Describe the movement of the long distance trade in East Africa

Describe the movement of the long distance trade in East Africa.

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The origin of Long Distance trade.
By the 19th century, there already was trade among Kenyan communities and between Kenya and other countries.
Long distance trade connected the east African interior to the coast in Kenya. Two major commodities (ivory and slaves) were valued at the coast, where they were exchanged for cloth, utensils, ironware and beads.
Until the 1860s, The Akamba served as middlemen between interior and coastal communities. Their trading activities took them from the Mount Kenya region to as far as Baringo and the shores of Lake Victoria. They established good relationship with the local communities through whose territories they passed, though they discouraged other people and communities from participating in the trade. For instance, they spread malicious tales about both the interior and coastal communities.
The communities in east Africa which participated in the long Distance trade in the 19th century. .
• The Akamba,
• Mijikenda,
• Nyamwezi,
• Khartoumers,
• Waswahili,
• Yao,
• Arabs
• Baganda.
The organization of Long Distance trade
• Trade routes to the interior went up to Kilimanjaro, the mount Kenya region and the shores of Lake Victoria. Maasai regions were avoided due to perceived Maasai hostility to strangers.
• Long Distance traders moved into the interior in caravans, using porters, who were either slaves or free men, with goods to and from the East African coast.
• They stopped to rest and replenish food supply at various centers in the interior E.G. Taveta, Mbooni hills, Lake Baringo, Mumias and Buganda.
• From the coast, the traders brought guns, Cotton cloth, beads, glass, swords, Porcelain vessels, bracelets and bangles. From the interior, they got ivory, rhino horns, slaves, hides and skins.
• Long distance trade was financed by the Arabs and Swahili, who employed Akamba and Mijikenda traders. The mode of trade was Barter, although Cowrie shells were introduced as currency in late 19th century.

Edwinnyongesa8 answered the question on April 19, 2018 at 12:09

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Describe the movement of the long distance trade in East Africa

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