity card which identifies them. The natives named it KIPANDE SYSTEM. It was a very annoying system to the natives.
Note: These measures solved the problem of lack of constant labor supply to the white settlers to a great extent. On the other hand, those measures multiplied the natives grievances’ and made the colony to be violent than before.
Challenge from Asians:
The Asians demanded for equal rights between races between races in politics, social and economic aspects. This intimidated the future of white settlers’ economic property. This problem was handled through the issuing of the Devonshire white paper in 1923 by the British secretary of colonies.
THE DEVONSHIRE WHITE PAPER
A white paper is a government document issues to handle a certain problem. The Devonshire white paper was the British government document issued by the British secretary of colonies Sir Victor Cavendish, 9th Duke of Devonshire. It was issued in 1923 in London to the colonial government of Kenya so as to handle hostilities between races in Kenya.
It was referred to as the Devonshire white paper because at that time the British secretary of colonies was also the Duke of Devonshire. The secretary invited the representative of the white settlers, Asians and the colonial government. The document was issued to the governor of Kenya who was by that time, Sir Robert Corydon become the governor of Kenya from 1922.
THE TERMS (CONTENTS) OF THE DEVONSHIRE WHITE PAPER (DWP)
The DWP contained the following message to the races and colonial government of Kenya.
• The Kenyan highlands should be reserved for white settlers only.
• There should be more racial segregation in the Kenyan residential areas.
• There should be no more land alienation to the natives.
• The Asians should be represented in the legislature (LEGCO) by five members but not on the common roll.
• The natives (Africans) should be represented in the colonial legislature by one missionary officer.
• Kenya is primarily the Africans’ territory. The interests of the native rates (Africans) should be Para mounted above other rates.
• The government colonial government should exercise control of the colony not the white settlers to control the colony.
IMPACT OF SETTLER ECONOMY IN KENYA AND EAST AFRICA AND OTHER AREAS OF AFRICA
It made the settlers claims to be independent from the metropolitan capitalist (free from the British influence). Example the “Unilateral Declaration of Independence” in Southern Rhodesia {Zimbabwe} in 1965 under Ian Smith.
The natives lost their land: the white settlers took the best land e.g. The Kenyan highlands and the rift valley. The Africans were pushed to the reserved places (squatters) which were unproductive.
Establishment of the laws to supply labour to the settlers’ farm. The settlers and the colonial states worked together (control state machinery). The laws which were established include:-
In 1906 the masters and servants act the natives dwelling in the squatters were required to offer labour services for 90 days in a squatters were paid 3 rupees per month.
In 1918, the resident native labour ordinance was enacted. It increased the days labour services from 90 days to 180 days and the normal payment were reduced.
In 1921, the native legislation ordnance (Kipande system) was enacted. Every actual man had to serve (work) to the white settlers.
In 1915, the “Crown land” act gave the rights to the settlers to use land for 999 years.
In 1923, the Devonshire white paper stopped the influence of the white settlers in Kenya.
Kenya became the most violent colony than any other East African colony. The natives experienced many grievances than other colonies. The MAUMAU uprising is an evidence of what the natives felt.
Existence of many international financial institution and the multinational companies e.g. Barclays Bank, the insurance companies, clearing and forwarding companies and so on.
Many natives got access to high leaning institutions in Kenya and in Britain than the natives in other East African colonies. Education became one of the refuges of the landless Kenyans.
In Kenya the Africans land tenure system of shifting cultivation wasn’t regarded, also the nomadic life of the natives was over locked e.g. The Maasai nomadic life.
The white settlers established plantation farms in the Kenyan highland and in the rift valley to grow wheat, pyrethrum, maize, tea coffee. In Thika (coastal region) they established sisal plantations.
They also established livestock keeping e.g. Lord Delamere established an animal form in the rift valley (near Lake Elementaita in Laikipia). He kept cattle pigs and sheep.
PEASANT ECONOMY
A peasant is a person who owns or rents a small piece of lane and uses it for keeping animals growing crops etc. most of the peasants are the small holding farmers and low income earners. Others are not well educated.
The highly developed peasants were known as the “KULAKS’. The kulaks cultivated in large areas and could employ their fellow peasants.
Peasants were found in all colonies of Africa. In some colonies the colonial government discouraged peasantry in favor of settler production.
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF PEASANT ECONOMY IN COLONIAL EAST AFRICA
Widely spread: The native peasants were found in all areas of Africa. It was a widely spread economy than settler and plantation economies.
Subsistence economy. The peasants mainly produced food crops (subsistence farming). When the Europeans established colonial economy, the peasants were forced to produce cash crops.
The use of family labor: Because of this the colonialist encouraged peasant production in some areas such as in Uganda. The peasants survived a reproduced themselves i.e. they produced food crops and cha crops by themselves. They were not supervised by the colonialist hence reducing the production costs to white settler (Europeans).
The productive forces remained awkward: The peasant’s major tools of productions remained to be band hoes along with axes swards etc.
Existence of KULAKS (rich peasants) who were mainly found in Buganda kingdom. The Kulaks organized themselves at the political level and formed political parties such as Kabaka Yekka (Kabaka only) in Buganda.
Nationalism. The peasants campaigned for their rights (local area nationalism) e.g. In Ghana (Gold coast) the main cash crop for the Kulaks of Ghana was cocoa.
In most cases, they were monocultural producers. They produced one major cash crop in the local area.
It was performed in the same field in which land wasn’t improved. It got exhausted without being fertilized as the white settlers did.
THE IMPACTS OF PEASANT ECONOMY IN AFRICA
It promoted monoculture production in most parts of Africa in colonial time than in the post-colonial time.
It also promoted the use of poor tools in production e.g. the hand hoes, the swords, the axes and so on.
Shifting cultivation was forbidden so people produced in permanent field hence it led to the exhaustion of land, soil erosion. These problems were solved through terracing, destocking, forbidding deforestation laws, agricultural schemes such as Nachingwea, Urambo and Usukuma groundnuts scheme.
Poverty to the peasants. The Europeans traders purchased cash crop products from natives at a very low price which made the natives to be income earners.
