HISTORY OF GUM ARABIC TRADE IN COLONIAL BORNO PROVINCE OF NIGERIA, 1902-1960
ABSRACT
In the history of colonial Nigeria, trade in Gum Arabic was an important relationship that brought about a close economic contact between the colonized people of Borno province and the European colonizers. Obviously, Gum Arabic was one of the economy resources in Colonial Borno province and one of the basic raw materials of trade that was vigorously attracted the attentions of the Colonial Government and European Private Companies into the region, since the early days of colonialism. On this strength, an attempt was made to pre-review the trade in Gum Arabic during the colonial Borno, with particular emphasis to the mode of production and distribution. To
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Introduction
Nigeria is one of the former colonies of Great British, which is situated in the western part of the African continent. While Borno province now one of the states of Nigeria is situated within the Lake Chad basin area in the far-north eastern part of the country. Dominate ethnic groups in this area, were the Kanuri, the known prominent cultivators, traders and breeders of livestock in the region. However, the Shuwa Arabs and the Fulbe nomads was the predominant Pastoralist in the region. Other groups found in Borno include Engizim, Kare-kare, Marghi, Babur Bura, and Marga.
The major articles of trade produced in the region were largely agricultural products such as cotton goods, industrial products like leather goods and extractive minerals such as neutron and salt, as well as forest produce like gum Arabic, bees wax, benni seed etc. that were sold through local and long distance trade since before the coming of the Europeans. With the establishment and consolidation of the Sayfawa dynasty in Borno from the late 15th century, the state established trading links with neighboring states to the West, Central Africa, and North African states across the Sahara. Borno’s internal and external trade suffered a setback in the 19th century, especially because of the Sokoto jihad of 1804 and the Rabeh interlude from 1893 to
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Origin and Early History of Gum Arabic Trade in Borno Province The trade in Gum Arabic had a long history in the Western Sahel, perhaps far back as the early days of the Christian era. Sudan was one of the earliest sources of supply to the World markets through long distance international trade. Al-Bakri, who was writing in the 11th century, revealed that the Spanish were evidently the First Europeans to recognize the Commercial potential of the Gum Arabic produced in the Acacia Senegal forest of the Western Sahel (SNP, 7, ACC. No. 1505/10617. Vol. IV. “Gum Arabic industry (1935 –1936)” UNAK.
Later in 1448, the trade in Gum Arabic passed through a trading centre established by the Portuguese on the Island of Arguin to the South of Cape Blanco. According to Curtin, West African Gum trade started to replace Eastern Gum trade in the 16th century, with Senegambia becoming the main supplier to Europe in the 18th century (Salau, A.Y.
Around 300 and 1400 BCE Africa had many achievements, but then the Europeans showed up and mess everything up. Acording to documents one and eight, it shows many trade routes that had been developed throughout Africa and now it is an important international trading center. In documents two and three wealth was an important thing in Africa that had contributed to many things that was used in so many ways in Africa. In documents two, four, five, six, seven, and eight there were many rulers and travelers throughout Africa that had many influences on Africa achievements, that had eventually gone downhill.
Daniel Serrato HISTORY 111 Document and Essay Question assignment 7 1. What motivated and sustained the long-distance commerce of the Silk Roads, Sea Roads, and Sand Roads? Why did the peoples of the Eastern Hemisphere develop long-distance trade more extensively than did those of the Western Hemisphere? One thing that I noticed that motivated the long-distance commerce of the Silk Roads, Sea Roads, and Sand Roads was the fact that the elites were desired luxury items from distant parts of the Eurasian network.
From 1500 to 1750, there were changes and continuities on the ways Sub-Saharan Africa participated in interregional trade. The major turning point of Sub-Saharan Africa’s participation is the start the slave trade in West Africa. This event impacted the New World, Europe and SE Asia because Europe profited from the exploitation of Africans to the New World, Southeast Asia experienced a decline in population because of the start of the slave trade between Southern Africa and Indonesia, and the New World became more profitable as plantations where slaves worked grew. The overall continuity of Sub-Saharan Africa’s participation in trade is the European dominance in the region because of the Age of Exploration led by the Portuguese and Spanish.
In History of Africa, Shillington focuses on many aspects of African culture and factors that made Africa to be the continent that it is today. Chapter 5 primarily focuses on the Northern region of Africa and how empires took over and spread their ideology technology, and culture all through out the region. Even today some remnants of the Roman and Greek empire live on to this day (Shillington, 69.) Despite many people getting the impression that Northern Africa is only influenced by Arabic and Islam, these empires and their conquests are best understood through topics like intricate trading routes, farming, and the spread of religion. Shillington provides an in depth analysis of how many of these conquests affected Northern Africa centuries ago and today.
