Topic 4: Development of Agriculture in Pre-colonial African Societies – History Form One

Development of Agriculture in Pre-colonial African Societies

A. Agriculture

What is Agriculture

Agriculture refers to the socio-economic activity that involves crops cultivation and keeping livestock. It started at the end of the Late Stone Age after human beings had improved their tools of production.

They engaged either in Livestock keeping or crops cultivation in an area depended on the environment and efficiency of tools used.

• Examples of crops cultivated in pre-colonial Africa were ;- Maize, Sorghum, Millets, Finger millets, Yam and Wheat
• Examples of domesticated animals were ; – Cattles, Goats, Sheep, Camels and Donkey

Factors influenced Agricultural Activity in Pre-Colonial African Societies

i. Conducive weather condition – Moderate temperature and reliable rainfall

ii. Advancement of technology – Presence of iron technology

iii. Good and attracted environment – Vegetation cover, presence of water bodies, fertile land ete

iv. Presence of trade – Especially barter trade

v. Workforce/Man-powers

vi. Good traditional beliefs

Types of Agriculture in Pre-colonial African Society

Tere were three (3) types of agricultural practices by 1700 BC.

• Crop cultivation
• Pastoralism
• Mixed farming

A. Crop Cultivation

Crop Cultivation is is a type of agriculture involving the use of land to grow different types of crops. Pre-colonial societies were engaged in this type of agriculture for home consumption and trade.

Types of crop cultivation in Pre-colonial African societies

There were two types of crop cultivation in Pre-Colonial societies ;-

• Shifting Cultivation
• Permanent Cultivation

i. Shifting Cultivation

Shifting Cultivation is involved the movement of farmers from one place to another place.  This type was common in grassland areas with long dry seasons and scattered trees. An area with such natural vegetation is known as Savannah.

They moved on to open new agricultural land and started farming again. They faced a lot of challenges included Presence of Tsetse Flies infected both people and animals with Trypanosomiasis

The crops produced were ;-

• Cassava
• Millet
• Sorghum
• Pumpkins and
• Cowpeas

Shifting cultivation involved livestock keeping and moved with animals Cattle, Sheep, and goats. These animals provided milks, meats, blood, manure and hides

The societies practiced it were found:

• In Central, Southern and Western Tanzania
• Central and North-Eastern of Kenya
• In West Africa, Mandika and Bambara

Characteristics of Shifting Cultivation

i. Human settlements were temporary – Because people were lived in short time of period. They moved because of the fertile soil in these areas exhausted quickly after few years of cultivation.

ii. Soil were light and fertile

iii. It had little harvest – Because supported with small population

ii. Permanent Crop Cultivation

Permanent Crop Cultivation is was the type of agriculture delt with people cultivated the same land for a long period without moving to another areas. Some crops grown were millets, yams, cassava, groundnuts, Bambara nuts and palm oil. In many societies in Pre-Colonial Africa were participated and practiced permanent crop cultivation.

i. Northen Africa

Examples of the societies practiced were;-

• Berbers

Crops grown

• Wheat, Barley and Olive

ii. Western Africa

Examples of the societies practiced were;-

• Ashanti
• Yoruba
• Edo
• Akan

Crops grown

• Millet, Yam, Cassava
• Groundnuts, Bambara nuts and
• Palm oil

iii. Central & Southem Africa

• Shona
• Bemba
• Sotho
• Zulu

Crops grown

• Maize
• Sorghum
• millets and
• beans

Advantages of Permanent Crop Cultivation

• It stimulated population growth – Due to adequate of food
• It influenced development of trade – To exchange goods in long distance trade and local trade.
• It led the development of permanent settlements
• It led emergence and growth of centralized political system – Chiefdoms and Kingdoms
• It encouraged the improvement of farming technology
• People needed and used better tools in order to simplify work
• It led the soil and water conservation – Due to farming techniques applied in, such has terrace.

Disadvantages of Permanent Crop Cultivation

• Conflicts among societies – This led other societies like Shambaa, Sukuma, Nyakyusa and Nyamwezi terraced hillsides.
• Scarcity of resources – Due to population growth.