Establishment of peasants associations to solve the problem of peasants. Eg. The Bukoba, Bahaya Union (BBU), Kilimanjaro Native Planters Association (KNPA) Meru Association, Mwakaleli Tea Growers in1931 etc.
The peasants financed natives’ nationalism through the contribution of funds after selling their cash crop products to the Europeans.
Colonial peasant economy integrated the natives into world capitalistic economy. They were turned to be major producers of the raw materials demanded by the European capitalists.
STUDY CASE
PEASANT ECONOMY IN UGANDA
Uganda was also the British colony. It was the British protectorate territory. The nation’s name was delivered from one of the pre-colonial states. ‘The Buganda kingdom’ unlike Kenya, in Uganda the British didn’t promote settlers economy. Sir Harry Johnston (the British special commissioner) signed the Agreement with the natives. The agreement was based on the protection of the native interests e.g. Buganda, Bunyoro, Toro, Busaga and Ankole agreements.
REASONS FOR THE PEASANT ECONOMY IN UGANDA
The influence of Buganda agreement of 1900. In this agreement between the whites and the natives. The natives were allowed to own land for their crops production land alienation was strictly prohibited. This was followed by the Toro, Ankole, Bunyoro and Busoga agreements.
Also the leader of Uganda collaborated with the British during colonialism. This made the British consider the interests of the Africans (natives).
Not only that, but also the presence of a well-developed peasant production especially in the southern part of Uganda. Equatorial climate promoted the development of peasant system. They had few kulaks who were the rich peasants who could produce the quantity of the raw materials demanded by the capitalists.
Also, the whites wanted the immediate raw materials which couldn’t be obtained immediately from the settler. Settler production demanded a lot of preparation before achieving the first production of raw materials.
Peasants’ economy was cheap to the Europeans. The Europeans were not directly obliged to the labor management costs. The natives used family labor in production. The colonial government supplied those seeds and seedlings. The whites purchased raw materials at a very low price.
Uganda is a landlocked country. It is surrounded by Kenya, Tanzania, Sudan, Rwanda and Congo DRC. This didn’t attract many white settlers to invest in such territories. It had few infrastructures to support settler production.
The lack of natural endowment such as mineral and other natural resources limited the white settlers to go to invest in Uganda as they did in the landlocked territory of Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe).
Poor climate and soil fertility in the Northern part of Uganda also limited the white settlers to go to invest in Uganda (Northern part).
Note: The cash crops produced by the peasants in Uganda include tea, cotton and coffee. They also produced food crops such as bananas, yams, cassava, maize and others.
Sir Apollo Kagwa, the Buganda Katikiro “native prime minister” spread the cotton seeds, coffee seedlings in the Southern part of Buganda kingdom. The peasants experienced many problems in their production.
Robusta coffee was grown by the African peasants in Buganda in Eastern and Western provinces. Arabica coffee was grown by the African peasants on the slopes of Mt. Elgon and in Kigezi highland in Western side of Uganda. There were few settlers who owned plantations of coffee, tea and rubber in MARIBA forest near JINJA and other areas. In 1911 Uganda had only 20 settlers who owned about 2000 acres of land.
THE PROBLEMS OF PEASANT AGRICULTURE IN UGANDA
Lack of knowledge about cash crop production because they weren’t used to them. They had to be educated in a course of time.
They weren’t allowed by the colonial laws to perform shifting cultivation when their land got exhausted after years of their cultivation.
They used outdated instruments of labor such as the hand hoes and axes in production. This increased their difficulties in cash crop production.
They were restricted by the colonial laws to produce a certain variety of cash crops in the particular areas. This made them experience monoculture economy.
They experienced the problem of crop diseases, soil erosion and unfertile soil. These problems were handled through terracing, destocking reforestation, animal keeping and agricultural schemes.
Low prices for their cash crops: The Europeans purchased raw materials from peasants at a very low price which couldn’t meet the production cost and profit expected.
High prices for farm inputs like fertilizer, pesticides and in sections were sold at a very high price. This increased the cost of production to the peasants.
THE BUGANDA AGREEMENT OF 1900
Buganda agreement was a document signed by the British commissioner of Uganda; Sir Harry Johnston and the leader of Buganda kingdom. The agreements were meant at modifying the structure of administration in Buganda area.
igure 65; Buganda leaders.
THE TERMS (CONTENTS) OF THE BUGANDA AGREEMENT
The British could interfere with the power of KABAKA. Kabaka should be assisted by the British commissioner in Kabaka’s place and the LUKIIKO on the other hand.
The LUKIIKO (native legislature) should be the local legislature and the court of appeal in Buganda kingdom. The members of the Lukiiko should be (3 ministers, 20 saza chiefs, 60 nobles and 6 additional people appointed by Kabaka). KABAKA (His highness) to be assisted by three (3) natives ministers as follows:-
KATIKIRO (native prime minister)
OMULAMUZI (Native chief justice).
OMUWANIKA (Native finance minister).
*The hut tax should be 3 rupees per year in Buganda kingdom.
*Half of Buganda land to be crown land (property of the British government). The remaining land was to be divided by the KUKIIKO into square miles (MAILOS or MAILOLAND) and this land should be given to Kabaka and his royal family, kabakas friend’s ministers and saza chiefs.
*The natives of Buganda should be provided free hold land ownership.
*There should be no large scale land alienation in Buganda.
*Buganda kingdom should be divided into 22 sazas including the lost areas of the eastern part of Bunyoro kingdom. The number of sazas was increased from 10 to 22.
THE IMPACT OF THE BUGANDA AGREEMENT IN COLONIAL AND POST COLONIA UGANDA
Buganda agreement became the model of administration in the entire Uganda. It was succeeded by the Toro agreement of 1900 signed by the British and Omukama Karamaga and few chiefs. Toro became independent from Bunyoro. Other agreements were Ankole, Bunyoro and Busoga agreements.
It consolidated tribalism in Uganda. The British created laws based on native tribes.
The agreements consolidated peasant economy in Uganda. This was because the natives were given a free held land ownership and it prevented large scale land ownership.
It limited a number of whites settles in Uganda. White settlers weren’t provided with free land. They had to negotiate with the natives if they wanted to buy land.
Land alienation was strictly forbidden by the laws. This gave the natives a freedom to continue with their modified traditional peasantry.
