LONG DISTANCE TRADE ( 1800 -1876)

It was also known as Pre- colonial Caravan Trade.This was the kind of trade which
was conducted over long distances from the interior to the E. African coast. When
traders started travelling, inland over long distances in search of goods, it became
to be known as long distance trade

ORGANISATION OF LONG DISTANCE TRADE

Long distance trade involved the Arabs and the Swahili merchants (traders) at the
coast together with the African middle-men in the interior who included the Yao,
Nyamwezi, Kamba, Baganda e.t.c. It was in fact an extension of the Indian Ocean
trade.

Before long distance trade, there was tribal trade i.e goods from one tribe to
another could be exchanged till they reached the coast.

Traders moved in caravans and at times used human head Porterage and the
Nyamwezi provided the most experienced porters. Caravans were sent inland
from Zanzibar and other coastal towns. They were armed and heavily guarded.

There were bases and agents inland and at the coast e.g Kilwa, Ujiji, Tabora,
Bagamoyo e.t.c

It took many months collecting items from the interior to take to the coast and
this stimulated hatred from the local communities.

The Arabs and Swahili merchants collected their goods from the coast because
they lacked the geographical knowledge of the interior.

The Africans supplied goods such as slaves, gold, ivory, Rhino horns e.t.c while
they received items like guns, cloth, mirrors, spices, beads e.t.c.

Initially, trade was conducted on barter system but cowrie shells were introduced
later to ease the exchange system,
They used Swahili for communication purposes which replaced the silent barter
system used during the early years of Indian Ocean trade.

The Indian Banyans at the coast offered credit to traders though sometimes at
high interest rates.

African middlemen obtained slaves by raiding villages and buying war captives,
criminals like debtors from the East African chiefs.

Negotiations were made between local chiefs and rulers over a wide area e.g
Mirambo, Tippu Tipu, Msiri, the kings of Buganda for safety of the caravans .

There were four routes to the interior of East Africa which included the route into
Northern Uganda from Sudan used by the Khartoumers.

The three common routes were starting from the East coast to the interior of East
Africa mainly:-the Northern, Central and Southern routes.

THE NORTHERN ROUTE

This was dominated by the Kamba. It ran from Pangani, Tanga and Mombasa
inland to the Kilimanjaro and Taita area. It divided into West from Kilimanjaro to
the eastern shores of lake Victoria, then North West to Mt. Kenya, lakes Baringo
and Rudolf and across the rift valley as far as the slopes of Mt. Elgon. It mainly
supplied ivory.

THE CENTRAL ROUTE

This was dominated by Nyamwezi. It ran from Mrima coast opposite Zanzibar
from ports of Bagamoyo and Saadami through Zaromo and Gogo County to the
Arab stronghold of Tabora in Unyanyembe. Here it divided into three routes i.e
North west to Karagwe, Buganda and Banyoro. West to Ujiji on Lake Tanganyika
to Eastern Zaire. South west around the Southern shores of Tanganyika towards
Karanga. It mainly supplied gold.

THE SOUTHERN ROUTE

This was dominated by the Yao. It ran from Kilwa and Lindi inland through the
country of the Yao, Makuwa and Makonde to lake Nyasa (Malawi), It mainly
supplied slaves.

WHY DID LONG DISTANCE TRADE TAKE PLACE? REASONS FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF LONG DISTANCE TRADE

Prescence of trade items which were highly demanded by the Arabs. Ivory, gold
and slaves were available in the interior yet they were highly demanded at the
coast. This made the people to move long journeys to pick those items.

Africans desired to get foreign goods e.g beads, clothes, mirrors, perfumes e.t.c
and this forced them to get involved in long distance trade.

Need of guns. Some African rulers (chiefs and kings) wanted to acquire fire arms
for the purpose of defence and conquest. These could only be acquired through
long distance trade.

Development of Swahili as a business language eased communication and hence

boosted business dealings and thus gave way for long distance trade.

Development of trade routes. These were clear and developed trade routes that
the caravans used and this contributed to easy and safe movement of goods.

