Lecture Notes: The Scramble for Africa

Introduction

• The west coast of Africa remained unchanged from a century ago.
• The old partnership between European maritime traders and local Africans began to dissolve by the 1880s.
• A new chapter began with increased European interest in Africa for imperial expansion due to industrial needs.

The Scramble for Africa

• Industrialized nations like France and Britain led invasions into Africa.
• Objective: Secure raw materials, new markets, and strategic advantages.
• By 1914, only Liberia and Ethiopia remained independent of European control.

Major Colonial Powers and Their Territories

• Britain: Egypt, Sudan, South Africa, Rhodesia, Kenya, Nigeria, Gold Coast.
• France: Algeria, colonies south of the Sahara, Madagascar.
• Portugal: Angola, Mozambique.
• Germany: Cameroons, Tanganyika.
• Belgium: Congo basin.

The Berlin Conference of 1884

• European powers met to peacefully resolve territorial disputes.
• Aim: Divide African territory among themselves without consideration for existing African societies.

European Justifications and African Impact

• Europeans rationalized colonization by depicting Africans as "helpless children."
• New colonial borders often ignored existing ethnic and cultural boundaries, resulting in conflicts.

African Resistance

• Resistance varied from peaceful to armed opposition.
• Notable figures: Amadou Bamba (peaceful resistance), Samuri Ture (armed resistance).
• The Ashanti faced humiliation and eventual annexation by the British.

Colonial Administration and Economic Policies

• Establishment of colonial rule disrupted traditional societies.
• Economies were reoriented towards export crops, creating dependency and vulnerability.
• Forced labor and migration for work became prevalent.
• Colonial boundaries and policies led to long-term socio-economic issues.

Settler Colonies

• Europeans settled in areas like Kenya, Rhodesia, exploiting fertile land.
• African inhabitants were dispossessed of land and had to work for settlers.
• Introduction of taxes forced Africans into the colonial cash economy.

British Indirect Rule

• Implemented in places like Northern Nigeria; relied on local rulers.
• Indirect rule aimed to maintain traditional hierarchies while extending British control.

French Assimilation

• In contrast, French colonial policy aimed for cultural assimilation into French society.
• Limited success, with only a small fraction of the population achieving assimilation.

Economic Exploitation

• African economies were reorganized around cash crops for European benefit.
• Colonial companies controlled trade, undermining African businesses.
• Infrastructure, like railways, served colonial export needs.

World War I and African Soldiers

• African troops were conscripted to fight for European powers, facing high casualties.
• Their wartime experiences sowed seeds for future demands for equality.

Post-War Colonial Rule and Nationalism

• Continued economic exploitation during the Great Depression led to greater discontent.
• New nationalist movements began to emerge, seeking independence and equality.

Italy's Invasion of Ethiopia

• The invasion in 1935 was a catalyst for pan-African activism and resistance.
• Marked an increase in nationalist sentiments across the continent.

Conclusion

• The roots of modern African socio-political struggles can be traced back to colonial exploitation and the arbitrary partitioning of the continent.
• The struggle for independence was influenced by both internal resistance and external geopolitical changes.