Featured | Sep 10,2023
Jan 21 , 2023
By Abeselom Samson
As recorded in rock paintings, the earliest evidence of African trade shows they merchandised among their neighbours and traveled a long distance to make trades like ivory and salts. In today's Africa, most colonies continued to trade inexplicably with the colonial masters that used to rule them.
Between the 14th to 19th centuries, African history is intimately connected with slavery. Scholars like Joseph Inikori argue that the long-term consequences of Africa's slave trade were, to alter the direction of those African economic processes away from development to head toward underdevelopment and dependence.
The question is why, after several epochs formally attaining independence, many African states continue to trade disproportionately to escape poverty and conflict traps. To understand the subject, one needs to get insights from Africa's economic history and the trade approaches the continent passes through.
Scholars presented different narratives to pinpoint their arguments, from market size to the effects of geography proximity. Since the 14th and 15th centuries, Africans have kept losing trade identity and building blocks to trade only among themselves.
Restoring Afro-centric trade is not an accessible business; it must liberate the continent from the "Colonial Legacy" that created significant tariff barriers.
Since the 1950s, fourteen African countries were forced by France to pay the "French Colonial Tax" for the benefits of slavery and colonisation, even though present France is not Charles de Gaulle's France. Not only has this colonial legacy created significant barriers in the area of tariff barriers, cross-border trade, and border controls, but it challenges Africa to move from one end to the other. The slow process of free movement of people severely distorted the continent.
Unless a trade disruption happens, the current regional arrangements are historically tied to colonial trends. West Africa's trading pattern could be an excellent example of the trade structures.
Historically, the Portuguese struggled to break into West African trade networks in the 15th century. But again, history states that Kilwa was one of the wealthiest city-states on the Swahili or East African coast for over two centuries.
Africa is the picture of its history. The missing puzzle is correcting the broken past and moving forward to the present. Colonized identity and trade in Africa still favour the colonial masters. The establishment of colonial rule over the African interior has promoted infrastructure development. However, the scramble pushed Africa to its darkness and disconnected from the rest of the continent and the world.
Debates about economic findings are puzzling for critics of African colonialism. There is evidence of improved, steadily rising incomes over the colonial period, considering the counterfactual and harsh trade pattern in many parts of the continent.
Even though colonialism's imposition on the continent occurred for many reasons, it is time for Africa to prioritize trade and development over policy and aid. It needs to advance and create a solid progressive economy. It is the spell for the 1.3 billion people continent to politically and socially make and exert different trade modalities and arrangements to curve the curse of the cost of poverty. The natural progress of the continent is expected through trade modality using regional and continental meetings.
It is time for African nations and leaders to walk the talk before they return the continent to the vicious circle that has already passed. Trade must start within the continent and proceed globally; otherwise, it is a matter of keeping the colonial legacy.
PUBLISHED ON
Jan 21,2023 [ VOL
23 , NO
1186]
Featured | Sep 10,2023
Fortune News | Nov 13,2021
Viewpoints | Jun 21,2025
View From Arada | Sep 10,2021
Commentaries | Jun 07,2025
Photo Gallery | 190701 Views | May 06,2019
Photo Gallery | 180451 Views | Apr 26,2019
Photo Gallery | 177126 Views | Oct 06,2021
My Opinion | 142820 Views | Aug 14,2021
Dec 22 , 2024 . By TIZITA SHEWAFERAW
Charged with transforming colossal state-owned enterprises into modern and competitiv...
Aug 18 , 2024 . By AKSAH ITALO
Although predictable Yonas Zerihun's job in the ride-hailing service is not immune to...
Jul 28 , 2024 . By TIZITA SHEWAFERAW
Unhabitual, perhaps too many, Samuel Gebreyohannes, 38, used to occasionally enjoy a couple of beers at breakfast. However, he recently swit...
Jul 13 , 2024 . By AKSAH ITALO
Investors who rely on tractors, trucks, and field vehicles for commuting, transporting commodities, and f...
Jul 4 , 2026
In the goldfields of the Benishangul-Gumuz Regional State, Ethiopia's balance-of-paym...
Jun 27 , 2026
The federal legislative house rushed through one of the country's most contentious ho...
When Parliament takes up the appropriation bill, federal legislators will receive a d...
Jun 13 , 2026
The recent policy decision to fully open freight forwarding to foreign capital may be...
Jul 4 , 2026
Addis Abeba's renters and property owners are waiting on a city government decision that will set how far rents can rise...
Jul 4 , 2026 . By BEZAWIT HULUAGER
The Ethiopian Airlines Group is preparing to place a firm order for 25 aircraft next...
Jul 4 , 2026 . By BEZAWIT HULUAGER
Ethio telecom's shares have climbed to 852 Br in secondary over-the-counter trading,...
Jul 4 , 2026 . By NAHOM AYELE
A lawsuit at the federal courts has turned a quiet quarrel between one of the country...
Loading your updates...