TOPIC3: PRODUCTION AND SOCIAL ORGANISATION IN PRE-COLONIAL AFRICA
Social organization refers to how people or groups in the society interact in the process of material production. In this kind of organization, people were assigned duties according to their position in the society..
Production; is the series of activities processes
that brings goods and services to people. It includes creation, distribution
and consumption of material things.
Economic
production
refers to the process of producing goods and services to meet human need.
Concepts in
production
HUMAN LABOR: Is the consciousness and
purposeful activity of people to produce material wealth.
MEANS OF LABOUR: Are the things used in
production such as hoes, machines, roads, buildings etc.
OBJECTIVE OF LABOUR: Are things upon which man’s labor
is applied (mostly land).
PRODUCTIVE FORCES: Are means of production created by a society especially
objects and instrument of labor.
RELATION OF PRODUCTION: Are simple and direct relations
which people enter to one another in actual production process either
exploitive or exploited class.
CLASS STRUGGLE: Are conflicts that developed between
exploitative mode and non -exploitative modes example capitalism and socialism.
PRE
COLONIAL MODES OF PRODUCTION
Pre-colonial African
societies passed through three modes of production, namely. Communalism,
slavery and feudalism. However, not all societies passed through all modes of
production.
A: COMMUNALISM MODE OF PRODUCTION
This
was the first mode of production to exist in pre-colonial African societies and
is divided into two namely.
1.
Primitive communalism, the first mode of production
through which all societies passed was primitive communal ism. It is called
"primitive‟ because of the low level of productive forces and
"communalism‟ because there was no exploitation of man by man. This mode
of production existed for much longer period than any other mode as it ranged
from the emergence of man more than one million years ago.
2.
Advanced communalism, during that era man advanced in his
tools through various discoveries like iron tools. It is because of this
technological advancement that is why it came to be known as advancement
communalism The nonproductive members of the society such as the elders,
disabled and children were exempted from work due to their disabilities.
The
invention of agricultural tools encouraged man to cultivate bigger plots of land.
Rapid increases in population also encouraged people to increase their farms so
as to get more food, which could feed the growing population.
Some of African societies in the
present days are still practicing communal mode of production. These include;
The Tindiga and Hadzabe of Singida
and Lake Manyara and Central Tanzania.
The Dorobo (Okiek) of Maumau forest
and Tesoin Uganda.
The Mbali found in the equatorial
rain forest of the Congo DRC.
The bushman (san) of South Africa.
The KhoiKhoi of Kalahari Desert of
Botswana
The Tur of Ghana.
CHARACTERISTICS
OF COMMUNAL ISM
1.
Absence of exploitation, there was no exploitation among the
people in a community. All the able-bodied members of the society worked hard
and shared what they produced.
2.
Low level of production, the level of productive forces were
low hence none or very little surplus was produced. The implements used in food
procurement were crude and simple.
3.
Dependence on nature, in communalism life was entirely
dependent on nature therefore the environment dictated how man lived.
4.
Communal ownership, the communal ownership of
properties was a major characteristic of communalism. The major means of
production like land, tools and minerals were owned by the community.
5.
Hunting and gathering, this was the main occupation in
these communities; people were grouped together in collective groups known as
hunting bands to facilitate this means of production. This later led to the
development of stock raising and agriculture then it brought the division of
labor.
6.
Subsistence economy, due to low level of development of
science and technology people produced enough food for their consumption.
7.
Lack of specialization, Because of limitation of their
science and technology (knowledge) these people learnt to perform all types of
jobs. They worked together in marking roots, hunting and looking for food later
on very simple division of labor based on gender occurred.
8.
People in communal society treated each other equally,
there was no standing army and ruling classes; even elders were not lords or
rulers.
9.
Learning by doing, people in communal societies shared
knowledge. This was acquired through learning by doing, youth and children
obtained knowledge and skills from their elders.
FACTORS FOR TRANSITION FROM
PRIMITIVE COMMUNALISM TO SLAVERY AND FEUDAL MODE OF PRODUCTION.