The mandate of KABAKA was minimized. His influence to the common people was reduced. The British consolidated the indirect rule Budanda, Bunyoro, Toro, Ankole, Busoga etc. through these agreements.
It increased HOSTILITY between the people of Bunyoro and Buganda because the lost providence of Bunyoro Kitara were included in the 22 Sazas of Buganda.
LUKIIKO because the highest authority in Buganda. It became the court of appeal and the native legislature.
The British officials became commissioner working in the office (KABAKA’S palace). He worked with katikiro (the native prime minister.
PLANTATION ECONOMY
A plantation is a farm on which a particular type of crops grown. The Europeans established many plantations throughout Africa e.g. In colonial Tanganyika, they established sisal plantations along coastal areas, tea and coffee plantations in highlands such as Mbozi, Mbinga, Njombe, Rungwe, Bukoba, Kilimanjaro etc. tobacco plantations, tea plantation in Mufindi. In Zanzibar, the Arabs owned clove and coconut plantations. In Zaire, they established rubber plantations owned by the Belgians. In Algeria, rubber plantations were owned by American capitalists.
CHARACTERISTICS OF PLANTATION ECONOMY
Existence of large farms occupied by a particular type of crop e.g. Sisal plantation, tea plantation etc.
Existence of migrant labor. The migrant laborers were mostly preferred because they weren’t violent and very cheap.
Land alienation existed during the establishment of large plantations. The natives were evacuated from their native land.
Existence of infrastructure to assist performance of plantations economy the railways constructed by Germans in colonial Tanganyika, roads etc.
Creation of labor reserve areas to ensure constant supply of labor e.g. In Tanganyika the labor e.g. In Tanganyika, the labor reserve areas included kigoma, Rukwa, Tunduru, Singida etc.
Uneven development between production areas and labor reserve areas. The production areas were well developed than the labor reserve areas.
Existence of labor recruiting agencies to feed the laborers in the plantations e.g. SWANLA (South West Africa Native Labor Authority) in Namibia, the SILABU (Sisal Labor Bureau) in Tanganyika since 1946.
PLANTATION ECONOMY IN COLONIAL TANGANYIKA
Tanganyika was colonized by the Germans before 1918. It was the German East Africa. In 1893, the Germans built the Tanga – Korogwe railway line. It reached Korogwe in 1902 and Moshi in 1912. They also constructed the central line from Dar es Salaam to the western side of the colony from 1905. It reached Morogoro in 1907, Tabora in 1918.
The Germans developed both white settler farming and peasant farming. The Amani College boosted peasant farming. The British look over the European settlers established Arabica coffee plantations in various areas. The European settler established many new plantations in various in the highlands sisal, rubber and cotton plantations along the coastal area of Rufiji.
The mainstream of agriculture industry in Tanganyika was based on peasant farming during the direct role of the Germans. When the British came, they promoted settler plantation farming. The settler owned tea in Rungwe, Mufindi, Mbinga, Njombe etc. coffee plantations in Mbozi, Kilimanjaro, Bukoba etc. cotton plantations in Rufiji, sisal plantations in Tanga, Morogoro coastal regions etc.
REASONS FOR PLANTATION ECONOMY IN TANGANYIKA BEFORE INDEPENDENCE
Raw materials: they wanted to produce abundant raw materials to meet the demands of the industries in Europe.
Vast unexploited virgin fertile land encouraged Europeans to establish many plantations in colonial Tanganyika.
Scattered population of the inhabitants (people) of colonial Tanganyika reduces the competition for land between the natives and the whites.
Peasant farming in Tanganyika wasn’t well developed as that of southern Uganda. Tanganyika had few KULAKS, this made Europeans decide not to depend in peasant farming as a source of raw materials.
The existence of Arab plantations in Zanzibar and Pemba encouraged the existence of plantation economy in Zanzibar and Pemba. The Arabs and few Europeans owned coconuts and clove plantation.
Presence of cheap labor such as migrant labor in mainland Tanzania. The slaves in Zanzibar and Pemba also encouraged plantation farming.
Conducive climate also encouraged plantation farming in Tanganyika and Zanzibar. Presence of tropical climate in many parts, equatorial climate in Bukoba. The highlands also encouraged plantation farming.
IMPACT OF PLANTATION ECONOMY IN TANGANYIKA
Plantation farming affected Tanganyika in many ways:-
Uneven development: The use of migrant labor influenced the creation of labor reserve areas such as of Rukwa, Kigoma, Tabora, Singida, Dodoma, Ruvuma, Mtwara, Lindi etc. these areas were less developed as compared to the production areas.
Tanganyika became the main exporter of sisal to the metropolitan industries than other British colonies of Africa.
It led to the soil degradation due to the fact that the fields were permanent cultivated and the pesticides and insecticides were constantly applied.
Stagnation of food production in the labor reserve areas because the able bodied people served as migrant laborers in the productive areas.
It contributed to the urbanization near the production areas e.g. In coastal areas of colonial Tanganyika and in the highlands.
The natives lost their land (land alienation) in the areas with many plantations e.g. In Tanga, Morogoro, Coastal areas in the highlands and others.
Integration of native economy culture. The natives were the producer of raw materials as cheap labor and few peasants. They were also the markets for Europeans manufactured goods.
Establishment of SILABU to recruits labor for sisal production.
Note: After independence many plantations were nationalized by the new government of the
Natives under President J.K. Nyerere. Some of them were transformed to be public after establishment of the national companies e.g. NARCO (National Ranch Company), the NAFCO (National Farm Company) etc.
COLONIAL LABOUR FORCE
Labor is a practical work which involves physical efforts it involves time and effort in performing a certain work. Colonial labor was an act of colonialists to involve the natives “Africans” in performing physical works in the products of raw materials and other requirements for Europeans.
Colonial labor started along with the establishment of colonial control in Africa in the 19th Century. It was consolidated in the 20th century.
CHARACTERISTICS OF COLONIAL LABOUR
It was mostly unskilled: Few semi-skilled and very few skilled laborer. This was because most of them lacked formal education (they were illiterates).
It was less paid: Because it was unskilled and illiterate. Africans were paid low wages by the Europeans.
