PEOPLING AND HISTORIOGRAPHY OF EAST
AFRICA
AN OVERVIEW OF EAST AFRICA.
The
region of East Africa consists of several countries like Tanzania, Kenya,
Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi[1].
The region of East Africa is surrounded by the neighboring countries like Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC) in the Eastern part of East Africa, Malawi
and Mozambique in the Southern part of East Africa, Sudan and Somalia in the
Northern part of East Africa.[2]
Therefore
the region of East Africa can be understood well by considering different
concepts such as physical of east Africa. The physical geography, Peopling and
Historiography. The Physical geography of east Africa particular the three
countries of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda cover the large area about (1’670,500)
kilometers square[3].
Most of area covered has a good soil and reliable rainfall which made settled
farming possible.[4]
The
three main areas first extend from the Congo border across most of Uganda to
the Kenya Highlands and also include much of Northern East Tanzania. The second
runs along the highlands of South Tanzania between lakes Tanganyika and Nyasa,
and covers part of Southern Tanzania plateau. The third is the narrow coastal
strip, where a humid atmosphere allows both indigenous crops and those
introduced from abroad during colonial era to grow.[5]
THE CLIMATE OF EAST AFRICA.
The
region of East Africa particular Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania lies within
tropical latitudes but due to the combination of factors the Region experiences
a variety of climatic types.[6] And
that type of climate which is found in east Africa is:-
Equatorial climate.
This
type of climate is experienced in the region between 5 degrees of the equator.
For example in place such as the Congo basin. In East Africa, the equatorial
climate is experienced around Lake Victoria, basin and typical equatorial
climate is experienced in the islands within Lake Victoria.[7]
Therefore equatorial climate is characterized by heavy rainfall of about
(2000mm) throughout the year, temperatures are high with an average of 27 0C,
high humidity of about 80% or more, there is dense cloud cover because of
humidity condition that result into rising air or lose whose moisture condenses at higher levels
to form clouds also. Also it is characterized by low atmospheric pressure due
to the high temperature experienced.[8]
Semi-arid and arid climate.
This two type of climate are experienced in
northern Kenya example Chalbi desert, North Eastern Uganda example karamoja,
semi desert in southern Kenya example Nyiri desert, North Eastern part of
Tanzania example Masai steppe semi desert as well as central part of Tanzania.[9] Furthermore,
this climate is also experienced in the western rift valley region around lake
George and lake Edward.[10]
This
type of semi desert is characterized by low rainfall of less than 76mm, there
is very low humidity of about 20% or less, there is limited cloud cover,
temperature tend to be high which range from 35c-38 and unreliable rainfall.[11]
Mountain climate
This
type of climate is more experienced in the mountain peaks of East Africa.
Example high levels of mountains like Ruwenzori, Kenya, Elgon, Meru,
Kilimanjaro, Muhavura, Maahinga and Sabinyo.[12] This
climate is also characterized by low temperature, snowfall in altitudes of more
than 4800m, and the type of rainfall received in relief and is heavier on the
wind ward sides of the mountains while the leeward side experience lower
rainfall because of the shadow effect.[13]
Tropical monsoon climate.
This
climate is more experienced in the coastal region of East Africa. It is
basically influenced by the seasonal winds known as the monsoon winds.[14]
These seasonal winds affect the coastal area of East Africa especially North East
and South East, therefore monsoons tend to bring in heavy rainfall which ranges
between 100mm and 1800m. Since the coastal region is at lower altitude, high
temperatures are experienced. (Stipulated temperature) Generally this climate
includes areas along the coastal belt like Malindi, Mombasa, Tanga, Dar
esSalaam and Kilwa.
Apart
from the physical geography of Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda let have look on the
physical geography of Burundi and Rwanda.
The
country of Burundi covers on the area of 27834 Km 2 and lies between 2 0
30’ and 4 0 .30’ latitude South and between 28 0 .50’ and
30 0 .53’30’ longitude east.[15]
Geographically Burundi is bounded to the North by Rwanda, to the west by
democratic republic of Congo (DRC) and to the East and south by Tanzania. Also
Burundi is the part of the region of Great lakes and rift valleys which extend
through central Africa from the Red see to Lake Malawi through Ethiopia.[16]
The
climate of Burundi. has a moderate tropical climate with average temperatures
between 23.and 24 0 C.[17]
This in nature have such an average near to the equatorial area known for its
heat and humidity, Foe example Bujumbura City, the average temperature is about
25 0C.
