When political power, experience and capital are used to make an economical change, changes are more likely to be carried out quickly and dramatically (Deenon and Nyeko). Nowadays, when we look at changes made in production, we see that economical changes are typically involving large amounts of capital for machinery . Throughout the late 1800's this capital was not available for use, resulting in much smaller, slower change. These details of these differences include, the fact that almost everyone lived on the land that these changes were made on. For another, there were no monetary funds for the invention and production of tools. During this time production was carried out by extremely intelligent individuals, using the most basic of tools. Whereas agricultural development today is completed by individuals with little to no skill, using extremely high-tech machinery. The third reason for such slow production is due to the inability to import bulk crops from country to country. For this reason, people were cautious about innovation, just in case their food supplies were tampered with or destroyed entirely. Crops, like sisal, maize and fonio were the most popular cereal crops that were produced in southern Africa at this time.
Production Strategies - The San Hunters
San Hunter with a Bow and Arrow by Roffey Charles. Used under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
According to Donald Deenon and Balam Nyeko, it was unusual for only one strategy of production to be used for survival at this time. The mode of production that was the most difficult for one to understand, is the concept of nomadic hunting and gathering. In southern Africa the concept of hunting and gathering, relied upon the capture of wild animals and taking food directly from nature. Their style of life further exaggerated their differences, as they never permanently settled in one place for an extended amount of time. However these individuals, known as Sans hunters, are typically different in appearance in comparison to most other Africans too. They are recognized as shorter individuals, who kept with them very minimal material possessions, as they were constantly traveling. Carrying goods with them would not have been convenient, as a nomadic hunter. The skill needed to be a nomad was no simple task, but they reaped the benefits and lived reasonably well. The business was not simply locating and harvesting crops. Rather it involved a measure of management of resources. "These skilled hunters and gatherers have been brought up to understand the animals and the rhythms of plant life" (Deenon and Nyeko). While the San hunters and gatherers did live well, there were two rather severe disadvantages to living this lifestyle. The population had to be tightly controlled for them to prosper. If there was over-population, the natural resources that they depended upon would not last them. On the other hand, if the population was too thin, it could not hold the larger communities of people back from invading their current homes. Prior to the consolidation of pastoral specialists and agriculture, the San people maintained most of Africa's southern region. They were all eventually forced to congregate on areas of land that made agriculture impossible, in order for white farmers to have the more fertile land. During the 1950's several thousand San people were still hunting game and gathering plants for food (South African History Online).
Header Photo: Africa’s economy rebounds strongly, but jobs remain elusive.by: Africa Renewal used under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Sources: Denoon, D., & Nyeko, B. (1998). Southern Africa Since 1800. Hong Kong: Longman Group South African History Online. (2016, April, 13). The San. Retrieved from http://www.sahistory.org Visit Africa (2007). Bushman Experience in Namibia. Retrieved from: http://www.visitsouthernafrica.be Photograph: Roffey, C. (Photograph). (December, 2005). San Hunter with Bow and Arrow. [Digital Image]. Retrieved from: https://www.flickr.com/photos/charlesfred/2129551464 Knox, A. (Photograph). (August, 2010). Sisal. [Digital Image]. Retrieved from: https://www.flickr.com/photos/aaronknox/5017524606