Demand for slaves. High demand for slaves in the outside world made the raiders
move near and far to get them at any coast hence sustaining the long distance
trade into operation.

Presence of Indian Banyans. These were money lenders at the coast who usually
offered credit to business men though sometimes at high interest rates.

Seyyid said’s settlement in Zanzibar in 1840 also increased the demand for slaves
who were needed to work on his clove plantations.

Seyyid Said’s contribution. The traders were encouraged by Seyyid Said who
organized and funded the caravans.
Existance of security. The caravans were guarded against the African hostile
tribes.

Some African societies were not favoured with fertile soils like the Nyamwezi and
the Yao and this provoked them to participate in the long distance trade.

The abolition of slave trade in west Africa around 1840 forced many Europeans to
resort or turn to E.A where slave trade had not yet been abolished.

Some interior tribes had the traditional love for travelling long distances e.g the
Nyamwezi.

The presence of capable leaders e.g Mirambo, Seyyid Said, Tippu – Tip and
Muteesa 1 efficiently organized the trade.

MAP OF EAST AFRICA SHOWING THE TRADE ROUTES.

NOTE: To be drawn by students in their note books. ( REF; A history of E.A by

Odhiambo)

THE CHIEF TRADING TRIBES OF EAST AFRICA IN THE LONG DISTANCE TRADE

THE YAO; ( The role of the Yao in Long distance trade)

Originally they lived along L. Malawi where they practised agriculture.

They used to travel long distances across the borders to Mozambique, Malawi
and coastal areas of East Africa. They were the first to develop the long distance
trade and they were the major long distance traders in southern Tanganyika.

By the nineteenth century, they had stared trading in guns, cloth, glasses at the
coast and in turn, they would offer slaves.

Due to violent disruption that followed the Ngoni invasion, the Yoa started raiding
for slaves. As the demand for slaves increased at the coast, especially at Kilwa, the
Yao became the chief suppliers of slaves under powerful chiefs like Mpanda,
Mataka, Masheba and Mtalika. Trade along the Southern route from Kilwa
beyond L. Malawi remained in the hands of the Yao.
The Yao organized and sent all their caravans to the coast. Coastal traders who
traveled in land became clients of the Yao chiefs. Yao obtained guns, beads, glass
e.t.c in exchange for slaves. Women slaves were valued more than men, although
the majority of slaves were men.

After selling off the slaves and other items like gold and ivory, porters were paid
off and fresh caravans were organized.

The Yao became very powerful that very few Arabs and Swahili traders could
enter their territory.

The Yao dominated the southern route which linked the coastal town of Kilwa to
the Northern communities of Mozambique and deep into the interior of central
Africa.

They provided security to the trade caravans. They also acted as guides and
guards to the caravans.

With the abolition of slave trade, the Yao volume of trade decreased and their
importance reduced.

THE KAMBA (The role of the Kamba as Long Distance Traders)

These were the most vigorous Long distance traders in present day Kenya. It was
their skill in hunting and their semi-nomadic way of life which led them into being
involved in the Long Distance Trade.

Initially, the Akamba trade was a simple business of exchanging ivory with the
Nyika for cattle. They carried out some agriculture in the west of Ukambani. Many
of them obtained a living by hunting from the least fertile areas.

The early nineteenth century witnessed a considerable development of the

Akamba in the Long Distance Trade. Commercial activities took place over a wide
area among the Chagga, Segeju, and Digo e.t.c on the Laikipia plateau.

Ivory was especially important in the first half of the nineteenth century. They
hunted elephants to obtain it.
By the early nineteenth century, they had developed a wide spread of valid
trading items .As hunters and farmers, they supplied their neighbors with meat,
grain and beer. As iron workers they traded in arrow heads and iron ornaments
which were on high demand.

The most famous Kamba trader was Kivoi but when opposition against hunting
was passed and trading parties increased in the late nineteenth century, Kivoi was
killed near Mt. Kenya.

By the middle of the nineteenth century, big caravans to the coast carried ivory,
rhino horns and honey. Later they took to slave raiding and most Akamba became
very rich.

