Before colonization, Africa had an extensive network of trade routes connecting North Africa, West Africa, East Africa, and southern Africa. These routes included traditional caravan routes, maritime routes, and riverine networks. The caravan routes linked North Africa to West and East Africa, while the maritime routes connected the different regions of Africa to the wider world. The riverine networks linked the interior of Africa to the coast and allowed goods to be transported up and down the continent. These routes facilitated the movement of goods, ideas, and people throughout the continent.

Dear Jens Kleb thank you very much for your answer. Very informative and enlightening. Do you have access to some old maps I can look at?

Dear Peter Donkor thank you for your answer. I also believe an extensive network of trade routes existed that facilitated move of goods and people across the continent and beyond.

Would be ideal to find out which were the main routes and why they located where they did.

Perhaps such knowledge can help in planning the future of Africa's comprehensive continental transportation system?

Kind regards,

Malakia

Dear Malakia,

Thank you for your thoughtful response. You are absolutely right that understanding the historical network of trade routes across Africa can provide valuable insight into how best to plan the continent's transportation system for the future. The main routes were often determined by geography, as well as the availability of resources, political and cultural influences, and the need to transport goods and people. In addition, the routes were often determined by the availability of resources and the need to provide access to markets. With the rise of technology and the increasing need for more efficient transport, there is a need to consider the potential of modern infrastructure and the impact it could have on the future of Africa's transportation system. It is important to consider the impact of both traditional and modern transportation routes when planning for the future.

Best regards,

Peter Donkor

Peter Donkor definitely, thank you for engaging this question. Your insight is very valuable.

I believe instead of always looking towards developed continents for examples to emulate, we need to start looking back into history and understand why our previous civilizations did what they did, that way, with the help of modern technology we can envision a future that is continent specific taking into consideration our vast continental resource endowments.

Simply provoking ideas.

Kind regards,

Malakia Naholo

You are very welcome! It is great to hear your thoughts on this matter. I think it is important to look to the past and learn from it, but also to use modern technologies to develop new solutions and approaches. We can use our knowledge of the past and the present to create a better future. Thank you for your insight and contribution to this discussion.

Chapter Trade, Routes Trade, and Commerce in Pre-colonial Africa

Not only did pre-colonial trade occur but some manufacturing also took place and so traders engaged in the sale of manufactured products. Ancient Africa traded in tobacco, gold, copper, spices, ebony, ivory, and skins.

(citation from source).

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People in pre-colonial Africa were engaged in hunting and gathering, agriculture, mining and simple manufacturing. Agriculture involved most people, so the chapter looks mainly at farming activities. The chapter explains that farmers in those days faced two big challenges: a hostile environment and scarcity of labour.

(citation from: https://www.aehnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Green.Production-Systems-in-Pre-Colonial-Africa.pdf

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The very earliest evidence of African trade is described by Herodotus (c. 484-425BC) who wrote of the trade across the Sahara; a trade recorded in rock paintings dating from 10,000BC.

(Citation from: https://african.business/2021/10/trade-investment/a-short-history-of-african-trade/

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In most parts of Africa before 1500, societies had become highly developed in terms of their own histories. They often had complex systems of participatory government, or were established powerful states that covered large territories and had extensive regional and international links.

The Transatlantic Slave trade not only distorted Africa’s economic development it also distorted views of the history and importance of the African continent itself. It is only in the last fifty years that it has been possible to redress this distortion and to begin to re-establish Africa’s rightful place in world history.

The African continent is now recognised as the birthplace of humanity and the cradle of civilization. We still marvel at the great achievements of Kemet, or Ancient Egypt, for example, one of the most notable of the early African civilizations, which first developed in the Nile valley over 5000 years ago.

(Citation from:

https://www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk/article/section/history-of-slavery/africa-before-transatlantic-enslavement/

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The main items traded were gold and salt. The gold mines of West Africa provided great wealth to West African Empires such as Ghana and Mali. Other items that were commonly traded included ivory, kola nuts, cloth, slaves, metal goods, and beads.

(Citation from: https://www.ducksters.com/history/africa/trade_routes_of_ancient_africa.php

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Simple conclusion:

Colonization brought a full disruption of Africa‘s traditional trade and routes.

Dear Stephen I. Ternyik , thank you. Your response is very insightful.

I believe with Africa's growing educated youth and resource base; it will one day become a global competitor.

Kind regards,

Malakia

Am in agreement with your observation, dear Malakia David Naholo

This could be of interest to you:

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/09/how-africa-can-secure-its-long-term-economic-growth/

This is a time to act boldly and swiftly to ensure we don’t confine Africa’s youth to the margins of global economic activity.

(Citation from the source).

A healthy and educated working age population is the cornerstone of sustained and inclusive economic success. It lifts living standards and the dignity of people.

(Citation from the source).

Africa’s working-age population is projected to increase from 705 million in 2018 to almost 1 billion by 2030. As millions of young people join the labour market, the pressure to provide quality jobs will escalate. Africa’s labour market is dominated by the informal sector, which is a default option for a large majority of the unemployed youth and women.

(Citation from the source).

Conclusion: Macro-prudence will be the key factor, with respect to shape the future of African political economy.

Dear Jens Kleb thank you very much.

Not a specialist in economic history of Africa

trans-Saharan trade routes united many markets and products, linking the commodities, buyers, and sellers of North and West Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.