European Labour System In African American Colonialism

In addition, through European colonialism, labor was another major economic change that occurred in numerous African societies. Prior to colonialism in Africa, “wage labor was almost unknown” (Gilbert and Reynolds 2012:297), and instead people were paid for their work through large feasts, and “in some places labour was paid with post-harvest beer parties” (Gilbert and Reynolds 2012:297). During European colonialism though, these labor systems changed, and in many instances, negatively impacted the local populations in different African societies. Through colonialism, many labour systems in Africa moved to a paid labour system, but despite this alteration, many Africans did not benefit from this, as in many instances, there would only be pay
if people “needed the money” (Gilbert and Reynolds 2012:297). This shows that the through the development of new labour and economic systems in Africa, not everyone benefited, as many were not rewarded for the work that they have done, and as a result many individuals suffered and were not able to provide an adequate living for themselves nor their families.