A historiography is a summary of the writings on a
particular topic example the history of East Africa, slave trade or the history
of the French revolution. It sets out in broad terms and it range at debate and
approaches to the topic. It identifies the major thinkers and arguments, and
establishment and establishes connections between them. If there have been
major changes in the way a particular topic had has been approached over a
time, the historiography identifies them. A Historiography sets out the main points of that discussion and
serves to situate the author’s work within this larger context; This adds
authority and legitimacy to a history essay as it confirms the authors
familiarity within his or her topic
, and forces the author to acknowledge and explain
dis agreements with others[1].
Therefore historiography can be traced into various types
according to the environment concerned example in the East Africa we have
various types of historiographies such as colonial historiography which divided
into two sub types like conservative and liberal colonial historiographies.
Other types are nationalist, Marxist and the modernist historiographies.
So, the following below are among of the historiographies of
the History of East Africa as identified by the two books which are the books
of “A history of Africa volume 1
written by Okoth,A (2006) and was published by East Africa Educational
Publishers Ltd in Nairobi Kenya and the book of A survey of East Africa
written by Ogot B. A (1974) and was published by EAPH Longman Kenya”;
In the book of Okoth, A. (2006), he believes in colonial
historiography and Nationalist historiography as is explained below;
He believed in colonial historiography as he said land
settlement was introduced by British rule. British rule altered the traditional setting
in the realm of land tenure. Before 1888 the control of land was exclusively
the Kabaka’s the exceptions were family estates known as bataka lands, belonging to various clans. In any case, the
principle of permanent individual land holding was unknown. Whenever the Kabaka
gave land to any chief’s tenure was only as good for as he enjoyed the Kabaka’s
favors[2].
He believed in colonial historiography as he said Colonial
social services seem to be welcomed by colonial influence through Christianity
and Islam. The later was accompanied by western education given by Christian
missions, until 1925 the British protectorate government left this aspect of
social services to the missions[3].
He believed in colonial historiography as he said factors
for rise of slave trade in east Africa were due to the French plantation
colonies of Masacrene Island, the Portuguese and Brazilian participation, Seyyid
said and Zanzibar plantation economy. The trade became brisker in the 1780s
especially after the American war of independence. In order to avoid increased
competition for slaves in West Africa, there was a massive expansion of the
American slave trade in east Africa[4].
He supported colonial historiography as he said the establishments
of colonial rule in east Africa seem to be supported by African chief’s example
collaboration of Mumia of the Wanga who developed a liking for foreigners from
early date. He collaborated because he had serious domestic and external
problems. But already he was aware of the efficacy of modern fire arms. By
befriending the British, he there by hoped to strengthen and consolidate his
position and state at the expense of his traditional enemies. Secondly, there were
some material benefits to derive from such contacts. In 1909 he was, in recognition
of his services and loyalty, made paramount chief. Other collaboration was Bena
and Masai[5].
As colonial historiographer he said the British system of
administration seem to be strong than the indigenous administration, example
the Uganda agreement of 1900 established indirect rule system in Buganda , Toro
,Ankole and “Buganda model “seemed to be the method. The British were set to
use in ruling Uganda. The Buganda model comprised two aspects; the traditional
structure of the government in Buganda and the British claim to be the over ruling
power above this structure. So they ignored the indigenous administration and
considered their new administration as is more powerful[6].
Also as colonial historiographer he believed
religion(Christian)in east Africa were introduced by the earliest Europeans missionaries
like German, Dr Johann Ludwig Krapf who sent by the church missionaries society
in England to work among the Galla of the Ethiopia in 1937[7].
Not only Okoth, A. (2006) believed to colonial
historiography but he believed also to nationalist historiography as he said
state formation in east Africa coast was due to the internal trade and astute
leadership. Arab Muslim created Zanzibar and Tippu tip’s empire, but there was
a marked absence of religious influence in their formation. This raises the
whole issue of how Islam arrived in these two regions, and with what force[8].
He believed in nationalist historiography as he said long
distance developed in Nyamwezi land in several directions before the coast
traders came to their land. They pioneered routes western to Lake Tanganyika
and beyond into the upper Congo region, south wards to Shaba, north wards to Buganda,
and about 1800 they reached the east Africa coast itself. To sustain this trade
older pattern of production and exchange were transformed. Large caravans carrying
ivory, iron hoes partly to be able to pay tax in the transit territory during
their trade expedition[9].
Also he believed to nationalist historiography as he said
the long distance trade routes between the interior and the coast of east
Africa were established exclusively through African initiative. In other words,
trade routes were forged by Africans from the interior going to the coast not
by Arabs or even Swahili, setting off from the coast into the unknown, hostile
interior. Swahili traders only began to forsake the security of the coast in
the second half of 18th centuries, and they travelled along well
established routes which had been developed decades before. Only after 19th
century was under way did Arabs traders dare follow their lead. There were
three main long distance trade routes in east Africa; the Yao land to, Kilwa
route; the central Tanzanian route; the highlands to Mombasa route[10].