The Kamba acted as middlemen between the coastal traders and communities to
the west especially the Kikuyu. They produced beads, cloth and glass in exchange
for ivory and livestock.

The Kamba provided security especially to the trading caravans crossing into
Nyika land. Their military strength depended on the effective bows and arrows.
They guarded and guided the merchant caravans from the coast to the interior
and from the interior to the coast.

With time the Akamba also started to supply the LTD with slaves. This was due to
the fact that as they hunted further for elephants they also started raiding. This
brought them into conflict and wars with their neighbors like the Pokomo, Kikuyu
and Masai.

The extent of Akamba trading activities went northwards beyond Mt. Kenya to
Samburu territory and southwards to Uzaramo in eastern Tanzania. It is these
areas that provided food and trade goods to the Kamba.

They were also skilled in iron working such that they produced spears and arrows
with snake poison.

Unfortunately the Akamba control in gold trade along the northern route had
started to decline by 1870s. This was because the coastal Arabs were obtaining
ivory directly from the interior and selling their items directly to the Masai and
Kikuyu; the existence of the Masai civil wars weakened the political power and
authority of the Akamba. After 1895, the colonization of Kenya by the British
weakened the Akamba in the Long Distance Trade.

THE NYAMWEZI (The role o the Nyamwezi in LTD)

Before the Arabs ventured into the interior, the Nyamwezi were already trading in
different directions. They had organized caravans towards L.Tanganyika, across
into Congo, Northwards to Buganda and by 1800, their first caravan had arrived at
the coast of East Africa.

The role of the Nyamwezi in the Long Distance Trade was due to the fact that they
occupied a strategic position along the central route from Zanzibar or Bagamoyo
to the interior. This enabled them to expand the volume of trade between the
interior traders and coastal traders.

The Nyamwezi mainly supplied iron implements which were sold to the Gogo in
turn for food.

They also obtained salt from the coastal traders and supplied it to the interior as
far as Zaire, Bunyoro and Ankole.

By 1840s, they hunted elephants and sold ivory on a large scale to the coastal
Arabs and Swahili. Since then, ivory became one of the major trading items of the
Nyamwezi.

Besides ivory, they supplied copper from Katanga region to the tribes of Sumbwa.
These made wire bangles and ornaments out of copper and iron. These also
became part of the items of the Long Distance Trade. At a later age, copper was
used as a form of currency.

The Nyamwezi acted as middlemen especially between the interior tribes and
coastal traders. Their central position along the central route made it easier for
them to play the role of middlemanship.

Besides the above, the Nyamwezi also played the role of porters and organizers of
caravans in the Long Distance Trade. By 1860s, the role became a profession such
that they sold their services to the Arabs and Swahili traders. Therefore, they
organized the transportation of goods between the coast and the interior. It is
estimated that1500-2000 Nyamwezi left for the coast annually.

At a later stage, the Nyamwezi also started supplying slaves to the coastal traders
e.g. during the reign of Mirambo and Nyungu ya Mawe, Nyamwezi extended their
territories to acquire ivory and slaves. They used the services of Ruga-Ruga and
Maviti mercenaries. They raided the weaker and neighbouring states and sold
people as slaves.

Another role of the Nyamwezi was that they provided security to the caravan
routes between the coast and the interior. It is noted that leaders like Mirambo,
Nyungu ya Mawe and Msiri offered their guards to protect and guide the caravans
into the interior and the coast.

Treaties were signed by the rulers of the Nyamwezi to facilitate the smooth
running of Long Distance Trade. These commercial treaties led to the easy flow of
trade.

Besides signing treaties, Mirambo also improved on his friendly relationship with
Muteesa (1) of Buganda, Tippu Tip and Msiri. It was the relationship that created
a good environment for the development of the Long Distance Trade between the
interior and the coast.

THE BUGANDA (THE ROLE OF THE BUGANDA IN LDT)

The Baganda were originally agriculturalists before joining the Long Distance
Trade. They then started trading with Bunyoro where they got hoes and salt.

