African Economies in the Pre-Colonial Era
Economic activities in Sub-Saharan Africa included hunting, gathering, and fishing. Geographical regions determined what kind of activity took place where. The activities were also influenced by seasonal changes. Regions with relatively high rainfall were densely inhabited by sedentary societies.
It is, however, important to note that hunting-gathering and fishing were not the only economic activities in the pre-colonial time in Africa. According to Wickins, like it is today, there were also pastoral societies like the Fulani of Western Africa, and the Maasai and the Turkana of East Africa.
As societies continued to develop economically, learning new ideas and innovations, and coming up with new trends in economic activities, there was a tendency for change. Though, the traditional economic activities like hunting and gathering, popular with the San and the Khoikhoi of Western Africa, were not isolated.
The development of the market economy ushered in trade. And the initial system of trade was barter trade, whereby goods were exchanged with goods. For instance, food crops were exchanged with livestock and households could be given in return for farm inputs. The vice versa was very possible.
The development of trade went through a historical metamorphosis before it finally became what may be equated to modern trade. African trade took a new twist with the discovery of gold in Western Africa. This facilitated the change in the system of trade, from barter trade to what can be termed as the modern system of trade.
Impact of Colonialism on the Ancient African Economies
The European colonization of Africa significantly impacted African economic activities. According to Davidson, “the 1800s partitioning of the African continent amongst the European powers hampered both the African traditional economic activities and its political affairs.”
As per the Berlin Conference that took place between 1884 and 1885, partitioning of Africa “marked the beginning of new economic era and political doctrines in Africa.” African colonization transformed the system of trade, barter trade was rendered primitive and the African styles of leadership and rules were perceived as barbaric.
The economic activities that were previously dominant in African antiquity became instinct over time. Hunting and gathering were absorbed into farming and settlement, among other new economic orders that came with the foreigners. In addition to the transformation of the ancient activities, there were additional economic activities that Africans were never used to and which they learned from the Europeans. Economic activities such as working for money and exchanging goods with money and not other goods were new things in the continent.
Development Strategies in the Post Colonial Africa
With the conclusion of World war two in 1945, the European states in Africa “realized they would have to grant their colonies independence.” This was going to impact either negatively or positively depending on how they reacted towards the move and at the same time, how Africans that were for quite some time under their rule were going to perceive their strategic economic plans.
Because European countries already knew how important the continent of Africa was to them in terms of economic benefits, they had to be swift in making their future economic strategies right. They set up strategic plans that were perhaps meant to foster a long-term relationship with the soon to become the independent African States. Britain and France were the notable master plans. Little did they know how the Africans were going to respond?
The African States were initially optimistic about the future economic plans, perceiving them as development-oriented. This was however short-lived with the coming of independence. Immediately the colonizers left for their countries Africa took charge of its won economic activities. And so, the initial development plans for economic prosperity between the European and African centuries failed.
The current African Economic Issues
By around the 1960s, most countries in Sub-Saharan Africa had ascertained their independence. This did not bring all the best for the African economy, as they decided to take charge of their economy, distancing themselves from the economically potential European countries. As a result of their stand against the colonialist that already left, Africa came to face many economic challenges before recovering.
On top of the current African economic development strategies is the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) program. This program was agreed upon by world leaders in a summit that was held in September 2000. The objective of the summit was “to set economic goals and targets” to be achieved in the year 2015.
Other Economic Issues in Africa
The African Economic activities have also been affected by factors such as population growth rates, diseases such as effects of HIV/AIDS and Malaria; land degradation, underdeveloped infrastructures, financial shortages among others.
References
Clerk, J. Desmond. The Spread of Food Production in Sub-Saharan Africa. Journal of African History. Vol 1. London. Frank Cass. 1962.3-13.
Davidson, Basil. African History of the Continent. New York. Macmillan. 1972.
Harsch, Ernest, 1994: Building Africa’s Economic Capacity: Africa Recovery: Journal 8: 1994.30-31.
Winckins, Peter.Africa:1880-1980.An Economic History. Cape Town. Oxford University Press. 1986.