Kenya's Cultural Complexity
Abstract
Before the era of British colonialism, East Africa was inhabited mainly by Africans living a traditional subsistence existence. No money economy existed and all exchanges of local production were on a barter basis. Outside trade with other societies was almost non-existent except for with coastal Asian and Arab traders. The coming of the European settlers and construction of the Uganda Railway at the beginning of the 20th century marked a major transition in Kenya. The settlers introduced plantation agriculture, the main crops including, coffee, tea, sisal, wheat and pyrethrum. The settlers also introduced livestock ranching. Africans were not allowed to engage in cash crop farming and the most productive lands were confiscated for the exclusive use of settlers. The settlers plantation labor requirements were provided by impressing the local tribes. British administrators compelled Africans to work by ordering imposition of a head tax on all African heads of households. Africans were then forced to work for limited wages to pay this tax. The colonial infrastructure was primarily intended to serve the colonial government and settler community. The colonial government developed a basic system of road, telephone and postal networks to link the railway line and facilitate the export of raw materials and basic commodities to Europe. Large numbers of Christian missionaries accompanied the settlers. Medical and educational facilities were created primarily to serve the settler population. The nominal primary education offered Africans aimed to produce a lowlevel, unskilled labor force for the benefit of the colonial civil service, not to produce an educated, independent African individual.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 05, 2003
- Accession Number
- ADA441545
Entities
People
- Raymond L. Brown
Organizations
- National War College