The main important Baganda export was barkcloth. In the early nineteenth
century, the Baganda were linked to Sofala in the Long Distance Trade.

The Arabs traded with Buganda in ivory and slaves and got guns. The Kabaka
controlled trade with foreigners who traded in swords, beads, colored cloth e.t.c.

Buganda raided their neighbours for slaves which increased warfare e.g. with
Bunyoro, Busoga, Toro and Ankole.
THE KHARTOUMERS

These were Egyptians and Sudanese. They came in search of slaves and ivory and
established themselves in Northern Uganda among the Acholi.

In order to get ivory, they stirred up warfare in the Northern communities, stole
cattle and exchanged it for ivory.

When the Mahdist revolt broke out, trade came to an end since Egypt had been
cut out of the equatorial province.

PROBLEMS THAT LED TO THE DECLINE OF LONG DISTANCE TRADE IN THE

SECOND HALF OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.

Participants in the Long Distance Trade suffered a number of problems. They

were able to solve some of them and went on with trade but other problems
were persistent and eventually led to the decline of LTD in the second half of the
nineteenth century e.g.

Due to the increasing demand for ivory, hunters killed many elephants.
Eventually, the number of elephants reduced and the supply of ivory reduced
hence decline in trade.

Some items were only available seasonally e.g. honey, agricultural produce etc,
hence traders stayed long in the coast collecting them. This eventually led to the
decline of trade.

The attempts to abolish slave trade caused shortage of slave supply e.g. some
slave markets were closed e.g. Zanzibar in 1873 and this eventually led to the
decline of the trade.

There developed increasing interest in the interior and the desire for security. This
led to the decline and abolition of slave trade eventually.

There was increasing hostility of the interior rulers who continued to increase
taxes and tolls e.g. Mirambo closed routes to the uncooperative Arabs. There
were frequent wars in the interior which increased insecurity in participating in
areas so participating areas so participants felt insecure to continue with the
trade hence the decline of the trade.

The missionaries entered East African interior and started preaching against slave
trade and slavery which eventually led to the decline of the trade.

The LDT became expensive to sustain e.g. the Banyoro persistently charged high
interest rates which made it too expensive on the side of the traders. This
eventually led to the decline of the trade.

The distance covered was too long i.e the journey had to be covered by foot yet
the goods were to be carried on the head.

The Indian Banyans also always charged high interest rates on the coastal
merchants hence making trade unprofitable

Tropical diseases like malaria, sleeping sickness claimed many lives of traders and
slaves leading to the decline of the trade.

Wild animals like lions used to attack traders on their way to the coast not until
guns were introduced.

Language barrier was yet another problem as only a few people in the interior
knew and understood Kiswahili.

The introduction of guns increased slave raids, tribal wars hence making the
interior un safe for many traders.

Hostile tribes like the Nandi and Masai made the trade difficult because they
always attacked the traders who tried to penetrate into their areas.

The Ngoni invasion also disrupted the trade i.e the Tuta Ngoni disrupted the trade
between Ujiji and Tabora while the Maseko Ngoni disrupted trade along the
southern trade route.

EFFECTS OF LONG DISTANCE TRADE ON EAST AFRICA

The impacts of Long Distance Trade were political, economic and social. Some
were positive and others were negative.

Politically, some individual societies strengthened their military machinery. This

was because they had acquired enough wealth in the Long Distance Trade.

There was growth and expansion of kingdoms or territories because of their

participation in the Long Distance Trade. Leaders like Mirambo, Nyungu ya Mawe
became very powerful because of the Long Distance Trade.

There was growth and expansion of Kingdoms or territories because of their

participation in Long Distance Trade. They acquired guns and ammunitions
(weapons) which they used to absorb and fight weaker states. It’s no wonder that
the Nyamwezi became a very big empire.

The Long Distance Trade caused insecurity in the region. This was due to the fact
that continuous raids in search of slaves led to this insecurity.