1. Neolithic revolution is
the term for the first agricultural change describing the transition from
nomadic, hunting and gathering to permanent settlement. Neolithic revolution
brought socioeconomic changes such as establishment of permanent settlement,
extension of division of labor based on age and sex, emergence of
specialization, surplus production and spread of diseases due to permanent
settlement.
2. Advanced in science and
technology, this turning point gave improvement
in agricultural production. The tools produced were sharper and stronger than
the older ones. The improvement of tools led to the expansion of socioeconomic
activities beyond hunting and gathering.
3. The reliable rainfall and fertile
land, Allowed the expansion of agriculture especially the
cultivation of permanent crops such as banana in Uganda.
4. Population growth, by
either natural increase through giving birth or artificial means through
immigration that was associated with transformation of the social organization
and forming of strong empire.
5. Development of permanent
settlement, even with
nomadic pastoralist or shifting cultivation the area of operation became
limited as the number of people increased due to the Neolithic revolution.
B: SLAVERY MODE OF PRODUCTION.
SLAVERY
refers to a situation in a society where a person is owned by another purposely
as an instrument of production.
SLAVERY
MODE OF PRODUCTION was the second mode of production
and the first exploitative mode of man by man. The emergence of surplus
production created two different classes these were the rich and the poor.
Under slavery systems slaves could not acquire wealthy and could not cultivate
own land. Slavery in Africa existed in; Egypt where they constructed dams and
pyramids.
Chagga, Haya, Ganda, Hehe. Kerewe
and Sambaa in East Africa interior.
Along the coast of East Africa,
slaves were used in carrying loads buildings, cities, constructing dams and
irrigation scheme. Slavery in Africa never existed as an institution except in
Egypt Muslim communities and on the coast of East Africa.
FEATURES
OF SLAVE MODE OF PRODUCTION
1.
Existence of two classes, that is the slave masters who were
exploiters and the slaves who were exploited group.
2.
Private ownership of the major means of production.
The slave masters owned slaves, cattle and all implements of production.
3.
Low productive force, under the slave mode of production
the productive forces were still low though more advanced compared to those
used during communalism.
4.
Existence of surplus production, there were extra products due to the
use of advanced tools and improved skills of man to control his environment.
The slave masters owned surplus production produced by slaves.
5.
Existence of political institutions, these began to emerge and existed
in various areas example slave masters had state apparatus such as army,
prisons and police which were employed in exploiting and suppressing slaves.
6.
Class struggle existed between slaves and slave masters,
the slaves started to resist in form of strikes, rebellions, idling and running
away.
C: FEUDAL MODE OF PRODUCTION
(FEUDALISM)
The term feudalism originated from the Germany word “feud “which means fees.
In this context fees refer to payment of tax.
Feudalism;
was the third mode of production and second pre-capitalist mode of production
based on exploitation of man by man. The economy of feudal society was based on
private ownership and renting of land and livestock by the ruling classes.
CHARACTERISTICS
OF FEUDALISM
1. Agriculture became the major economic activity: Following
the discovery of iron technology productive forces were improved drastically.
2. Payment of rent to the property
owners; rent was paid in various
forms.
Labor rent;
existed in form of labor or service in which peasants (serf) were required to
work for three days in week for the property owners.
Rent in kind:
The serfs regularly had to deliver the quantities of his products to the
property owners. The products could be in form of grain, cattle or vegetables.
Money rent: Was the system in which money used
as a major means of paying rent.
3. Exploitation of man by man, example
peasants (serf) were exploited by property owners and the distribution of
production was not equal.
4. Little
freedom to peasant, peasants were tired due to various restrictions as
they were treated as children.
5. Private ownership of major means of production, such
as land, mining sites, houses and cattle all these belonged to feudal
lords.
6. Division
of labor, this based on age and sex where men specialized in military
while women specialized in farming and taking care of children.
7. Existence
of classes, property owners as exploiters and serfs as exploited
class.