The
country has two important seasons the dry season from February to May, the
remaining time is made up of middle season (half dry season and half rain) with
a short rain season between September and December and a short dry season
between January and February. The vegetation favours agricultural activities
which is supported by fertility soil.[18]
Rwanda
is a small land locked country located south of the equator in East-Central
Africa with an area of 26338 Km2.[19]
The climate of Rwanda is moderate to the equator due to the high altitudes[20].
In addition winds from the Indian Ocean moderate the temperatures on the
Central platue, where the annual average is 21 0 C (70 0F).
The average annual rainfall is range from as little as 76 mm in the eastern low
lands to 176 centimeter in the mountains.[21]
A: PEOPLING OF EAST AFRICA.
When
do we talk about peopling of East Africa we mean the study based on classifying
people of a certain area or zone by consider the criteria during classifying
process.
Coupland
(1938) classify people of East Africa into three groups, and the criteria used
to classify the East African people are Race
which associated with the physical appearance and another criteria is Migration. Through the concept of race,
things observed are like the skin color if white or black, the size of lips,
the size of the body, and the size of nose. In second side, concern Migration,
things emphasized here is shifting of people from one region to another.
Thousands years before the Christian era, All East Africa was inhabited by a
hybrid people in which Negro and Hamitic strains were variously migrated.[22]
Classification of East African
People according to Coupland (1938)
Caucasian people
This
is the group of people found in East Africa region who believed come from South
wards from the Nile valley and Abyssinia into Negro land. Caucasian people who
came in East Africa are those who speaking a Hamitic languages and their main
activity was pastoralism, who also divided into two groups of Eastern Hamites
who includes the Galla who currently found in the region of North of the River
Tana to Abyssinia, and the Somali hamites (Nomadic people), The second group is
Half-Hamites who currently found in the region around the lake Rudolph, across
Kenya and Tanganyika[23]
The most tribes here are Masai, a martial, high-handed, Formidable people (The
Zulus of the North).[24]
Negro Group.
This
is the second group of people found in East Africa which classified by
Coupland. Is the group of people believed come from Northward and characterized
by black skinned color, Fuzzy haired, thick lips and were armed strong and
quicker.[25]
Bantu Speakers
Bantu
became another largest language family group come in East Africa. Believed that
they covering most of Africa South of a line drawn roughly from the Cameroons
to Kenya. Bantu speakers includes the Nyika, who are inhabitants of the
Wilderness, the Kamba, Taita, Chagga who found on the slopes of Kilimanjaro,
The Sambaa and Sagara, who live in the area around Usambara and Usagara
mountains and the Nyamwezi, The dominant tribe of the Central Tanganyika
uplands. The main activity of Bantu speakers is agriculture.[26]
But,
another way of classify people of East Africa through their linguistic factor
emerged. This way based on classify people of East Africa by looking their
language families. Tis way provided by Tarimo (2004). He provide the following
groups as follows:-
Negro People.
In
the late Stone Age this group was wide spread from West to East Africa. The
fossils of the Negro speaking people dating back to the late Stone Age have
been discovered at Lake Turkana in Kenya. Their main economic activities were
agriculture and animal husbandry, but also acquired bronze and Iron technology.[27]
The Cushitic Speakers.
This
group said to have connection with Asians people. It comprises the Oromo of
Ethiopia, Galla of Somalia and Kenya, and the Iraqw and Mbugu of Tanzania. They
are said to have introduced cultivation of Cereals in East Africa.[28]
The Nilotic People.
This
group said to have originated in the area between Chari and Nile rivers, they
spread from Southwards to the East Africa in habiting. Most of Northern Uganda
and Kenya they both agriculturalists and pastoralists. Nilotes includes Lango,
Acholi of Uganda, Nandi of Kenya and Maasai of Tanzania.[29]
The Khoisan People.