B. Pastoralism

Pastoralism refers to keeping and grazing livestock. People ho practiced pastoralism ere called Pastoralists. Pastoralism was common in arid, semi arid and savannah or tropical grassland areas.

The Ancient pastoral communities kept animals such as cattle, sheep, camel, donkey and goats. Animals like donkey and camel were used for transportation of people and goods. Livestock served several purposes included milk, meat, blood, manure and hides/animal skins.

In many societies, livestock was a source of wealth and added social value. Sometimes used them for paying dowry and known as Lobola in the societies such as Zulu, Xhosa, Swazi, Shona and Ndebele.

Black cattle and sheep were slaughtered in traditional ceremonies such as wedding, burial, rainmaking, initiation and coronation of a chief/king onto throne.

Types of Pastoral Societies

There were two types of Pastoral Societies in Pre-colonia African Societies ;-

• Nomadic Pastoralists
• Sedentary Pastoralists

i. Nomadic Pastoralists

This involved movement of pastoralists from one place to another in search water and pasture for their livestock. This was also War-like people, they ready to fight any time to defence of their Wealth.

They lived on milk, meat and blood and also ate vegetables and grains such as maize and sorghum. They raided their neighbours for livestock from time to time.

Examples of Nomadic Pastoralists were ;-

ii. Sedentary Pastoralism

This was type of pastoralism in which livestock were kept in one location. This led the Pre-colonial African Societies to settle in permanent areas and established communities. It practiced in Savannah regions

These communities were located near water sources and grazing areas. They provided meats, milk, blood, animal skins and non food materials like clothing and shelter .Those livestock like goats, sheep, camels, cattle and donkey.

C. Mixed Farming

This was type of agriculture whereby societies combined animal keeping and crop cultivation. This practiced in areas with heavy rainfall as well as in grassland with seasonal rainfall and woodland savannah.

These people grew both permanent and seasonal crops such as Bananas, Yams, Beans and Cereals.They also kept livestock such as Cattle, Goats, Sheep, and Donkey. The long-horned Ankole types of Cattle were kept in Interlacustrine regions

The short-horned cattle known as Zebu were kept in the drier woodland Savannah and wooded steppes. Examples of Mixed farming in Africa were ;-

Tanzania

• Gogo
• Nyaturu
• Nyiramba
• Sukuma
• Nyamwezi
• Pare and
• Kimbu

Uganda

• Ankole

Rwanda and Rundi

• Hutu

West Africa

• Hausa
• Yoruba
• Ewe
• Ashanti
• Nupe
• Igbo

Central Africa

• Rwozi

Ways in Which Pre-Colonial Agriculture Changed the lives of Human beings.

i. It led to increased food production. Agriculture led to increased food production. This, in turn, contributed to population increase.

ii. It contributed to population growth. As the population grew, social conflicts emerged.  This gave rise to the need for leadership to solve confliets.

iii. Rise of leaders – Leadership also became increasingly responsible for protecting important sources of wealth such as salt mines, pastoral lands, and iron ore. Similarly, leadership became responsible for the distribution and utilisation of resources such as land, water, and pastures.

iv. Agricultural activities contributed to the rise of specialisations. For examples, while some community members engaged in agriculture, others made iron tools or engaged in fishing, basketry, or pottery.

v. There was surplus food to feed non-food producers who specialised in skilled craft works, Hence, some people weaved baskets and mats while others made and repaired iron tools. Others specialised in trade and exchanged their surplus products in order to obtain commodities that they did not produce.

vi. Agriculture led to exchange relations which later on created trading posts. These posts grew to become urban centres which functioned as trading, cultural and administrative centres. Examples of these centres were Taghaza, Bilma, Taoden and Niamey in West Africa.

Revision Exercise

1. Explain how the advancement in technology affected pre-colonial agriculture.

2. Explain how mixed farming allowed a diverse and sustainable use of natural resources.

3. Identify the features of pre-colonial agricultural systems that still exist in present-day societies.

4. How did environmental factors determine crop selection and farming methods in pre-colonial agriculture?

5. Mixed farming and shifting cultivation were not the same. Explain.