What restrictions were imposed by the colonial government on the African pastoralists?
What restrictions were imposed by the colonial government on the African pastoralists?
Ans.
(i) The various pastoral groups were forced to live in special reserves. They were not allowed to move their stock without special permits which were not easy to get. Those who defied the rules were severely punished.
(ii) Pastoralists were not allowed to enter the markets of white areas. In many regions, they were prohibited from participating in any trading activity.
(iii) Europeans viewed pastoralists as being savage and dangerous. They wanted to avoid all contacts with them.
(iv) But cutting off all links was not possible as the colonists had to depend on black labour to bore mines and build roads and towns.
(v) Thus, the restrictions imposed on the pastoralists adversely affected their pastoral and trading activities.