Existence of racial segregation: The Europeans and Asian laborers were highly paid than the natives.
Poor inhabitants: Most of the native laborers lived in squatter areas due to the intensified land alienation.
Heavy taxation: The native laborers were subjected to several taxes. Their wages were taxed by the colonial government.
Workers identification: The native workers were required to carry an identity card in their works e.g. The Kipande system in Kenya.
Existence of migrant labor: The Europeans also used migrant labor especially in the settler’s plantation mining and industries.
Existence of the native’s trade unions (workers’ association): They were formed to struggle for the rights of native employed workers e.g. The Tanganyika Territory Civil Servant Association (T.T.C.S.A) since 1922 formed in Tanga under Mr. Martin Kayamba, The South Africa Natives Nation Congress (S.A.N.N.C) of South since 1912 formed under Pixley Ka Isaka Seme etc.
Note: In most cases the tools of labor were owned by the European capitalists who owned
Plantations, industry, mining centers etc. the worker’s rights were denied e.g. the working hours, wages and others.
MECHANISM USED TO OBTAIN LABOUR IN THE COLONIAL ERA
The Europeans employed the following ways to obtain African labor.
Introduction of money economy: instead of using the barter system, the Europeans insisted on the use money. Money became the medium of exchange. In future, people secured job in order to get money hence constant labor supply.
Taxation: the Europeans used taxation as a means of reinforcing the natives of to secure jobs. Those who failed to pay taxes were jailed. The Europeans established such taxes as the poll tax, property taxes, hut tax, matiti tax etc.
New consumer goods: Consumer goods from Europe forced the natives to secure money and increase their purchasing power, example cigarettes, canned, food, detergents, beer, liquor, electronics and so on.
Contract labor: the Europeans established the contracts in which the natives and their employers signed. E.g. The migrant labor (Manamba) in Tanga. The contact was done through the labor recruiting companies e.g. SILABU “Sisal Labor Bureau” in Tanganyika in 1946, the SWANLA “South West Africa Native Labor Authority” in Namibia.
Squatter system: Involved the creation of squatter life to the Africans. The natives were grouped in the reserve land. They lived in poor temporary houses, most of them being low income earners. The native became beggars to the settlers. They worked for a little money as wages.
Land alienation: Fertile land was taken by the Europeans from the natives. The natives had no option of getting food than working for wages.
Laborers were paid meager “hand to mouth income” wages: There wages were very low to sustain the entire African family. It was fit for one person consumption the African families suffered constant shortage of money thus constant hunt for money.
Legislations: The Europeans who establishment the laws which concerned the natives to work for the white settlers e.g. in 1921, in Kenya, they established the native legislation ordinance (Kipande system), the natives were required to be employed and carry the identity card which verified their employment and their habitat.
Direct forced labor e.g. the use of criminals, the prisoners and others to work without being paid.
Western education: The introduction of western education made the educated natives the hunters of employment from the Europeans most of the educated natives created a class of lumpen proletarians who received meager wages which didn’t sustain their entire family demands.
TYPES OF COLONIAL LABOUR FORCE
In colonial Africa, the European exploited the native labor for their own benefits. Other African laborers worked for the family, the KULAKS and the whites. The following were the main types of labor in colonial Africa.
FAMILY LABOUR
It was a dominant labor in colonial Africa the natives worked as a family in their small farms producing food and cash crops. Father, mother and other family members worked together. The family of the rich peasants (KULAKS) reached a stage of employing their fellow Africans.
THE DIRECT FORCED LABOUR
It was a family labor obtained in different means such as using the prisoner, community jobs e.g. the preparation of roads across the village etc.
INDIRECT FORCE LABOUR
This was obtained when the natives were obliged to work unwillingly because of looking for money for paying taxes and buying food for the victims of land alienation.
PAID LABOUR
It was a kind of labor in which the natives willingly secured a job to earn money. Different types of paid labor included,
Local area laboring.
Migrant labor.
MIGRANT LABOR
A migrant laborer is a person who migrates far away from his / her motherland to be employed in a strange (a new land). In colonial Africa most of the natives migrant laborers migrated from the labor reserved areas to the production areas.
Types of migrant labor.
There were two main types of migrant labor in colonial Africa. There were the:-
Intra – territorial migrant labor.
Inter – territorial migrant labor.
Intra – territorial migrant labor
It is a type of migrant labor in which the migrant labor migrated in the same territory to be employed to take care of the plantations. Example from Kigoma to Tanga in Tanganyika.
Inter-territorial migrant labor
A type of labor migration in which the labor moves from one territory to another. E.g. From Malawi to South Africa, from Mombasa to Morogoro etc. migrant labor was mostly preferred by the owners of plantation, mining and processing industries in colonial Africa.
REASONS FOR COLONIAL INVESTORS PREFER THE USE OF MIGRANT LABOUR
It was a cheap: the migrant laborers were paid a little amount of money as wages. It was a meager (hand to mouth) wages. The natives of the production areas could rebuke such as kind of wages.
Less resistant because they worked in a strange place, the circumstance forced them to be humble. This reduced the administrative acts to the colonial investors.
Family obligation: the inter-territorial migrant laborers were free from the stresses brought by the daily family obligations. This made them more efficient than the labor from nearby places.
Easy to keep: The migrant labors were kept in easy camps such as the bachelors rooms within the production areas. They were also supplied with the basic needs which were repaid in through bills during the wages payment day.
They were the easy direct markets for manufactured goods: By grouping the natives in the production areas, the Europeans created the working class which in turn served as the ready market for manufactured goods from Europe.
Constant labor supply: At first place, the colonial investors experiences the problem of lack of constant labor supply in plantations, mines, industries etc. the use of the migrant labor provided the best solution to problems.
Easy collection of taxes and rents: It was easy for the colonial government to tax a well organized labor force as the migrant labor also the labor.
Easy to exploit: The migrant laborers were not very much educated; they were more employed under short time contracts. The laborers education was not improved hence the native migrant labors were paid as low wages and allowed the colonial investor to make profit.
Presence of labor recruiting agencies: This simplified the mobilization of labor force and signing of the contracts e.g. In Tanganyika in 1946, SILABU was established for recruiting workers from various labor places of colonial Tanganyika, the SWANLA for recruiting migrant labor to work in South African mines, the WENALA, the TEBA and others agencies. There were many agencies across the continent.