Many people lost their lives. This was mainly a result of slave raids made on the
weaker states that couldn’t defend themselves. Many were killed even during
long distances to the coast.

Similar to the above, there was destruction of property. During these raids, huts
were set ablaze, shambas destroyed and animals killed. This also happened when
stronger societies attacked the weaker ones.

As a result of the Long Distance Trade, Swahili culture and language spread into
the interior partly because of the fact that the Swahili/ Arabs who came from the
coast interacted with the Africans who copied the Swahili way of life.

Islam was introduced in the interior by Arabs and the interior was taken up by
natives. Therefore mosques and Arabic language became a part of the interior.

The interior of East Africa was linked to the outside world. Later, the societies
gradually created strong trading contacts with the Arab world, the Far East,
America and Europe.
In fact European goods were introduced in the interior by the Swahili and Arab
merchants e.g. rice, maize and cassava. Today, some of these are the staple foods
of the interior people.

Due to the activities of the LTD, the interior people turned away from other
economic activities like fishing and agriculture to the more profitable trade.
Likewise traditional skills and crafts died due to the competition from new goods.

The Long Distance Trade introduced a monetary system replacing the barter
system of trade. There was a transition in form of currency from the cowrie shells
to coins and later paper currency.

Prior to Long Distance Trade, there was no standing army in East Africa. Everyone
was a potential military soldier. But after the introduction of guns, chiefs and
kings began to set up standing armies e.g. Mirambo formed the Ruga-ruga,
Kabalega formed the Abarusura and the Kabaka formed the Abatongole e.t.c. All
these standing armies were formed after the introduction of Long Distance Trade.

It stimulated the growth and development of towns along the trade routes e.g
Tabora , Ujiji , Bagamoyo etc.

Many African chiefs, and the participants became rich which made them to enjoy
the high standards of living.

Long distance trade caravans routes developed into proper communication lines
and roads and this eased the transport system.

It led to the rise of society misfits e.g the Ruga Ruga and Maviti warriors

The trade routes paved way for the colonialists since it is these routes that the
colonizers used to penetrate the interior of East Africa.

The volume of trade increased and this resulted into overexploitation of resources
e.g elephants, rhinos, minerals etc which reduced the economic resources of East
Africa

The interior people for the first time enjoyed a variety of goods unlike before e.g
cloth, beads , guns etc.
It led to famine since people were not settled down to cultivate food crops.

It led to introduction of new cultures and laws which were based on the Koran.

Kiswahili spread in many areas of E.A because it was used as a means of

communication.

There were intermarriages between the Arabs and the local people giving rise to
the Swahili race and culture

MAIN PERSONALITIES IN LONG DISTANCE TRADE

MIRAMBO’S EMPIRE

• Mirambo was born around the 1830s in Nyamwezi land to one Ntemi chief

• He spent his early years in Bugomba where he had been captured by the
Ngoni

• He mastered the Ngoni tactics of warfare and used them to build a strong
army of the Ruga Ruga

• It was this army that helped Mirambo to build a big empire

• Mirambo attacked the Vinza, Sukuma and Iramba to extend his influence

• By 1876, Mirambo established his capital at Urambo

• His empire extended Northwards and Eastwards to control the central

caravan trade route from Tabora to Karagwe, Ujiji, Buganda and Bunyoro

WHY MIRAMBO WAS ABLE TO BUILD SUCH A BIG EMPIRE

• Mirambo was a person of boundless courage and energy which he used to

build his empire

• He personally led his army in battle which encouraged and gave morale to
his army to fight on
• Mirambo spent a lot of years in Bugomba as a captive of the Ngoni which
helped him to master the Ngoni military tactics

• He used the Ngoni military tactics to build a trong army called Ruga Ruga
that was very instrumental in his rise to prominence

• He absorbed the conquered people, recruited the youth into his army to
boost his fighting force

• Mirambo was a man of high determination who took no nonsense from

anyone e.g he insisted on homeage and tribute from foreigners passing
through his territory

• The acquiring of guns and gun powder from the coastal Arabs helped
Mirambo to extend his empire wide

• Mirambo highly paid the Ruga Ruga who helped him to build such a big
empire.