This
group appeared to be scatted in most parts of East Africa, In East Africa there
were pockets of the Survivors of the stock, these include Sandawe and Hadzabe
of Kondoa and Arusha in Tanzania. Their main economic activities were hunting
and gathering around the Kalahari desert.[30]
Bantu Speakers
The
word “Ntu” means something very similar to it which a person is common to
language of the family. This group of people said to have be originated in the
areas of Niger Congo, these people introduced pottery and Iron technology in
the places they occupied. Also they practiced cultivation and animal keepin[31].
Stokes (2009)
classifies the people of east Africa into five groups which are: Nilotic
people, Cushitic people, Bantu speakers, knowing group and East African, Asian
group. Laters look one group after another where cultural and linguistic
similarities are applied.
NILOTIC PEOPLE.
This
is the language family group which also found in East Africa. It is believed
that originated from Sothern Sudan and is ancestor of LWO speaking. Their main
activities is pastoralism and they speak different Nilotic languages includes
choli, Dodo, teso, Maasai and LUO language [32] In
now days, Nilotic people live in the region includes the borders of Southern
Sudan,Uganda,EasternUganda, NorthernUganda, North western Kenya and western
Kenya[33]
Nilotic
people also are categorized into different tribes includes,
Acholi Tribe / People
Acholi
people live in the region that includes the boarders of Southern Sudan,
Southern Uganda and North western Kenya and they are believed that they come
from LWO speaking ancestors who migrated into eastern Africa from their
homeland in Southern Sudan, several centuries ago. The Acholi began to emerge
as ethnic group in 17th century and their main activity is
pastoralism.[34]
Dodoth (Dodo)
The
dodoth are nilotes of Uganda who are part of the Karamajong clusters of people
they are concentrated in the Northern Uganda in the border regions between
Sudan, Kenya and Uganda itself.[35]
Iteso
Iteso
speakers also are one among Nilotic people who also found in East Africa particularly in the area
includes Northern and eastern Uganda, also western Kenya. Iteso speakers
grouped together with the karamojong to form karamajog-teso cluster and are
belongs to the eastern branch of the Nilotic group of languages[36] The
Karamojing-Teso people are plains nilotes, who merge as powerful force in east
Africa, sometimes after 1000 C.E. and who also included the Maasai. During the
second millennia B.C.E the plains Nilotes began dispersing from the region
around lake Turkana in Northern Kenya. And there after moved west towards Mount
Elgon, where from which they have dispersed further. Their main activity was
pastoralism.[37]
Other tribes which form Nilotic people are like LUO, Barabag, kalenjin, Maasai.
CUSHITIC PEOPLE.
Cushitic
people also is the among of language family group which also found in east
African region. The Cushitic originated in the Ethiopia highlands. And they are
believed to have been the first food producers in East Africa who learning how
to grow their own food and keep animals.
Over
many hundreds of years, the cushites spread out from their original dispersal
site to occupy different areas in north-Eastern Africa for instance Kenyan
highlands by 1000BCE from 15th century to 18 century C.E. due to
agriculture cushites engaged also in iron technology to help them in food
production, Forexample, they established iron age site at engaruka in Northern
Tanzania by southern Cushitic.[38]
Cushitic
languages are today spoken in Somalia, Ethiopia. Northen
Eastern Kenya and neighboring regions. The AMHARA of Ethiopia and OROMO of
Ethiopia and North eastern Kenya are also referred to the Cushitic people. Also
the Konso, the Swahili and the Somalia also have Cushitic ancestors therefore
Cushitic languages are major sub group of the Afro-Asiatic language family.[39]
Cushitic people also formed with a number of tribes and among of those tribes
are Iraqw.
BANTU SPEAKERS
Bantu
speakers also is the another language family group which found in East Africa.
It is believed that, originated from Niger- Congo, and it is a major sub ground
of the Niger- Congo, language family. The main activities of the Bantu speakers
is agriculture. The main or larget Bantu group in East Africa includes Kikuyu,
Ganda, Nyoro And Nyamwezi.[40] Let
us took some ethics language group of Bantu and their
information’s.