THE IMPACT OF MIGRANT AND COLONIAL LABOUR
Uneven development: It led to different levels in economic, social and political development in the same colony. The production areas were favored by investors with better social services, labor recruitment areas where abandoned e.g. In colonial Tanganyika the production areas such as Kilimanjaro, Tanga, Mbeya, Morogoro, Coast etc. were developed than the labor reserve areas such as Ruvuma, Tunduru, Rukwa, Kigoma, Dododma etc. sisal plantations were established by the Germans in coastal areas Tanga and Morogoro in 1892. Coffee was established by the Greeks and Italians in Kilimanjaro and Tanga, rubber was established in Rufiji by the German in 1913. Cotton was established in Mwanza and Rufiji.
The fall of food production: The labor reserve areas were left with less productive men. Most of the able bodies’ people migrated to work as migrant laborers leaving behind women, old men and children. This led to a drop of food production in labor reserve areas.
Increase of infrastructure: The colonial government built infrastructure such as railways, feeder roads and trunk roads so as to ease labor recruitment exercise from the interior of Africa.
Integration of culture: Migrant labor copied the elements of culture from the strange places they went to dwell. They also imported these new elements of culture such as dressing styles, language etc. to their homeland.
Constant poverty: Due to low wages and low production in the labor recruitment areas, the natives experienced a constant famine and poverty.
African resistance management: The migrant labor were kept in camps far away from home. They were collected from different places and kept in camps where the workers had no unity and the ideas of rioting; boy cutting etc. this minimized the administration cost to Europeans.
Urbanization: It was the beginning of the growth of urban near the productive areas it also led to depopulation to the rural areas due to rural urban migration.
Stagnation of African skills: Because of migrant labor, the laborers weren’t taken to schools, colleges and were provided with short term contracts. African labor remained unskilled and underdeveloped.
Creation classes: the African chiefs who were involved in labor recruitment exercise because rich than others. They were paid by labor recruiting agencies.
Temporary or permanent separation of families: Most of the men who migrated as laborers left behind their wives, children and other members for many days. This denied them the family right of living together.
Exploitation: The migrant laborers were treated as markets for European goods, paid low wages, taxed by the government, paid rent for their rooms etc. in so doing they were intensively exploited.
COLONIAL TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION
In colonial Africa, the Europeans established many transport and communication networks. They established facilities like railways lines, harbors (sea ports) air ports, roads (truck and feeder roads) so as to facilitate the mission of colonial economy. A colony or a state without infrastructural networks is like a body without blood veins, so colonial transportation infrastructural network served as the base of colonial economy.
THE NATURE OF COLONIAL TRANSPORT SYETEM
In colonial time most of the transport system were oriented to the coast even those in the landlocked colonies. The transport systems were also oriented to the harbors of neighboring colonies.
REASONS TO WHY THEY WERE DIRECTED TOWARDS THE SEA
Extraction of raw material from the interior via the feeder roads to the truck roads of the railways then to the harbors where the materials were transported to Europe via water ways.
Transportation of manufactured goods from the sea harbors via the railway and roads to the interior of Africa.
Transportation of colonial officers from the areas especially, those who came from Europe via water ways (oceans). They were carried (transported) to various operational areas in the interior of Africa.
Transportation of native migrant labor from one point of the colony to another or outside the colony e.g. The railway line which connected South Africa and Southern Rhodesia built by BSACO.
Effective control of the colony: The infrastructures were also meant at establishing effective control of the colony. For example for surveying the territorial boundaries controlling native disputes and so on.
The airports solve the problem of reaching the areas difficult to be accessed by land roads or railways. For example the island of Mafia, Zanzibar, Cape Verde etc. which could be accessed via railways or waterways.
The port facilities were used to carry farm implements and the produced goods such as machinery, mining tools, spare parts needed for raw material production.
Management of supply of basic social service to native and foreigners, for example colonial education , colonial health services, colonial water supply, colonial military services. They relied much the presence of infrastructural networks.
THE IMPACTS OF COLONIAL TRANSPORT SYSTEM
Mushrooming (growth) and development of towns (urbanization). In the areas in which the railway line passed, the areas with busy truck roads were highly developed e.g. Nairobi, Moshi, Kampala, Arusha etc.
Development of Metro pole Africa: The areas with many transportation system e.g. Railways, harbors and airport at the same point grew from being small to towns into cities. Examples of these cities are Dar es Salaam, Mombasa etc.
Employment: Roads, railways, airports and harbor construction increased the employment chances. People were employed in a big number in laying down the infrastructure.
Settler production: Areas with enough infrastructure networks attracted many white settlers to dwell and establish their projects e.g. Kenya and Zimbabwe. In Kenya, the Kenya – Uganda railway attracted many setters.
Land alienation: The natives were evacuated by the colonial authorities from the areas in which the Europeans established road and railway constructs projects. This provoked the natives to fight and sometimes destroy the railway system e.g. The Nandi war in Kenya, the Nama / Herero uprising a Namibia, the natives tried to destroy the railway connection to the Windhoek and Swakopmund towns.
Forced labor: The Africans were also to work in areas in which the transport system crossed in their villages. The local rulers such as chiefs were used to mobilize African laborers to work in the roads or railway construction projects. This too provoked the Africans to revolt.
The transport system too facilitated communication in the interior and exposed African’s interior to the capitalists (colonialists). It became accessible to the whites and other native races. This simplified colonial management.
Integration of culture and economy in general: The communication network widened the sphere of interaction between native races and the immigrant races to an extent of washing out the outdated cultural elements and acquisition of new cultures.
MAJOR COLONIAL TRANSPORT SYSTEMS IN EAST AFRICA
After the Berlin conference, the Germans and the British started to build many transport systems in their respective colonies.
Examples:
The German transport system
In 1893, they built the Dar es Salaam to Tanga railway line. It reached Mombo in 1905.
In 1905 to 1914 they built a central line from Dar es Salaam to Kigoma.
The British transport system
The British built the Tabora to Mwanza railway line from 1928 in the British East Africa.