In the book
of Ogot, B.A. (eds), (1974) he believes in the colonial historiography and
nationalist historiography as is explained below;
He believes in colonial historiography as he said history of
East Africa came after the invention of invaders that started to find
historical formation that led to writing of history as well as the changes of
in East Africa was the result of Hamites, Arabs, and Europeans that came into
shaping the East Africa history. It is clear that the migration of clans and
small tribes appear to have begun soon after Portuguese invented in East Africa
water by the middle of 16th century. Along the coast of Kenya and
northern Tanzania the movement that was brought by these Europeans it led to
the immigrant of tribal and people who are known as shungwaya who are located
between the Tana and Juba river valley. Relocations and adjustments among the
coastal people among the coastal people seem to have been largely complete by
1700, through conflicts between the newly settled Bantu groups and the last
wave of Gala invaders from the north –west kept the Kenya coast with impact
that was brought by Portuguese on Swahili society. Also in page 119 said the
discovering of Kilwa in 1498 was the result of white Vasco da Gama that
approached the political and economic problems in the Indian ocean basin by purpose of maximizing available
resources by introduction of commercial
cross roads between East Africa and Indies[11].
Also supported colonial historiography as he said the
introduction of slave trade in East Africa was the result of Europeans that led
to the establishment trade relations with the coast that led to the whole new
generation of aggressive and imaginative East African leaders who established
rulers over large economic, political, and social units that was not there in
history of East Africa. Also the establishment of cloves plantations which was
introduced in 1818 and copra on a considerable scale also influenced the
writing of the history of East Africa that was the result of Arabs and French. Also
in page 236, Livingstone noted that “the caravan leaders from kilwa arrive at a
Waiyau village, show the goods they have brought, are treated liberally by the
elders, and told to wait and enjoy themselves, slaves enough to parches all
will be procured: a to ray is made…….”.Therefore the key of these growth was
due to the contacts with outsides world. The factors contributed were the
international economy expansion, slave trade in particular and coming of
Europeans missionaries. This response led to the formation of political units, adoption
of new military techniques and basic changes within a particular society that
was the result of colonialist[12].
Also based on Nationalist historiography as he focused much in East Africa and stated that
East Africa had its own history by putting out centers that could be necessary
in writing history, finally the nationalist historiography didn’t focused on
the written documents when looking on history of history of East Africa as
stated by the these colonialist historiographer but also looked on other side such as the
archeologist who tried looking upon different evidences when looking on history
of East Africa that includes origin of man, historical science, religious
beliefs and political system and languages. The archeologist moves into a wider
field by attempting different such as comparison of settlement pattern,
fashion, in ornamentation, types of pottery, burial customs that in one way or
another show up that East Africa had its own history[13].
He said past relationships between various cultures,
suggestive of trade, conquest, migration, could be also discovered. This also
help us to know even before coming of these white man people of East Africa had its had their own history
while in chapter 5 Chitlick discussed
the age and importance of various times of such places as Kilwa and Sutton in
chapter 4 reports on the burial wounds of the advanced hunters, identified as
the Capsian culture, and the way of
life as well as he remarks on the evidences for possible contact between Engaruka and the coast, and discussed
the connections between certain pottery types and cultivating, iron – using
people who may have spoken Bantu languages[14].
Also the anthropologist such as Cohen discussed on the
importance of the cultural system of the river –Lake Nilotes in their pre-
migration home land and larger and stronger political and social units of the
two also showed the influence on the
Padhola of their neighbors and for instance the Abasuba clan. Therefore the
historians have not always been in using the work of nationalist
historiographer as they might have been in desire to fill out the pattern of
the past that sometimes may led them to draw conclusion which nationalist
historiographers would not have drown from such scanty evidences. For example
in page 8 Sutton points out the mischief caused by the assumption that the
diffusion of culture in Africa was the work of the Hamites such assumptions and
concepts from one or two centers must be looked carefully and criticized[15].
Generally, the colonial historiography advocated defending
colonialism and racism due to the reasons that they themselves were the product
of imperial expansionism of 19th century. So Okoth, A. (2006) and
Ogot, B.A. (1974) believes in white supremacy and superiority. Also they
supported colonial historiography believed on Charles Darwins theories of
evolution and natural selection, for instance survival o f the fittest as they
believe that Europeans were more fit to struggle against nature and other human
race. Their position in East Africa history was that like any other parts of
Africa, East Africa had no independent history before it got into contact with people
from Europe or Asia.
Also Nationalist tried to prove that Africa had its own
history by citing centers of cultural and technical civilization example in
Nok, Kongo, Great Zimbabwe, Nubia, Egypt Western Sudan states, these were taken
as being African achievements as described above by Okoth, A.(2006) and Ogot,B.A
(1974).
[2] Okoth,A(2006).A history of
Africa volume 1.Nairobi:East Africa Educational Publishers Ltd.
[3] Ibid, page 346
[4] Ibid, page 53-56
[5] Ibid, page 208-211
[6] Ibid, page 341-342
[7] Ibid
[8]Ibid, page 42
[9] Ibid, page 25-26
[10]Ibid, page 56-57
[11] Ogot
B, A. (eds) (1974) A Survey of East Africa history: EAPH Longman Kenya. Page
116 and 119.
[12] Ibid, page 235-236
[13] Ibid
[14] Ibid, page 5
[15] Ibid, page 8
Ogot,B.A.( eds),(1974). A
survey of East African history. Nairobi: EAPH Longman Kenya.
Okoth,A(2006).A
history of Africa volume 1.Nairobi:East Africa Educational Publishers Ltd
www.trentu.ca/history/workbook/historiograph.php. Retrieved
08:29am April 29.2013 Monday
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