Pre-colonial African economies

The aim of this chapter is to give a brief introduction to pre-colonial African economies. The chapter shows that economies were dynamic and Africans adapted in several ways in order to ensure production and reproduction. In most places and times Africans were facing harsh conditions. The disease environment, fragile soils and low population densities made it costly to intensify production in a way that would enhance sustained economic development. A chief concern was to access sufficient number of laborers. Low population densities prevented the rise of a market of or for wage laborers. Instead, surplus production was often associated with the use of various forms of labor coercion, including slavery. The chapter ends by showing how the development of African economies in the late pre-colonial period affected colonial policies in the early twentieth century.