Precolonial International Relations 6q6v4o

SULAIMAN SAIED TAFIDA [email protected]

A SHORT HISTORY OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS AMONG PRECOLONIAL AFRICAN STATES. BY BRINGING OUT TREATIES, PROCEDURES OF PEACE, POLITICAL AND CULTURAL PRACTICES IN THE RELATIONSHIPS

Diplomacy being a name given to official canals of communications and negotiation between two sovereign nations, involve all aspects of interest representations. It is a practices and institutions by which nations conduct their relations with one another. Originally, the English term diplomatic referred to the care and evaluation of official papers or archives, many of which were treaties. In the 18th century diplomatic documents increasingly meant those pertaining to international relations, and the term diplomatic corps was used to signify the body of ambassadors, envoys, and officials attached to foreign missions. In 1796 the British philosopher Edmund Burke castigated the French for their “double diplomacy” during the Napoleonic Wars; since then the term diplomacy has been associated with international politics and foreign policy. (Michalak 2009) Even though the name “Diplomacy” has its roots in the 18th century, the act of diplomacy predates the 18th century; evidence is the pre-colonial diplomacy. The pre-colonial diplomacy is the relations in the pre-colonial Africa. Evidence has shown that, there has never being time when any of the African civilizations remains in isolation from each other and, or the world at large (Smith 1973). The letters interchanged between the Mai of Bornu and the Ottoma pasha of Tripoli in 1555, the treaty of truce between Kebbi and the Sokoto caliphate, which led to peace for eight years, are few among the examples. This paper will critically discuss diplomatic relationships between pre-colonial African states. The Kenem Bornu empires and its relations to other African states will be our focal point. Pre-colonial Africa generally refers to the period before African domination by the European powers. That is before colonialism. Colonialism simply seen as one country’s domination of another country or people—usually achieved through aggressive, often military, actions—and the territory acquired in this 1|Page

manner. (Cell 2009) This paper will center on the international relationships and diplomacy between the African states that took place before the European intervention into the polity of African states. Prior to colonialism, heterogeneous Africa was organized into states, nations and localities. Each state has its sets of rules, leadership procedures and culture. Due to its large region and population, there is a struggle for control of power, resources and land. These natural struggles for nature therefore led to means of inter states relationships. Most of the relations either took the form of alliance, subservient or truce; for economic benefit, political alliance or protection. The Alliance of Hausa states in the Sudan and Bornu empires may be sited as good examples. Most of the relations in Sudan are military related, but it will be wrong to generalize, because trade and as well as high governmental relationships between the states were also obvious (Fage 1996). The Kingdom of Kanem, emerged east of Lake Chad in what is now southwestern Chad by the 9th century AD. Kanem profited from trade ties with North Africa and the Nile Valley, from which it also received Islam. The Saifawas, Kanem’s ruling dynasty, periodically enlarged their holdings by conquest and marriage into the ruling families of vassal states. Because of the conflicts of the region, around 12th and 14th centuries, the Saifawas were forced to move across Lake Chad into Bornu, in what is now far northeastern Nigeria. There, the Kanem intermarried with the native peoples, and the new group became known as the Kanuri. The Kanuri state, centered first in Kanem and then in Bornu, is known as the KanemBornu Empire, hereafter referred to as Bornu. (Robert 2009) The Bornu empire’ practice of using diplomats to negotiate war and peace as well as practical matters such as the development and protection of trade, the conclusion of treaties and the establishment of frontiers indicates the existence of an international system of diplomacy in western Sudan (Fage 1996) for example as early as 11th century, there was exchange of diplomats between bornu and many state in the Sudan. Around the 11th century, There was exchange of representatives between Bornu and Kanema and between Bornu and Bagirmi. Bornu also exchanges Ambassadors with the Tunis and Egypt in the 13th century. These Ambassadors like modern term has multiplicity of purpose quite apart from serving as the medium of communication and governmental s between those empires. They were also used for negotiation intelligence ceremonial functions etc. (Fage 1996) 2|Page

As in the present times, Diplomacy in the 11th to 13th century Precolonial Africa had accorded different status, to Ambassadors of different states, but they all enjoy a certain diplomatic immunity. There are different s that show that Bornu emperor, Mai Idris sends an Ambassodor on a peace Mission to the sultan of Bulala. And most Established hausa lands of these areas. This is evident in the existence of Bornu embassies in Abuja, Sokoto, Zazzau and Katsina. The embassies names are known as Bakon Bornu in Abuja and Sokoto. The Magajin mallam in Zazzau and the office of Mansa in Katsina Truce and peace treaties where also written within the Sudan in anticipation for protection or trade alliance. Some of these states occasionally ware augmented by the dispatch of visiting embassies. There was also the use of ad hoc diplomacy, usually in response to heart threatening circumstances. The alliance between Mai Usman Ibn Idris and the sultan of Egypt in 1321 was brought about by the necessity to wedge jihad against the neighboring unbelievers. That of Bornu and Ahir was forged by the common desire to defeat Kebbi threats. Similarly the alliance between Borno and Kanem against the Sokoto caliphate forged through this method. (Fage 1996) Fage further quotes explores writing that, After the fall Ngazargamo to the Fulani Jihadis 1n 1808, Mai Ahmed appeal to El-kanem, a kanembo scholar who mobilize his Shuwa arab and and Kanembu followers to successfully stop the east ward advancement of the Fulani Jihad, this Action in turn lead Sokoto to enter, Egypt to further isolate Burno and deny it any chance of getting new allies and also isolate her from the then international environment and economically (Fage 1996) And shows a good example of the present sanctions imposed by the super powers like America and United Nations. The Diplomatic ties during this era of pre-colonial African states, was an important part that had all the features, which the modern diplomacy borrowed from. For example, Fage 1996 Quoted Arabian Historians stating that a large part of the pre colonial diplomatic activities concern trade, academic studies, tradition and Polity. For the s, the diplomatic activities between Bornu, kanem, Wadai, Bagirmi, Bulala, and Dafur, was to insure the protection of the trans-Saharans trade roads.

3|Page

References Cell, John W. (2009)

Colonialism, Microsoft Encarta 2009. Microsoft Corporation. 1993-2008

Fage, K.S, 1996

Pre-Colonial international Relations in western Sudan,and Appraisal, Danmasani, Vol. J, No 1 1996

Kenneth Minogue

Politics, Avery short introduction. Oxford University press, New York, 2000

Michalak. Tanly J (2009)

Diplomacy, Microsoft Encarta 2009. 1993-2008

Smith, R. (1973)

Peace and Palver, International relations in Precolonial West Africa. Journal of African history, great Britain (1973)

Stock, Robert (2009)

Kanem-Bornu Empire Microsoft Encarta 2009. Microsoft Corporation. 1993-2008

4|Page

Microsoft Corporation.