Trading on different terms: Mapping pre-colonial African currency and exchange networks

The predominance of colonial histories of Africa has overshadowed the innovative and sophisticated systems of trade that were employed prior to the imposition and overhaul of colonial administrations and aspirations within the continent. This paper studies these systems of trade using spatial mapping to illustrate the extent, changes, and development of precolonial Africa by examining key forms of currency, their routes, and their agents. By combining digital history methods with European traveller accounts from Africa between 1500-1900, the Time Traveller database, we gain insights into the diverse dynamics captured in these writings. While these accounts offer a European perspective, they provide valuable insights into Africa’s sophisticated trade networks before being disrupted by colonial ambitions. This research contributes to a broader PhD project that explores various forms of currency used throughout the continent, including beads, guns, and cloth.
Through close readings of the texts, we quantify exchanges by documenting exchange rates, established norms and customs, and the perceived value of items. This process reveals distinct rates of exchange, an established and comprehensive trade system, and both international and local rates. Importantly, while colonial narratives often characterise pre-colonial African economies as primitive or not understanding the value of the goods they were trading, this study reveals complex, regionally-specific currency zones that adapted dynamically to changing trade conditions. Moreover, it underscores the social and cultural elements embedded in African economic agency during this period. A significant aspect of this study relies on visual storytelling to illustrate these connections. By reconstructing traveller journeys, this study shows how trade routes, economic agents, and specialised economies developed, contributing to broader discussions of disruption and resilience. Indigenous African economic systems navigated profound socio-economic transformation, demonstrating their adaptability whilst maintaining distinct regional identities and practices. The documentation of these currency zones reveals how African societies maintained economic autonomy through strategic currency selection.