Another result of the Trans-Saharan trade and the increasing spread of Islam is that Mansa Musa, the king of Mali was able to become extremely wealthy and rule over a large empire. Mansa Musa was a very wealthy man who
In addition, the holy city, Mecca was the main site for trade. According to the map, followed by Document C, ”Mecca, the holy city, had military campaigns and was in the middle of Arabia, near the coastlines.” Ultimately, Arabs transported goods to market places. Document A state 's,”Vast camel trains, bearing species, perfume, precious metals, ivory and silk, filed through the town, headed north on the way from Yemen … to the
By having no tolerance for crime, the rulers had very successful kingdoms with complete control over them(Doc. 6). Whether it be the close proximity to other parts of the world, the barren deserts, or the rainforests, Africa’s people have been aided in their success by the continent’s natural advantages. A map showing trade routes, this document is the perfect example of Africa’s prime location. Right near Europe and Asia, trading routes in northern and eastern Africa flourished(Doc 1). Although this is another trade route map, it gives us more insight on the routes that were used to get to other parts of the world, such as Asia.
East and West Africa from 1000 to 1500 CE had profound differences in forms of government, with West Africa being kingdom based, and East Africa city-state based. The conversion of Eastern and Western African ruling elites compacted trading between themselves and Islamic traders from Mesopotamia, China, India, and as far away as Oceania. The relatively stable political environment from 1000-1500 CE in Sub-Saharan Africa attracted displaced peoples from the Abbasid empire in Northern Africa, with West Africa utilizing Trans-Saharan trade, and East Africa utilizing mariner trade routes. The East and West developed in clearly different ways, but paralleled each other in a way in which the political, social, and economic environments facilitated stable trade in the region, as well as a distinct blend between Islamic culture and African tradition.
Being an immigrant from Nigeria was initially a challenge when I first moved to America. I generally speak quite fast, but I soon realize that some Americans could not understand my English and might misinterpret me. I had to talk slower in order to pass the right messages across. Below are two examples of situations when I misinterpreted a message and when my message was misinterpreted.
There was a high demand for luxurious goods that were special to each region which caused a great increase in trade. This also occurred on the Trans-Saharan trade routes with gold. Religion also played a big factor in why trade was increasing in these two trade routes. Increases in technology helped trade become more efficient and faster. For example, the compass helped people trade along the Indian Ocean sea lanes.
Extensive trans-cultural commerce occurred as well. Inventions such as crossbows, paper, and gunpowder were traded across the majority of Afro-Eurasia. Many cities, including Tashkent and Kalgan, relied on the business that travelers from the Silk Roads brought. Additionally, many regions shared languages, cultural attitudes, and religious motifs. The Silk Roads truly connected Afro-Eurasia, bringing new recourses and innovations to each
Mali and Ghana Essay Ghana and Mali were one of Africa’s greatest ancient civilizations. The Ghana kingdom was founded around the year 750, and developed between the Senegal and Niger River, while the Mali kingdom came about in 1240 after taking over Ghana. Rich in trade and supplies, their empires flourished under their rulers. The Ghana and Mali empire had a series of key similarities and differences throughout their years as a civilization, such as education, their culture, and their resource for trade.
First they had crossroads of profitable trade. They would trade perfumes, precious metals, incense, and silk filed through their town, headed North to coastal town. When they would trade overseas to the Arabian Peninsula, they traded spices, textiles, and spices from Asia. Mecca was rich due to travel connects to Europe, Asia and Africa. Trade became such a big thing in Islam, it was known as...
Wallerstein described how Cairo’s “economic crisis was accompanied by a breakdown of its monetary system.” The dramatic drop in the value of gold, which people majorly depended on as currency, showed that the economy there had clearly declined tremendously due to Musa’s distribution of gold in Egypt. Just as Alkhateeb stated, “the effect that Mansa Musa’s visit had on Egypt clearly shows the wealth and importance of the Mali Empire, even when it encountered far-off lands.” By the end of the fourteenth century CE, the economy in Egypt experienced a depreciation due to the substantial decline of the currency system. Although Mansa Musa set out on the Hajj in order to help others in need by generously giving out bountiful amounts of gold, the results ironically turned out to have a significantly negative impact that lasted for as long as 12 years—over an entire decade—until the Egyptian economy could gradually and finally recover from the damage Mansa Musa had
For example, when China started using silver as currency, they traded with the British and Dutch. The Dutch would pay with pesos that had been made by African slaves using Incan and Aztec forms of labor. The silver would then eventually find its way to more places. Although, the people at the time didn’t know this, the world was interconnected because of trade, and because of the many places and people involved in trade. Why was trade so pervasive in the Islamic world prior to contact with the Portuguese?