Basese
The
Bases is a Bantu,subgrouped from the
Ganda. To day they live to the area of Ugandani Islands of lake Victoria.[41]
Chagga
Chagga,
also is the Bantu speakers who live near Mouth Kilimanjaro in Northen Tanzania,
they are language`s chagga language (kichagga) And their main activity was
agriculture through cultivating millet, corn, cassava, sweet potatoes, yams,
sugar cane coffee and tobacco.[42]
Digo
The
Digo are part of the Mijikenda duster of people living in Tanzania near the
border with Kenya and along Kwnya`s coast.[43]
Duruma
The
Duruma are the second largest of the nine closely related groups, that forms
the Mijikenda, most of Duruma people now they live in coast regions of Kenya.[44]
Embu
Is
the bantu speakers who live in eastern region of Kenya and namally are related with the Kikuyu
and Meru.[45]
Other
Bantu speakers found in East Africa region are
like Fipa (Tanzania south –western highland), Ganda, Gogo (Found in
central Tanzania`s highland), Haya (live in south- central region of Tanzania),
Hutu (Bahutu) and Tutsi (watusi) who lived in Rwanda, Lambi, (Lived in central
highland region of Tanzania, and are closed
related with Iramba). Iramba (live in area of central western Tanzania),
Nyamwezi (live in region of Tanzania and Nyakyusa, who live in Mbeya region
(south-western highland of Tanzania) and others Bantu.[46]
KHOISAN GROUP
Khoisan
also is the language family group which also found in East African region.
Khoisan group believed that are originated from south Africa, and there after spread or moved to other countries.[47]
Also stokes arguetha, khoisan group or speakers are the first of speakers to
reach the region of east Africa before the coming of Bantu and Nilotes speakers
The
economic activities of khoisan speakers are hunting and gathering, and there
are language is form of popping sound.(This means the choisan speakers
communicate through popping sounds).
In
East Africa region, most of khoisan speakers are hunting and gathering and
there are language is in form of popping sound.(This means the khoisan speakers
communicate through popping sounds).
In
East Africa region, most of khoisan speakers live in areas around lake Eyasi in
Northern Tanzania, toge their with the sandawe speakers. Example of khoisan
speaker or tribal in Adza (Hatsa).[48]
EAST AFRICAN ASIANS GROUP.
Asians
from a small group which was powerful economically, and was the group which p. represents
the important East African minority. The citizens of Nairobi and Mombasa in
Kenya have the largest East African minority. The cities of Nairobi and Mombasa
in Kenya have the largest East Africa communities. But there are also
significant concentrations in Dar-es-salaam and Zanzibar in Tanzania, and growing
number are returning to Uganda after an absence of 2o years. The East African
Asians population has reduced substantially since independence. [49]
Origin of East African Asians Group
Briefly,
the origin of East African. Asians group is associated with the trade
activities which done between Indians, Arabs and East African people and the
trade was more facilitated by the presence of Cargo carrying said boats which
plied between India, Arabian peninsula and East Africa. In the trade process,
Indian made textiles and iron goods which were exchanged with ivory, gold,
slaves and spices.[50]
Normally,
the trade activities which done by these three participant, in East Africa, was
more facilitated by the attractiveness of Nairobi, Mombasa and Dar es salaam
region. And due to this altractivess, results to the new. Settlement of Asians
people in East Africa. That is why we have East African Asians group because they establish
new settlement or life in East African region as mentioned before.[51]
B: HISTORIOGRAPHY OF EAST AFRICA
Is
the study of the history and methodology of the discipline of history[52]
Furay
and salevouris (1988) cited from stoa.org histograaaphy is the study of the way
history has been and written. The history of historical writing. They continue
to say that when do you study historiography you do not study the event of the
past directly, but the changing inter pretations of those events in the works
if individual historians.[53].
Also Histography refers to what jistorians write about what happened in the
past.[54]
Generaly
histography means different production of historical knowledge which is
produced by professional historians and interpreted into different perceptions.
In
East Africa we have different historiography which tried to give the structure
of East Africa, among of historigraphies were colonial listoriography,
Nationalist historiography, Marxist historiography and poot modernist
historiography and these historiographies can be explained as follows
COLONIAL HISTORIOGRAPHY
By
18th century, racists altitude had developed among the Europeans.