The British built the Uganda railway from Mombasa to L. Victoria and other areas. They started from Mombasa in 1889. It reached KISUMU in 1902, Jinja in 1925.
THE UGANDA (KENYA / UGANDA) RAILWAY LINE
The construction started in 1896 at Mombasa by British Engineer. It cost the British government about 5.5 million pounds. The railway reached Kisumu in 1901.
PROBLEM OF THIS CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
Climatic problem: The workers faced the problems of dry areas between Mombasa and Nairobi. The construction was also delayed by the flash floods in wet areas West of Nairobi.
Lack of adequate laborers: Many Kenyans natives were not willing to work and stay away from their homes for a long period. The British government had to import in Kenya about 32,600 Indian laborers. They were known as the ‘COOLIES’. They worked on the railway. This solved the problems of labor in the construction of the railway.
Hostile people: Some communities didn’t like the railway to pass through their territories because it was associated with land alienation. For example. The Nandi frequently raided the camp workers and they stole the rails in order to make spears.
Diseases: The British engineers constantly suffered from tropical diseases like Malaria while the Indian laborers who were barefoot when attacked by Jiggers. These diseases delayed the construction of the railway.
Inadequate port facilities for unloading materials which were needed for the construction of the railway.
Altitude: In the rift valley the engineers had the problem of construction of the railway along the escarpment. This delayed the construction.
Attacks from wild animals: When the railway reached TSAVO railway construction was temporarily balled because of the lions which killed many Indian workers.
THE IMPACTS OF THE UGANDA RAILWAY LINE TO KENYA, UGANDA AND TANGANYIKA
Trade links: The railway linked East Africa to the international economy. Goods from Kenya, Uganda and some parts of Northern Tanganyika were shipped overseas via Mombasa.
It led to the growth of towns: in areas in which the railway crossed, it led to the growth of many towns. For example, Nairobi was established in 1899 to be a railway depot.
It facilitated African farming: The railway facilitated the transportation of farm inputs from Mombasa to the interior and the transportation of agricultural products from the interior to the coast. This boosted farming in East Africa.
It attracted many white settlers in Kenya: The commissioner for the East African protectorate (Kenya), Sir Charles Elliot 1900 – 1904) invited the white settlers from Britain, New –Zealand, South Africa, Canada, Australia etc. to come invest in Kenya. It was done in order to make the railway pay through the freight charge on the settler’s agricultural produce.
Facilitation of British administration: The British administration and troops were transported to control the native’s disputes e.g. The Guest revolts in 1905.
It led to increase of Indians in East Africa: more than 34000 Indians were brought in Kenya. Some of them were returned to India, others desired to remain in East Africa after their railway construction work.
The change of Uganda – Kenya boundary in 1902, the British government changed the Eastern province of Uganda to East Africa protectorate. They did that so as to put the entire railway under one administration and to make all the highlands accessible by the railways for the white settlers.
Note: The problems experienced by the British in Kenya during the construction of the railway were also experienced in South Africa, Zimbabwe, West Africa etc. during railway construction. Also, some of the impacts were similar to the impacts of railway construction in other areas of out of East Africa.
COLONIAL MINING
Mining is the activity of removing “extracting” minerals such as coal, metals from the ground by digging. In colonial Africa, mining was performed by the companies owned by white settlers. The mined and processed gold, copper, coal, zinc and other metals.
The following were among the famous colonial mining companies in Africa.
In central Africa: The union mine du to Hant Katanga and the Forminive, they dealt with gold and mining in Congo (Zaire).
The central mining company and the
Robinson group extended the Mining
activities up to Zambia and Zimbabwe
looking for gold.
In South Africa: In central mining of Cecil Rhodes and the Robinson group dealt with gold and diamond at the starting point. Later on the mined copper nickel, could, zinc etc. in South Africa between 1590 and 1900 a lot of white settler’s flocked from South Africa to Zimbabwe. In 1810, Charles Rudd collaborated with Lobengula. In order to succeed, the mining companies of Cecil Rhodes and others were joined to form the De Beers Consolidated Company dealing with diamond and copper.
In East Africa: In Tanzania, the Boers from South Africa under the De Beers mining company started to mine gold in the early 20th Century in 1940, the Mwadui Diamond mines were formed by Dr. Williamson, gold was also mined in 1922 in Geita Mwanza, Musoma areas, present day Buhamba Kiabakara T.P.D.F., The South Africa (De Beers) also dealt with alluvial gold at Lupa and Chunya district. In Kenya and Uganda there was little mining (they had less minerals to be mined).
In West Africa: Gold was mostly in the gold coast (Ghana) example the Ashanti gold, Diamond was mainly mined in Sierra Leone. Coal was mined in Nigeria in Enugu area.
THE AIM OF COLONIAL MINING
The central purpose for colonial mining was to obtain various metals to be treated as the raw material coal was used as fuel in various activities etc. gold was used as a measure of value and the base of economy.
FEATURE OF COLONIAL MINING
Existence of the deep and surface mining. For the surface gold mining was.
The use of migrant labor: Most of the mining companies employed the migrant labor. For example, the mining companies of South Africa employed migrant laborers from Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia, Malawi etc.
Mining camps: In the big mining camps, colonial mining companies established permanent camps (residences) for the migrant labors. They did so in order to ensure constant labor supply.
Land alienation: The discovery of new mining areas led to the evacuation of natives by the colonial government by force so as to allow settler investment in mining.
Low wages: The migrant laborers were paid wages by the white settlers. This led to poverty among the natives working in Mines in colonial time of Africa.
Existence of mining infrastructure: Such as transport facilities and communication facilities. They built railways and roads to connect the mines with the harbor to ease the transportation of minerals to Europe.
IMPACTS OF COLONIAL MINING TO BOTH MIGRANTS AND NATIVES
Exploitation: Mining activities made use of the African cheap labor in the mining industry. This facilitated the exploitation of the natives resources i.e. Minerals, human resources and so on.
Loss of land: The natives had to be removed from their land within land without compensation to allow the opening of new mines and plantations to supply food for mining centers.
Soil degradation: The surface mining was associated with destruction of the top soil to an extent of not being suitable for crop production in future.
