Colonial Impact on Africa's History

Aug 22, 2024

Lecture on African Colonial History

Overview

  • The west coast of Africa has gone through significant changes from the days of the slave trade to the European colonization known as the "scramble for Africa."
  • Industrialized countries led by Britain and France invaded Africa for raw materials and strategic advantages.

Colonization and Scramble for Africa

  • By 1914, only Liberia and Ethiopia remained independent.
  • Major colonial powers included:
    • Britain: Controlled Egypt, Sudan, South Africa, Rhodesia, Kenya, Nigeria, and the Gold Coast.
    • France: Conquered Algeria, parts of Saharan Africa, and Madagascar.
    • Portugal: Acquired Angola and Mozambique.
    • Germany: Took over Cameroons, Tanganyika, and Southwest Africa.
    • Belgium: Acquired the Congo Basin.
    • Italy and Spain: Completed territorial divisions.

Berlin Conference (1884)

  • Aimed to settle disputes between European powers regarding African territories.
  • Emphasized acquiring territories for strategic advantages.

African Resistance and European Control

  • Ashanti: Attempted peaceful negotiations with Britain but ended up in conflict due to colonial demands.
  • Sudan and Other Regions: Faced military confrontations with European powers.

Settlers and Economic Exploitation

  • European settlers established themselves in fertile regions without regard to local inhabitants.
  • Railways were constructed to enhance colonial resource extraction.
  • Forced labor and high taxation were imposed on Africans.

Indirect Rule and Assimilation

  • Britain employed indirect rule, using local leaders to manage regions like Nigeria.
  • France's assimilation policy aimed to create "black Frenchmen," but was largely ineffective outside Senegal.

Economic Exploitation

  • African economies were restructured to focus on cash crops for export.
  • European colonial companies controlled trade and prices, disadvantaging African merchants.
  • Forced labor was prevalent, notably in the Congo Free State under King Leopold.

Rise of African Nationalism

  • Early nationalists like Herbert Macaulay and Harry Thuku began minor protests.
  • The Italian invasion of Ethiopia in 1935 became a rallying point for African resistance, symbolizing a broader anti-imperialist sentiment.

Education and Enlightenment

  • Institutions like Achimoto School played a role in educating future leaders like Kwame Nkrumah.

Conclusion

  • The lecture sets the stage for the post-World War II independence movements across Africa, driven by educated Africans and the impact of the war.