EFFECT OF PORTUGUESE IN E. AFRICA

 

Results of Portuguese stay at the coast of East Africa Positive: The Portuguese built Fort Jesus at the coast in Mombasa in1592/3 which became a fortress and later a tourist attraction for centuries. They enriched the Swahili language with an addition of 60 words e.g. emeza meaning table and pesa meaning money. They introduced new crops from South Africa of which many have become staple diet for many East Africans e.g. cassava, pawpaws, maize, oranges, sweet potatoes, guavas, pineapples and mangoes They made an improvement in ship building. During their stay on the coast, many architects came in from India and Europe. There was establishment of closer trading links between the coast and India. They introduced new farming methods for example they encouraged the use of cow dung as manure. They led to the coming of more European and Asian traders and craftsmen especially those who helped in the building of Fort Jesus. They broke the Muslim- Arab monopoly of the Indian Ocean Trade. Negative: Trade declined due to the constant wars and rebellions and heavy taxes imposed. There was decline of the coastal towns because many were burnt down and left in ruins for example Kilwa and Mombasa. There was widespread poverty and misery among the coastal people due to decline in trade. There was heavy loss of lives during the attacks. There was destruction of property like buildings and crops, which led to famine and starvation. The coastal people suffered oppression and brutality under harsh rule of the Portuguese. Their religion, Christianity, made no impact at the coast because they lived far from their subjects and stagnation of the Islamic faith because discouraged preaching. There was depopulation due to the many wars in the areas smuggling developed because the Portuguese had failed to establish proper trading links with the Interior. Some towns were prevented from trading with their initial partners which led to their decay e.g. Gedi They led to the European interest at the coast hence leading to the colonization in the 19th Century.