• Miambo’s empire was strategically located in central Tanganyika which

made it the center of trade.

• Mirambo exploited the weakness of his neighbors like the Vinza, Zinza,
Sukuma, Sumbwa to acguire territories from them.

• Mirambo was also far- sighted and an ambitious man who knew what he
wanted and always looked for a way of getting it.

• Trade also helped Mirambo extend his power and influence because it
brought in revenue / taxes e.g he controlled two trade routes, one to Ujiji
and the other Bunyoro and Buganda.

• Mirambo also established diplomatic ties with many Europeans, Arabs e.g
he invited the missionaries to come to his area.

• Mirambo also made friendly relations with many African chiefs. He tried to
establish diplomatic ties with Muteesa 1 of Buganda, Sultan of Zanzibar and
Tippu Tip.
Mirambo egually respected foreigners or strangers passing through his land. This
brought many visitors that he benefited from in terms of skills and trade.

THE COLLAPSE OF MIRAMBO’S EMPIRE

The death of Mirambo led to the collapse of the empire because it lacked strong
leadership.

The empire was built around Mirambo’s personality and without him it was
bound to collapse.

Mirambo’s successor Mpandashalo was too weak and he could not keep the
empire intact.

The empire was too big to be ruled effectively by one person.

Mirambo always found it hard to enforce law and order from his subjects due to
the vast size.

Unity was also lacking.e. Mirambo had left the various areas he had conguered
under their traditional rulers and upon his death many of them declared
themselves independent.

Mirambo’s neighbors were not happy about his success e.g. the sukuma and this
encouraged various states under him to rebel.

Mirambo’s army of the Ruga- Ruga was not dependable and became a menace
ofter his death e.g looting and burning people’s property.

The confusion created by the Ruga –Ruga forced the Germans to occupy
Tanganyika in 1885.

The decline of LDT and the abolition of slave trade also led to the collapse of his
empire.

Mirambo lost contact with the Arabs who used to supply him with guns and
gunpowder.
Mirambo’s chiefs were weak since many were appointed just because they
belonged to the ruling class. They did not merit their positions which further
weakened Mirambo’s empire.

Increasing European interests in E.A finally brought Mirambo’s empire to an end

in 1885.

The Germans came under the excuse of abolishing slave trade and stoped the
Ruga – Ruga they they stamped out their authority in Tanganyika.

NYUNGU YA MAWE’S EMPIRE

Nyungu Ya Mawe was born in Unyanyembe near Tabora among the Nyamwezi.
He was a prince from the royal family of Unyanyembe.

Nyungu Ya Mawe was a praise name meaning ‘Pot of stone’ (the pot that never
breaks)

He was also able to built a big empire using the services of Ruga – Ruga
mercenaries.

He also employed The Ngoni’s fighting methods.

In 1874, he abandoned his people and formed his capital at Kiwele.

He attacked the Kimbu in the East and also captured the trade route between
Tabora and Ujiji.

Nyungu Ya Mawe was brave and ruthless military strategist

He could not hesitate to risk the lives of his soldiers and he referred to them as
Mapimpiti meaning Logs, to achieve his targets.

He also created the centralized system of administration.

All conguered areas were given new chiefs called Watwale. He divided his empire
into 6 provinces under watwale appointed by him.
The watwale were directly appointed by Nyungu and were his eyes and ears. In
most cases they were his relatives.

He created a highly disciplined army.

His army underwent physical and Psychological training and did not lose morale
after his death.

He did not bother establishing a good relationship with Europeans. He heavily

taxed them which displeased them.

In 1884, Nyungu died as a one eyed man.

He was succeeded by his daughter Mgla who ruled successfully until 1893.

When she died, her daughter took over and ruled until the coming of the
Germans who captured her capital at Kiwele conguered it.

This marked the end of Nyungu ya Mawe’s empire

The Germans replaced the Watwale with new chiefs called Akidas.The Germans
later introduced direct rule.