How Governments Were Financed in Precolonial Africa

In the 21st Century, many African governments have been led to believe that they always need foreign aid, the IMF, the World Bank or some western charitable organization to fund them. However, our history shows that during precolonial times in Sub-Saharan Africa we were able to self finance our governments using sustainable practices.

During the precolonial era in East Africa the people had become agriculturalists and worked the land. The climate was dry and droughts occurred occasionally which meant that cattle died and made it difficult to till the land. Locusts also hampered bumper harvests and chiefs and Kings often moved their courts to fertile lands. As a result, the capital of the kingdom changed from time to time. Africans in their wisdom knew that they had to incorporate sustainable practices in their agriculture so that they would not deplete the local resources.

The King or Chief’s court was sustained by loot from the King’s armies that raided weaker neighbors. These raids sustained the political elite and blacksmiths. In the poor and arid regions subjects paid tribute in the form of water for the King. Water being difficult to come by was regarded as a precious commodity in times of drought. Food was also used as a form of tribute especially during periods of drought .This was mainly in the form of flour and plantains. Those who did not have enough food used their labor in service for their King. Subjects built roads, homes for the King and ultimately serving in the military.

In the 19^th century, Kings obtained support for their courts from the profit obtained in trade. As trade between regions increased the revenue generated financed the King and this could be lucrative in some kingdoms. Sometimes tributes were very high for high valued commodities such as ivory products. Kings could demand one task for every elephant killed making them very wealthy in the process.

Most of the tribute was paid in practical gifts such as food. However, in the Chewa in Malawi subjects presented red feathers from exceptional birds as a way of paying tribute. In Zimbabwe the Shona Kings reveled in tribute paid in the form of pangolin meat which was considered a delicacy only fit for a King. The subjects were forbidden from consuming this meat and subjects that hunted the pangolin for the King were held in high regard. The Buganda near Lake Victoria presented their kings with fish from the lake as a form of tribute.

During the precolonial period, the local people sustained the King’s court. So why do we now need foreign governments to fund our existing governments?