Creation of labor reserves: The colonial government established labor reserve areas for future recruitment of migrant labors in labor reserve areas, the natives experienced a difficult life e.g. In South Africa, Bantustans such as SOWETO, Askei, Transkei etc.
Growth of towns such as Johannesburg, Pretoria etc. in South Africa, and many people working in the mines lived in towns.
Promoted agriculture near mining areas: Food became a valuable commodity in the mine. This was because mining laborers required a lot of food to perform their work.
Attracted the importation of producer goods such as machinery, spare parts and so on. The producer’s goods and other implements (inputs) facilitated the mining industry.
COLONIAL INDUSTRY
Industries are the manufacturing units and factories involved in the processing goods. In the colonial time, Africa wasn’t characterized by many manufacturing industries as it is today, it had processing industries which were meant at processing raw materials so as to increase the shipment of raw materials to European industries.
The Europeans established SEMI – PROCESSING INDUSTRIES not manufacturing industries in Africa. They also wanted to reduce (prevent) the competition over raw materials.
THE OBJECTIVES OF COLONIAL INDUSTRY
Processing of raw materials for European industries.
Protection of European markets in Africa by monitoring African industrial sector.
The main types of industries in the colonial Africa were processing industries. There were
Meant at reducing the bulkiness of raw materials from Africa. They also established few import substituting industries to supply consumer goods to white men in Africa.
Examples of industries in colonial Africa in East Africa
Decoration of sisal industry to process sisal fibers by decertification machine in Tanga.
The Tanganyika plantation company in Arusha Chini to produce sugar.
The Bata Shoe Company was established in Tanganyika and in Kenya.
The Dar es Salaam breweries was established in 1924.
The East Africa Breweries was established in 1934 based in Namibia, Kenya.
Other industries included Tanganyika Packers Limited, Blue band margined soap industry, cigarettes, match boxes etc.
In South Africa:
Food processing industries near the mining Centre, Mineral processing industry etc.
In West Africa:
Cocoa processing in Ivory Coast, Gold coast etc., Gold processing in Gold Coast (Ghana) and many other industries.
In Central Africa:
Many food processing industries were established in Zambia, Zimbabwe and Nyasaland (Malawi).
In North Africa
In Egypt, they established many industries such as medicine, food processing etc. Other industries were established in Libya, Tunisia, Morocco and other areas.
THE IMPACT OF COLONIAL INDUSTRIES IN AFRICA
Destruction of African industries: Most of the natives who had various skills in handcrafts were turned to the cheap laborers (workers) in various works in processing industries and other sectors.
Exploitation of native (human resources): They were paid meager wages (hand to month). This turned them to be very poor. The working hours were extended a long with other difficult working industries conditions.
Exploitation of the native’s raw materials: The Europeans colonial industries were meant to process raw materials produced by the native peasants or white settlers. Raw materials from natives were purchased at a very low price compared to raw materials sold by the white settlers.
Increase of raw materials to Europeans industries: The processing industries established in Africa reduced the Bulkiness of raw materials in Europe that meant that raw materials were sent to Europe after being processed in Africa and were of high quality and quantity.
Weak base of African industries after independence: Most of the industries established in colonial Africa were processing industries. Few import substitution industries were established in Africa. So Africa inherited from Europe the culture of processing and selling raw materials to Europeans until today Africa is still backward in terms of industrial development.
Promotion of uneven development: The areas with many processing industries were well developed than the areas without those industries. The areas with industries had other facilities to support the nearby population e.g. Health services, schools, recreation centers etc. these areas developed than other areas.
Environment pollution: The areas with many industries witnessed a lot of environment pollution e.g. Water land or air pollution. Industries produced fumes, garbage and sewage which polluted the environment.
Creation of a working class along with other sector: The industrial sectors in which the natives were employed made the natives change their economic structure. They gradually became dependent on being employed by the Europeans’.
TRADE AND COMMERCE COLONIAL TIME
Trade is the activity of buying and selling (exchanging) goods or services between people and countries. Commerce is the activity involved in buying and selling things. In colonial time the leading trading and commercial activities were meant at benefiting the colonialists.
Through those activities, Europeans were able to accumulate raw material from Africa and sell the manufactured goods from Europe to Africa. The Europeans and the Indians had large transporting and exporting companies.
In many areas of colonial Africa the Asians became middle men in the whole process of business. They also established many exporting and importing companies in Africa.
OBJECTIVES OF TRADE AND COMMERCE IN COLONIAL AFRICA.
Accumulation of raw material for European industries in Europe.
Ensuring markets for the European manufactured goods in Africa.
CHARACTERISTICS OF COLONIAL TIME TRADE AND COMMERCE
Existence of foreign financial institutions: Such as banks (commercial bank). They were allowed to accept people’s deposits and cash such as bank withdrawing activities. They also issued loans to investors and were used as salary channels between employers and employees. For example standard Chartered Bank, Barclays bank, Greenland bank, Bank of Baroda of India etc.
Existence of commercial class: Trade and commerce made Asians such as Indians to emerge as the commercial class in Africa along with other natives and the whites. Until today the Asians form a commercial class in Africa.
Existence of clearing and forwarding companies: They were formed for the purpose of handling import and export commodities in harbors and in airport. They managed the uploading and unloading of ships.
Unequal exchange: Trading activities in colonial Africa were based on unequal terms, Africans who were the main producers of raw materials, weren’t involved in setting the price of their raw materials at a very low price from the native producers.
Existence of multinational companies: These were the companies based in Europe, America, Asia and other parts like South Africa etc. They established their branches throughout Africa and employed the natives to assist foreign exports of those companies e.g. Coca-Cola Company, food processing, breweries, insurance companies, finances institutions, mining companies etc.
Existence of colonial trade permits and licenses: Trading permits and licenses were mostly offered to Asians and European traders by the colonial government very few natives were permitted to trade. They trade on the retail bases.
The commercial laws formed by colonial legislature and executive were set in favor of the Europeans e.g. In Kenya, before WWI, the natives were forbidden to grow cash crops, after WWI they allowed to grow cash crops.
GENERAL IMPACTS OF COLONIAL ECONOMY IN AFRICA
Colonial economy was a secret purpose of the Europeans colonialism “political control of Africa” in the 19th and 20th C. colonial economy brought the following impacts in Africa.
