Revolutions & Colonial Conquest of Middle Africa

Introduction Increasingly in the 19 th Century middle Africa was linked to global economy. 1 st slavery gave way to demands for commodities such as palm oil, ivory, rubber, wax Chokwe, Ovimbundu, Nyamwezi, & Swahili trading empires Shipping & commerce increased More firearms brought in - making war bloodier

Sayyid Said & Zanzibar Commerce Trading communities had remained on same spot for years. Mostly mixed African & Arab blood who settled in places such as Kilwa, Mombasa, Zanzibar, intermarried - made homes there - Swahili

19 th Century: Indian traders became more established in the area. Many were agents from firms with money to invest. Arabs from the Persian Gulf also came to trade. This new influx was presided by Sayyid Said, Sultan of Oman in Arabia After 1820, Said sought to enlarge his empire in East Africa. Visited Zanzibar several times and in 1840 established his capital there. Controlled most of the area between Mombasa and Cape Delgado Cemented relations with Indian businessmen to exploit the inferior. Clove plantations owned by Arabs but backed by Indian capitalists Trade Flourished

Nyamwezi & Arab traders Though trade in the coast flourished & expanded, those who provided guides and carried goods to the interior were mostly Nyamwezi in the western Tanzania. Nyamwezi had developed many of the trade routes linking the east and the Kingdoms of the west.

1839. Sayyid Said signed a commercial treaty with the Nyamwezi stating that Nyamwezi agreed to allow Caravans to pass through their territory. But the Caravan later grew larger, resulting in conflict.