Origins Panyarring

1 origins

1.1 pawnship
1.2 practice
1.3 etymology

origins
pawnship

map of modern west africa

pawnship common form of collateral in west africa, involved pledge of person (or member of person s family) service person providing credit. pawnship related distinct slavery in arrangement include limited, specific terms of services provided , because kinship ties protect person being sold slavery. pawnship common practice prior european contact throughout west africa, including amongst akan people, ewe people, ga people, yoruba people, , edo people (in modified forms, existed amongst efik people, igbo people, ijaw people, , fon people).

practice


john atkins, voyage guinea, brazil, , west indies 1737.

in contrast pawnship, panyarring involved arbitrary seizure of persons in order force repayment debt or recoup loss selling person slavery. panyarring 1 of many forms of debt repayment in region, 1 of extreme forms of forcing repayment. panyarring include person provided credit, member of person s family, or member of community or trade associate of person (as result of belief in collective responsibility debts). in addition forcing debt repayment, panyarring used force person palver or palaver, court-like process repayment of loss. evidence of panyarring prior european contact scant , not documented, , believed have been used.

etymology

the root of word based on portuguese words penhóràr (to distrain or seize) , penhór (a surety or pawn). when portuguese came gold coast in 16th century, used word penhóràr describe local practice among akan people of pawnship. gradually, word became commonly used europeans describe practice of seizing person repayment of debt or remedy injury along whole coast of africa.