Overview
This lecture reviews Africa's history from 1800 onward, focusing on the transition from the slave trade to colonialism, the Scramble for Africa, and the impact of European imperialism and colonial rule.
Africa Before 1880
- Prior to 1880, most African states remained sovereign and controlled their own destinies despite centuries of European contact.
- The abolition of the slave trade by Britain (1807) and the US (1808) initiated an era called "legitimate trade" (non-human goods).
- Europeans remained mostly on the coasts due to strong African states, disease, and climate.
The Era of Exploration and Missionaries
- European and American explorers (e.g., Mungo Park, David Livingstone) increased European knowledge of Africa.
- Missionaries arrived to "save" African souls, fueled by evangelical Christianity and the idea of a civilizing mission.
- Scientific racism and social Darwinism emerged, providing ideological justification for European actions in Africa.
The Scramble for Africa (c. 1880–1914)
- The Scramble for Africa was a rapid and aggressive colonization by European powers, formalized at the 1884–1885 Berlin Conference.
- European competition for African resources and nationalist rivalries drove the rush to claim land.
- The Berlin Conference established "effective occupation" as the requirement for colonial claims, usually through treaties (real or faked) or military conquest.
- Technological advances (quinine, steamships, maxim guns) gave Europeans significant advantages.
- The period was extremely violent and caused massive loss of life.
Colonial Rule and Its Effects
- Colonialism aimed at economic exploitation, not the development of Africa.
- Infrastructure (roads, railroads, ports) was built for resource extraction, not local benefit.
- Forced labor and taxation pushed Africans into colonial economies.
- Europeans practiced "colonialism on the cheap," ruling indirectly (especially the British in Nigeria via Lord Lugard's "indirect rule") to minimize European presence and cost.
- Colonial education and religion promoted European superiority and undermined African identities.
Social and Cultural Impact
- Colonialism disrupted African societies through forced conversion, division between converts and traditionalists, and undermining of social fabric.
- Colonial education devalued African history and culture, causing psychological and identity crises.
- The legacy includes ongoing mental and social effects due to internalized subordination and confusion.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Legitimate Trade — Trade in African goods other than slaves after the abolition of the slave trade.
- Scramble for Africa — Rapid European colonization of Africa (c. 1880–1914).
- Berlin Conference — 1884–85 meeting where Europeans formalized the partition of Africa.
- Effective Occupation — Principle that colonies must be administratively and militarily controlled to be claimed.
- Indirect Rule — System where colonial powers ruled through existing African leaders (developed by Lord Lugard).
- Social Darwinism — Misapplication of Darwin's ideas to justify European domination.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Read Boahem's first chapter on the era of legitimate trade and missionary activities.
- Review assigned documents on the Scramble for Africa, economics (Canisius), and indirect rule (Lord Lugard).
- Prepare for the reaction paper using the provided documents.
- Read two documents on the social and psychological impacts of colonialism for next week.