COMPARATIVE STUDY OF TRADE AND COMMERCE IN COLONIAL EAST AND WEST AFRICA: CASE STUDY OF KENYA AND NIGERIA

Abstract

As a big driver of international economic relations, commerce obviously occupied a significant place in the colonial space. More importantly, the pattern of commercial development in the various regions of Africa hugely contributed to the exploitation of their resources. This study attempts a comparison of commerce in colonial West and East Africa using Kenya and Nigeria as a case study. The aim is to compare the pattern of commerce in the two regions to ascertain whether they were both exploitative. The study seeks to understand, in essence, the impact of colonial trade and commerce patterns in Africa. The study adopts a historical method of analysis, relying on secondary sources. These sources are interpreted qualitatively using descriptive and discursive approaches. The study finds that the nature of the pattern that commerce assumed in the two regions were essentially the same with minor differences, and that the pattern was exploitative. It recommends that African leaders and economic policy makers must avoid unhealthy trade and commercial arrangements which are unhealthy and detrimental to the economic well-being of the continent.