Q.1. Explain the social and aconomic factors for interaction among the people in east Africa.
-Interaction can be defined as the way in which people from a given community came into contact with another community.
social ,economic and economic factors
War: Some interactions were brutal and hostile as some strong communities attacked the weaker ones in order to control them. Some societies succeeded in their struggle while others failed. For example, from 1820s Egypt was in constant attacks to control the North-east and East Africa.
Migration: As communities grew in number this lead to a scarcity of resources, which forced others to migrate in search of resources that were and meeting other people with whom they created new social relations for example the Bantu migration and the Ngoni migration.
Intermarriage: This occurs when two people of different groups married and can be seen in the broader context of mixing of different groups in marriage, cohabitation or sexual relations. Therefore, this made African people interact and begin new communities.
Religion:Africans had their traditional African religions which acted as a symbol of unity and togetherness. Their religions brought them together.
Music and games:African societies had a rich history of music and games, as people from different communities interacted on different occasions sharing their experiences; this was mainly for entertainment and recreational purposes.
Trade: Different societies had to move in search of commodities which led to interaction.
Search for new land: For example agricultural community did shift from areas that were infertile to those areas with reliable rainfall and fertile soil.
Qn 2. Appraise the impact of the economic interactions
The economic impacts of the interaction can be grouped into two as positive and negative impacts as elaborated below:
Positive economic impacts
Development of technical skills and new ideas: Interaction led people of Africa from different communities to share their skills and ideas for economic growth.
Growth of new towns and cities:Interaction among African people led to the development of new towns as most of the populated areas grew economically due to the population increase and production activities such as trade and agricultural activities.
Foundation for future economic development:The foundation was made through improvement of infrastructures and social services which aimed to meet the socio-economic demands of the growing population.
Intensification of agricultural production to meet the demand on the market: Following the market demands for agricultural products as they were highly demanded then intensification of agricultural production was inevitable.
Negative economic impacts
Overexploitation of African resources: Interaction among African people resulted in overexploitation of African resources through trade which was unequal in nature.
Emergence of classes among the Africans: Classes emerged dividing poor Africans from rich Africans who accumulated wealth from different economic, social and political activities.
Exposure of Africa to the outside world:African country and its resources came to be exposed to the outside world due to interaction.
Decrease of productive manpower due to slave trade; through interaction the outsiders started to take slaves from Africa to their mother countries as labor power.
Population increase: Areas that attracted large numbers of people became highly populated, especially productive areas. The increased population resulted into socio-economic development in the given areas which facilitated immigration.
Emergence of new languages: Asdifferent people interacted new languages emerged. For example, the Swahili language emerged due to interaction between Arabs, Africans and Europeans
Qn 3. Explain the causes of the Ngoni migration
Ngoni were Bantu-Nguni speaking people of Northern Zululand in South East Africa. They were originally Ndwandwe people under Zwitde’s leadership. But when Shaka defeated Zwide, one part of his group in 1840s moved to East Africa into two groups of the Maseko and Tuta under Zwangendaba.
They moved to Tanzania from Natal and Swaziland between 1840s due to “Mfecane” (time of trouble). They are currently settled in south west Tanzania around Songea town.
Reasons for the Ngoni migration
The Ngoni migrated due to the tyrannical and dictatorial rule of Shaka: The Zulu ruler was cruel in nature as he severely tortured people and those who failed to respond to his order were killed. Due to this some people decided to seek refuge by migrating to other areas.
External pressure from the British and Boers: They moved because of external pressure from the British and Boers in the South who were moving Northwards occupying their land.
It was due to overpopulation: Thiswas caused by the fertility of soils and the reliability of rainfall between Drakensberg Mountains and the Indian Ocean.
Pastoralism reason: Some Ngoni people owned large herds of cattle and northwards looking for pasture and water for their animals. So they wanted to look for more fertile land for their cattle. They also experienced famine and drought that led to lack of food and water.
The influence of their leaders: Men like Zwangendaba, Maputo and Zulugama provided good leadership. This encouraged them to move onwards.
Overstocking: It could also have been due to overstocking of their animals as they were having spirit of cattle rustling, i.e. they had great desire to steal other people’s cattle. For example they went on driving away and confiscating other people’s cattle during their conquest and expansionist wars.
Increased knowledge of military tactics by the age regiments:These were powerful military forces and dedicated to professional war, which was their livelihood. They believed that they could have other territories through migration.
Qn 4. Explain the social, political and economic effects of the Ngoni migration
Positive effects
1.Many small Ntemi chiefdoms came together (united) and formed large political units under strong leaders to fight the Ngoni for example Sangu and Hehe (re-organisation).
2.There was formation of new societies/tribe like the Mbunga.
3. The Hehe under Mkwawa were able to resist the Germans.
4. There was spread of Ngoni customs and culture for example initiation ceremonies where girls were taught sex educations and circumcision.
5. It led to formation of a large Ngoni society in East Africa as they absorbed many people.
6. It led to the ormation of some societies by those who used Ngoni tactics for example Nyamwezi under Mirambo.
6. It led to the introduction of new weapons eg. assegai, cowhides and shields.
2.There was formation of new societies/tribe like the Mbunga.
3. The Hehe under Mkwawa were able to resist the Germans.
4. There was spread of Ngoni customs and culture for example initiation ceremonies where girls were taught sex educations and circumcision.
5. It led to formation of a large Ngoni society in East Africa as they absorbed many people.
6. It led to the ormation of some societies by those who used Ngoni tactics for example Nyamwezi under Mirambo.
6. It led to the introduction of new weapons eg. assegai, cowhides and shields.
From the Ngoni invasion people learned how to become organised from smaller
Negative effects
1.They introduced military organisation and tactics to such an extent that the Ngoni lost their superiority. e.g Holoholo were able to defeat the Tuta Ngoni when they re attacked them.
2. Their movement led to wider spread of devastation, depopulation and displacement of people.
3. They destroyed the economy of the people of southern Tanzania when they grabbed their cattle (the Ngoni were cattle plunderers).
4. The Ngoni led to formation of refugees who lived by plundering and killing i.e. the Mariti and Rugaruga who were later used by ambitious men like Mirambo and Nyungu ya Mawe to form their empires.
5. The Tuta Ngoni on their movement northwards, disrupted the trade particularly between Tabora and Ujiji.
6. They led to insecurity since the new weapons and military tactics increased warfare and aggression in East Africa.
6.The Ngoni intensified slave trade in East Africa, this was because they displaced people from their homes and so making it easy for slave raiders to catch and sell them.
7. It led to increased warfare among the African societies, including those areas that had been peaceful before.
2. Their movement led to wider spread of devastation, depopulation and displacement of people.
3. They destroyed the economy of the people of southern Tanzania when they grabbed their cattle (the Ngoni were cattle plunderers).
4. The Ngoni led to formation of refugees who lived by plundering and killing i.e. the Mariti and Rugaruga who were later used by ambitious men like Mirambo and Nyungu ya Mawe to form their empires.
5. The Tuta Ngoni on their movement northwards, disrupted the trade particularly between Tabora and Ujiji.
6. They led to insecurity since the new weapons and military tactics increased warfare and aggression in East Africa.
6.The Ngoni intensified slave trade in East Africa, this was because they displaced people from their homes and so making it easy for slave raiders to catch and sell them.
7. It led to increased warfare among the African societies, including those areas that had been peaceful before.
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