SLAVE TRADE IN EAST AFRICA
The main results of African contact with external world through trade was the, rise of slave trade and Colonialism. Slave trade in East Africa began after the arrival of Portuguese in 15 th Century up to 1873 during the Sayyid Barghash treaty or free treaty.
STAGES IN DEVELOPMENT OF SLAVE TRADE IN EAST AFRICA
There were three stages in the development of slave trade in Indian ocean sea board.
1. The first stage was dominated by the Portuguese: The portuguese were shipped slave from Mozambique to Brazil in 18 th century.
2. The second stage was dominated by the Dutch from Holland and French: They had opened the coffee and sugar plantations in Mauritius and Re-union especially in 1770.
3. The third was due to the introduction of cloves plantations in Zanzibar: in the early of 19 th century.
REASONS FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE INDIAN OCEAN SLAVE TRADE
1. Existence of oman Arabs in east Africa: The Oman Arabs who were ruling the East African coast at the time introduced clove plantations in Zanzibar and Pemba. These plantations required large numbers of labors to tend to them.
2. Establishment of sugarcane plantations by the French in Mauritius and Reunion: There was also a high demand for slave labor for the French sugar plantations in Mauritius and Reunion Island. Initially, the French mostly depended on the area around present-day Mozambique for slaves, but by the 1770s the demand exceeded supply. Hence, the French came further north, to East Africa, in search of slaves.
3. Slaves were needed as porters: They ferried goods such as ivory and gold from interior of Africa to the Coast. This was important for the ivory trade, especially to the American, Indian and British traders who took part in it.
4. Establishment of coffee and sugarcane plantations by the Portuguese in America: Portuguese slave traders supplied slaves to the Portuguese coffee and sugarcane plantations in Brazil. In the first half of the 18th century, the Portuguese expanded their plantations. As a result, their sources of slaves in West Africa and Mozambique became inadequate, so they came to East Africa.
5. High demanding for domestic workers in Asian countries: Slaves were highly demanded to different Asian and Arabian countries to work in different activities like houseboys, soldiers and farm laboures.
6. Opening of large slave markets in east Africa and Brazil: There were major slave markets in Brazil and east Africa such as in Zanzibar, Bagamoyo, Pemba, Kilwa, Mikindani and Mombasa.
7. The role played by African local chiefs: most African local chiefs acted as the agents of slave trade where they captured many slaves and sold them to the Arabs since it was very profitable to them. E.g chief Mirambo, nyunguyamawe, etc.
8. Expansion of ivory trade: Normally the expansion of Ivory trade in East Africa contributed to high need for slaves for carrying Ivory from the interiors to the coast, hence slaves who carry Ivory when reach coasts they sold to the Arabs.
Conclusion
The Quran forbids Muslims from enslaving other Muslims. Thus, the slaves had to come from non-Muslim regions such as the interior of East Africa.