SOCIAL IMPACTS
Migration of people: As the migrant laborers, the Africans moved from their areas to work in strange places. In so doing they were temporarily separated from their families.
Famine: It was brought by the migration of able people as migrant labor. It was also promoted by the intensification of taxation and alienation done by the colonial government to the natives.
Urbanization: In colonial time, the towns grew as a result of migrant labor and the concentration of commercial activities in the same area. The areas near mining centers, industries, settler farms were more developed.
Integration of culture: The social aspects of African culture were greatly transformed. The African dressing styles, eating, language, and general lifestyle changed in response to the changes brought by colonialists and migrant labor.
New social services: The natives started to experience the new social services offered by the colonial companies e.g. Private hospitals such as Aga-Khan hospital, Sewa Haji Hospital, schools such as Karimjee schools in Tanga now Usagara Secondary School etc.
Death: The intensification of colonial policies such as land alienation, taxation, colonial oppressive laws provoked African uprising such as MAUMAU war of Kenya in 1950s.In such kinds of uprising the natives were massacred.
Population adjustment: The labor reserve areas greatly depopulated due to the out of migration of people (rural – urban migration). The production areas experienced a constant increase of population (urbanization).
ECONOMIC IMPACT
Loss of properties: Through the colonial policy of land alienation, Africans cost a lot of wealth.
Poverty: Loss of properties like land, houses etc. colonial taxation, low wages, difficult working conditions, out migration from the labor reserve areas etc. turned (made) the natives to be very poor.
The foundation of contemporary colonialism: Today’s ‘neo-colonialism’ in Africa is rooted from colonial economy. The presence of multinational companies which exploited the Africans through low wages in colonial time being repeated by today’s African governments through privatization policy which insists on inviting western companies in Africa. The multinational companies also exploit Africa by recruiting raw materials from Africa at a very low price e.g. Minerals.
Infrastructures: To implement colonial economy, the colonial government established a lot of infrastructures such as railways, roads, airports and harbors. They also built schools, shops such as bazaars, warehouses etc. today the properties are used for the benefits of the natives; some were nationalized by African government after independence.
Currencies: In colonial time, most of the currencies were set by the colonial masters and governments. As a result until today. Africa is dominated by the currencies related with the former colonial masters e.g. The Franc in French colonies, Shilling and dollar in former British colonies etc.
Monoculture economics: The colonial were meant to produce one major export commodity by the colonial masters e.g. Cooper production in Zambia, cocoa production in Ivory Coast, tea production in Kenya and sisal production in Tanganyika. This blinded the African to see other sources of revenue for their national development after independence.
Weak and small manufacturing sector: In order to protest, the European markets in Africa and ensures a constant supply of the raw materials in European industries. The Europeans didn’t build manufacturing industries in Africa as a result today Africa is major market for European products and a reliable source of raw materials to the Europeans manufactures hence neo-colonialism.
POLITICAL IMPACTS
Puppets: The native authorities were used as the agents of colonial government in the collection of colonial taxes e.g. The OMUWANIKA (the native finance minister of Buganda kingdom) taxed Buganda on behalf of Kabaka and the British government.
The end of sovereignty: The native authorities lost their power of making their own internal decision on economic matters e.g. The setting of taxes, final decisions on expenditures etc. the colonial government had great influence on the basic economic matters.
African nationalism: Colonial economy provoked the natives to regroup into small groups with political skills e.g. the worker who were less paid formed trade unions the native peasants association etc. these groups pressurized the colonial government to consider their rights. As time went on, they formed political parties which claimed for total political independence.
Political oppression: In favor of colonial economy the colonial government undermined the native’s political rights, a number of natives in colonial legislature was very small. The laws which were set were not objected by a few number of native members of LEGCO. The leaders of the foreign companies were Europeans not natives.
Segregation and discrimination. In working places, the natives were not well cared for and weren’t considered as the white men were. E.g. they weren’t not allowed to be members of political parties in the Portuguese colonies and other while Europeans were allowed. The natives were not allowed to involve themselves in political activities. Those who refused were fired from their jobs.
Neo – colonialism: As a result of colonial economy, today’s African governments have little impact on multinational companies. These companies are being protected by donor countries which fund the African governments. Most of the multinational companies started working in Africa since colonial time.
Nevertheless, colonial economy left a starting point to colonial governments after independence. The African government collected revenue from institutions left by colonial investors and used it to run their new governments.
Note: Generally speaking, European colonialism and slave trade stand as the twin factors which set the base of today’s Africans underdevelopment, they caused stagnation of science and technology in Africa, low quality education, lack of good governance, political greediness, corruption, embezzlement of government resources and others.
GUIDING QUESTIONS
1; Explain how Colonial economy differed from the pre colonial economies in Africa.
2; Analyze the tactics (methods) used to Establish colonial economy in Africa.
3; Appraise the features of colonial economy in Africa.
4; Analyze the sectors of colonial economy in Africa.
5; Why did the British prefer Uganda for peasant economy?
6; Highlight the features of peasant economy in the colonial time Africa.
7; What reasons made the British prefer plantation economy in Tanganyika?
8; What were the features of Plantation economy in the Colonial Africa?
9; Explain why the British prefer Kenya for Settler Economy?
10; Assess the challenges of settler economy in the colonial time Kenya.
11; Examine the impact of the 1923 Devonshire White Paper on Kenya.
12; Explain how the colonial government protected the interests of the White settlers in Kenya.
13; Explain how the colonial government ensured constant labor supply to the White Settler production in Kenya.
14; Assess the characteristics of Settler economy in the Colonial time Africa
15; Appraise the features of Colonial labor.
16; Why did the colonial time investors prefer the use of the migrant labor?
17; Explain how Africa was affected by the colonial migrant labor system.
18; Analyze the features of colonial transport and communication systems.
19; Why were the colonial time roads and railways directed to the coasts from the interior of Africa?
20; Which problems faced the construction of the Kenya Uganda railway?
21; Explain how Africa was affected by the colonial time systems of transport and communication.
22; What were the features of colonial industrial sector in Africa?
23; Appraise the general impact Colonial economy in Africa.