The Europeans regarded themselves as the superior race while other races were
placed as an inferior position. In the book of hegel tettled philssophy of
History he devided people into groups, which were historical people who
initiated science and technology and the second group were non- historical
people who received development from the historical people. The first group
belonged to Africans.The Africans were characterized by Hegal as static and
passive objects who could not initiate any development of their own.[55]
The
colonial historiography divided historiography into two groups which were
conservative colonial historiography and liberal colonial historiography
Conservative Colonial Historiography
The
conservative colonial historians denied completely the development and history
of East Africa had no history of its own. History of East Africa according to
them was created or brought by invaders
namely Europeans and Asians. One of the colonial historians were Regnald
coup land who wrote a book East Africa and its invaders. He asserted that
Negro- people had no history. They stayed in barbaric and remained stagnand
mean not going forwad no backwards. According to him colonialism liberated East
Africa from static and barbaric life. Other scholars under this historiography
were C.G. Seligman, Richard Burton and keneth lngham.[56]
This
historiography has some weaknesses through its explanations: firstly it denied
totally the history of East Africa, Tanzania in particular, secondly, methodology
employed in the construction this histography was based on idealist outlook.
Another the historians saw that the East Africans were static and barbaric
something which is not time because everything in nature and human society is
in state of motion.[57]
Liberal Colonial Historiograph.
The
historiography emerged after the second because of the various social;
political and economic hardships which existed and brought about a lot of
difficulties in different countries. The liberal colonial historiography
connected with diffusion Theory, Thus the school of thought was stabled
different colleges and universities with the purpose of training new elites to
take over political and administatwe possiti ons these colleges and
universities were like Dar es salaam university established in 1960s, Nairobi,
university established in 1958, Britain college in Uganda. There universities
started to search more strenuously about the time history of east Africa.[58]
The
liberal I colonial histonography argued that be before the coming of
colonialist , the east Africa had their own development like development of
agriculture, iron technology , demystification of animals and states.[59] The
liberal colonial historiography had some
usefulness to the east Africa history
because it assisted in provision of conscious among the nationalistic leaders I
built the foundation of having a true history about east Africa. Example of
liberal colonial scholars was Roland Oliver and J.D Fage.[60]
Therefore
all these writings of colonial scholars were written for different purposes
which were the main intentions of
Europeans in East Africa, first the writings glorified and appreciated the
positive side of colonialism, to undermine the intellectual ability of the
people of east Africa as and making them easy to accept colonialism
NATIONALIST HISTORIOGRAGRAHPY
The
nationalist historiography emerged concurrently with liberal school of thonght.
It became dominant in 1960’s The school of thonght emerged as an acounter
attack of liberal colonial historiography. The school of thought argued that
east African societies had their own development even before the coming of
Europeans. The nationalist histonography appreciated the East Africa
initiatives in the struggle against colonialism. The historiography helped in
the awakening the east African massen to liberate themsehes from the
colonialism. It also revived their lost confidence to the community about their
own destinity.[61]
Among
the nationalist historians were like T.O ranger, Obenga , B. Davidson and I,
kimambo. Among of the work which produced under this histonography were
produced by Tro, Ranger the book titled “Emerging themes in African history.[62]
However
the historiography tried a lot to pinpoints some of social, political and
economic issues but it has some weakness ammo of the weakness were like it used the same method
as it was in liberal historiography in
the production of its writings also it put more emphasize on political matters
and left aside other issues like social and economic issues .
MARXIST HISTORIOGRAPHY
The
historiography emerged in the year of 1979’s which was gradually over taken by
the underdevelopment and materialist schools. School of thought argued that the
economy of east African countries remained foreign control and the lives of the
people never developed. To them to be independent did not means to have a
solution to the social, political and economic problems of the east African
states.[63]
Due
to this situation, the Marxist scholars tried to make a critical analysis about
the root cause about the east African underdevelopment as historical process a
product of long history establishment tentacles of explanation of east Africa
by Europeans and Americans since the slaved trade era. [64]
The
school of thought suggested that the east African countries should be dislink
from external contacts as a solution from those problems .the historiography
had some . weakness like it condemned with economic mathers and forget about
other malters like social and political.A mong of the Marxist scholar were
professor issa shivji and walter Rodney who wrote abook tilted “How Europe
underdeveloped Africa``.