8. Existence of strong political
empires, example Bunyoro, Buganda and
Karagwe. Feudalism in Africa existed in various forms. Its nature depended
on place in which it was practiced for instance societies that exercised
feudalism were those found in the inter lacustrine region of East Africa, South
Africa, West Africa and the North Eastern Africa
9. Improved productive forces:
Especially tools applied in agriculture and military warfare, this was brought
about by iron technology. Generally, African kingdoms such as Buganda and some
forest states of West Africa, used means of production centered around either
land or livestock-especially cattle-peasants could use the land freely but they
were required to pay rent.
FEUDAL RELATIONS/FORMS OF FEUDALISM
1. Nyarubanja system: In
this form of feudalism the major means of production was land. Under Nyarubanja
system in Buhaya and Karagwe there was two classes, that is the Batwazi (ruler)
and Batwana (serfs). These two classes had to pay rent in kind and rent in
labor services to the property owners.
In Buganda Nyarubanja system known
as Mvunjo and Busulo, there were two classes that is Bataka (chiefs) and the
poor people who rendered labor service and paid of their products to the
property owners known as Bakopi. Under the system labor services provider was
known as Akasamvu and part of their products was provided to the ruling class
known as Obusulu. Bunyoro was the kingdom-practiced feudalism in East Africa.
The kingdom was divided into provinces known as Saza’s under chiefs.
In addition, there was caste system
in East Africa under this feudal system there was two classes, which were
Bahima (pastoralists), and Bairu (agriculturalists). Bahima who were
pastoralists dominated and employed the Bairu who were agriculturalists. It was
common in Rwanda, Burundi and Buhaya.
2. Umwinyi system: was another form of feudalism found along the
coast of East Africa. Wamwinyi controlled the productive forces such as land,
serfs and tenants; also monopolized the political and economic power. The serfs
and tenants were given land by Wamwinyi (feudal lords) to live on them in
return of labor services and tributes which were paid to Wamwinyi. Before Arabs
colonization, The Mwinyimkuu was the greatest property owners and ruled
Zanzibar with the help of Shehe in Unguja and Diwani in Pemba.
3. Ubugabire system: was another form of feudalism practiced among
the Tutsi and Hutu in Rwanda and Burundi. The Tutsi (donor) also known as SEBUJA could transfer their cattle to
the Ifutu (recipient) as sometimes known as BUGABIRE. The Omugabire and his family were obliged to perform
several duties for the masters including house-building cultivating.
4. Ntemi system: This was practiced among the Nyamwezi and Sukuma.
The power of ruler was based on the control of land The Mtemi organized his
people to open up new land wherever it was available. The process of opening up
new land was known asKutema.
MERITS
OF FEUDALISM
(i) The rich supported the poor with
food during drought and famine.
(ii) The weaker people in the
society were protected by the king or the rich land owners. For example, among
the Rwandans, the Tutsi had an obligation to protect their tenants, the Hutu.
(iii) The landowners gave all poor
people in the society a piece of land to cultivate.
(iv) The society was highly
stratified, with each class of people knowing their position and role.
(v) There was peace in the state as
the rich classes maintained law and order.
DEMERITS
OF FEUDALISM
(i)The rich exploited labor force of
the poor.
(ii) Only a few people in society
owned land.
(iii) There was inequality in
society between the rich and the poor.
(iv) The peasants were forced to
undertake military duties and endanger their lives for their property owners.
(v) It encouraged inter-community
warfare as property owners fought in order to increase their land and vassals.
BASIC ASSIGNMENT
- Explain
the term social organization and production
- Identify
the types of social organizations and production that existed in Africa up
to the19th century
- What
is communalism mode of production?
- Identify
the characteristics of communalism
- Show
examples of the societies that had communalism up to the 19th century
- What
is slavery and slave mode of production?
- Explain
the features of slavery in Africa.
- Show
areas where slavery was practiced in Africa.
- What
is feudalism as mode of production?
- Explain
the characteristics of feudalism.
- Show
societies in east Africa that had feudalism up to the 19th century.
12. Explain the feudal relation
(forms of feudalism) that existed in the following areas. (i) Interlacustrine
region of Lake Victoria (ii) Indian Ocean coast of East Africa.
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