Contact of Africa and Europe; Slavery and Slave Trade in Africa; The Solomonic Dynasty

Activity 6.2

• Queen Nandi: Not defined in the text.
• Shaka Zulu: Not defined in the text.
• Boers: Dutch settlers in South Africa (farmers).
• Deys, Beys, and Pashas: Not defined in the text.

6.2.1 Early Contacts Along the Western and Central African Coasts

• European contact with Africa: Initiated by Portugal in the 15th century.

• Prince Henry the Navigator: Sponsored Portuguese explorations.

• Motives:

  • Direct access to West African gold.
  • Bypassing Arab middlemen and Turkish blockades.

• 15th-16th Centuries: Spain and Portugal gained ports in North Africa.

• 1415: Portugal occupied Ceuta (Morocco).

• 1418: Portugal colonized Madeira Islands.

• 1409 & 1496: Spain occupied Oran (Algeria) and Melilla (Morocco).

• 1578: Portugal's attempt to control Morocco failed at the Battle of Alcácer Quibir.

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• 1430-1490: Portuguese sailors reached western African coasts, from Tangier to the Cape of Good Hope.

• Access to Swahili Trading States: Achieved after rounding the Cape.

• Bypassing Blockades: Europeans could now bypass Turkish blockades to access Far East trade.

• First European Footholds: Portuguese explorations led to European footholds on African coasts.

• Basis for Explorations: Portuguese explorations served as a foundation for Columbus and Vasco Da Gama.

• Exploration and Monopolization:

  • Madeira (c.1418), Azores (1439), Cape Verde (1460): Explored and monopolized by Portugal.

• 1446: Trading posts established on the Senegal coast.

• Plantations and Labor:

  • Sugar plantations established on islands using slave labor from West Africa.
  • Atlantic outposts used as debarkation points.

• 1482: Diogo Cao reached the Congo River and claimed the area for Portugal.

• Alliance with Ndongo: Alliance formed with the Ngola (king) of Ndongo (Angola).

• Renaming of Angola: Region renamed Angola after the royal title Ngola.

• 1580-1670: White settlements by the Portuguese led to the breakup of the Ndongo kingdom.

• Limited Presence: Portuguese presence limited to Luanda due to local resistance.

• Queen Nzinga Mbande (1581-1663):

  • Ruler of the Mbundu people (kingdom of Ndongo).
  • Negotiator and military strategist.
  • Led anti-colonial resistance for four decades (1620s-1660s).
  • Forced Portuguese to agree to her terms in 1656 after continuous war; policy continued until 1663.

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• Kingdom of Kongo:

  • 1482: Initial alliance with the Portuguese.
  • 1489: Kongolese embassy sent to the Portuguese king.
  • 1491: Portuguese missionaries and craftsmen visited the kingdom.
  • Conversion to Catholicism: Manikongo, his family, and chiefs converted.
  • Afonso I (r. 1507-42/43): Modeled government on the Portuguese system and built churches.
  • Slave trade: Kongo participated in slave raids.
  • 1665: Portuguese invaded, killed the Manikongo, and ended Kongo's independence.
  • Collapse: Kingdom collapsed due to internal unrest and Portuguese slave raids.

• 1497-98: Vasco da Gama sailed around Africa, landed in Swahili ports (Malindi, Mombasa), and reached India.

• Destruction of Trade: Swahili cities were captured and their trade and culture destroyed.

• Mozambique: Trading and military posts established.

• Zimbabwe: Unsuccessful attempts to control the gold mines of Zimbabwe.

• Mwene Mutapa:

  • 1573: King gave mines and permission to settle along the Zambezi River.
  • 1628-29: Portuguese defeated the King, making him a puppet ruler.
  • 1693: Portuguese expelled from the region by the Rozwi.

• End of 17th Century: Arabs from Oman expelled the Portuguese from East African ports north of Mozambique.

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6.3. Slavery and Slave Trade

• African societies experienced slavery and slave trade from ancient times to the early 20th century.
• Slaves acquired through warfare, market supply, raiding, kidnapping, tribute, and pawning.
• West African Black slaves were brought to North Africa along the Trans-Saharan trade route.
• Slaves from southwestern Ethiopia reached Sudan, Egypt, and North Africa.
• Slaves from central Africa reached the Kingdom of Bakongo or Ndongo along the Atlantic coast.
• Slaves used as domestic servants, agricultural laborers, porters, and soldiers.

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• Slaves integrated into owners' kin through adoption or marriage (e.g., Tuareg, Wolof, Kongo).
• Slaves had rights to marry, own land, and inherit property.
• Slaves were entitled to legal protection.
• Manumission (redemption) was granted in some African societies.
• Slaves could achieve social and political mobility, becoming village heads or chiefs.
• Humane treatment was common but their status as slaves was never forgotten.