POST MODERNT HISTORIOGRAPHY
This
emerged in the year of 1990`s. It emerged as an acounter aaitack of Marxist
school of through which emerged in the years 1970`s.[65]
The
historiography tried to explain about the under development of East Africa by looking internal factors
that contributed to the underdevelopment like cormption, poor leadership and natural disasters like flood.
Desert and other. Also the histrography tried to write isues. Among of the
schools were Hegel who wrote a book tilled Ecology and Evolution.
CONCLUSION
Therefore,
in analyzing the concept of physical geography, peopling and historiography of
East Africa, various methodology like written sources and oral source should be
used together so as to enable historians and other learners to make a critical analysis about
the true history of East Africa.
REFERENCES
1.
Briliant, From www.history.beckely.edu/.../reading%20
Historiography.pdf. Retrieved on Sunday at 10:05 AM
2.
Coupland, R (1938) East Africa and Its Invaders.Oxford University Press. London.
4.
Stokes, J (2009) Encyclopedia of the
People of Africa and the Middle East. Infobase Publishing Inc. New York.
5.
Tarimo,C.J (2004) Introduction to
African History to 1880.Open University of Tanzania.Dar es Salaam.
6.
Were, G.S & Wilson, D.A (1968) East
Africa through a Thousand Years A.D 1000 To Present day. Evance Broathers L. t.
d. Ibadan- Nigeria.
9.
www.nationsencyclopedia.com/geography/morocco-to-slovakia/Rwanda.htm. Retrieved on 27/03/2015 at 08:08 A.M
[2] Ibid
[3] Were,
G.S & Wilson, D.A (1968) East Africa through a Thousand Years A.D 1000 To
Present day. Evance Broathers L. t. d. Ibadan- Nigeria. Pp.3-7
[4] Ibid
[5] Ibid
[7] Ibid
[8] Ibid
[9] Ibid
[10] Ibid
[11] Ibid
[12] Ibid
[13] Ibid
[14] Ibid
[16] Ibid
[17] Ibid
[18] Ibid
[19] www.nationsencyclopedia.com/geography/morocco-to-slovakia/Rwanda.htm. Retrieved on 27/03/2015 at 08:08 A.M
[20] Ibid
[21] Ibid
[22]
Coupland, R (1938) East Africa and Its
Invaders.Oxford University Press. London. P. 9
[23]
Ibid, p.10
[24]
Ibid
[25]
Ibid, p.9
[26]
Ibid, pp 10-11
[27]
Tarimo,C.J (2004) Introduction to African History to 1880.Open University of
Tanzania.Dar es Salaam. P. 38
[28]
Ibid
[29]
Ibid
[30]
Ibid
[31]
Ibid
[32]
Stokes, J (2009) Encyclopedia of the People of Africa and the Middle East.
Infobase Publishing Inc. New York. Pp 101, 179 331 & 360.
[33]
Ibid, pp 179 & 331
[34]
Ibid
[35]
Ibid, p. 179
[36]
Ibid, p. 331
[37]
Ibid
[38]
Ibid, p. 171
[39]
Ibid
[40]
Ibid, p. 100
[41]
Ibid, p.101
[42]
Ibid, p. 146
[43]
Ibid, p.173
[44]
Ibid, p. 185
[45]
Ibid, p. 206
[46]
Ibid, pp. 228 & 505
[47]
Ibid, p. 275
[48]
Ibid
[49]
Ibid, p. 186
[50]
Ibid
[51]
Ibid
[52] www.stoa.org.uk/topic/history/historiography.pdf.
Retrived on Sunday at 22:15.
[53]
Ibid
[54]
Briliant, From www.history.beckely.edu/.../reading%20
Historiography.pdf. Retrieved on Sunday at 10:05 AM
[55]
Tarimo,C.J (2004) Introduction to African History to 1880.Open University of
Tanzania.Dar es Salaam. p.20
[56]
Ibid
[57]
Ibid, p. 21
[58]
Ibid, p. 22
[59]
Ibid
[60]
Ibid, p. 23
[61]
Ibid
[62]
Ibid
[63]
Ibid, p. 24
[64]
Ibid
[65]
Ibid
