Dal «baratto» al mobile money: limiti e pregiudizi di un’interpretazione evoluzionistica dei sistemi monetari africani
Journal title CHEIRON
Author/s Karin Pallaver
Publishing Year 2021 Issue 2019/1-2 Language Italian
Pages 24 P. 225-248 File size 223 KB
DOI 10.3280/CHE2019-001010
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Through a selected number of case studies, this article reconstructs some of the most common misconceptions about the history of money in Africa and the limits that they pose to an understanding of African monetary practices and systems. The first part focuses on the concept of «barter» and its applicability to the African context. The second part analyses precolonial commodity currencies and the so-called «gewgaw myth». The third part focuses on the transition from precolonial currencies to metal coins during the colonial period. Finally, the last part concentrates on the symbolism of money in the post-independence years and on the recent developments of mobile money in some African countries. Through the adoption of a long-term perspective, the article shows the innovativeness and adaptability that has characterized African monetary systems and practices.
Keywords: Uganda and Kenya; Colonialism; Independence; Commodity currencies; Barter.
Karin Pallaver, Dal «baratto» al mobile money: limiti e pregiudizi di un’interpretazione evoluzionistica dei sistemi monetari africani in "CHEIRON" 1-2/2019, pp 225-248, DOI: 10.3280/CHE2019-001010