The Colonization Of Africa

1
Colonial Europes Misconceptions of the African
Continent and Society

• Africa was one country, not a collection of
  independent states
• African society was not organized nor advanced
  socially or technologically
• Africans were little more than uncivilized
  barbarians
• Africans were non-religious heathens
• There was no social structure to pre-colonial
  African society
• Colonization was for the good of the Africans and
  the continent as a whole
• Africa on the whole was an uninhabited,
  inhospitable place (The Virgin Myth).
• The taking of Africa was going to be an easy
  process with few consequences for Europeans

2
Pre-Colonial Africa Map
3
Pre-Colonial African Societies
Mike DiMatteo http//www.info-ghana.com/ashanti_e
mpire.htm

• In fact, Africa was inhabited by people of
  various ethnic groups with their own distinct
  societies and social hierarchies Some examples
• Ashanti Kingdom
• Founded in the 17th CenturyOsei Tutu I
• The symbol of power, the Golden Stool, is said to
  be the home of the soul of the Ashantis.
• The imperial center was Kumasi, and to this day
  Odwira is the festival day in which Asante kings
  gather in Kumasi to renew their loyalty to their
  gods.
• They were defeated by the British in the early
  20th Century, and their kings were exiled to the
  Seychelles Islands. They were allowed to return
  in the late 1920s

4
Mike DiMatteo Map taken from the
website http//pages.zdnet.com/f1612996/thetaipeih
ouseresort/id16.html
Ashanti Kingdom Map (Ghana)
5
Pre-Colonial African Societies Cont.

• Dahomey Kingdom
• Founded in the early 17th Century
• It was established along the Guinea Coast with
  its capital of Abomey
• It is widely accepted that they were the most
  militarily advanced in all of the West African
  kingdoms
• The Fon people founded the Dahomey Empire, with
  Wagbaja founding it.
• In one of the most interesting stories of their
  time in existence, they founded the Corps of
  Amazon Warriorswomen warriors who were fearless
  as well as tough.
• Unfortunately, the chief export became slaves,
  with this trade being expanded by their king
  Glele. It was also a major source of revenue and
  contributed to the fantastic rise of Dahomey power

6
Mike DiMatteo Map taken from the following
website http//www.mamiwata.com/map4.html
Map of Dahomey Kingdom
7
Pre-Colonial African Kingdoms cont
Mike DiMatteo Web sites used here http//www.sc
outing.org.za/seeds/kudu.html http//www.scouting.
org.za/seeds/matabele.html

• Matabele Empire
• Province of modern Zimbabwe, located in Southern
  Africa
• The Kudu horn, made from the antler of the Kudu,
  an antelope, was used as a way to send signals
  over great distances, dictating military
  maneuvers (the British never knew what hit them
  most of the time. Not technologically advanced,
  huh?)
• The Matabele revolted against British rule and
  took to the hills, ultimately being defeated by
  1899.

8
Pre-Colonial African Society cont
Mike DiMatteo Image taken from www.historywiz.co
m/ zuluwars.htm
It should also be noted that African kingdoms
were made up of a highly intelligent people who
were polytheistic in nature, contrary to the
European colonizers. This is what lead the
Europeans to believe that they were barbarians
and not civilized. Needless to say, this was a
total misconception as they (the Europeans) had
not bothered to investigate the intricacies of
traditional African society. Finally, we
encounter maybe the most legendary leader of the
African continent next to Hannibal Shaka Zulu,
sometimes referred to as the Black Napoleon of
Africa.
9
Shaka and the Zulu Warriors

• The era of Zulu rule was from 1816-1828
• Shaka is largely responsible for creating the
  Zulu state
• The most important thing to remember is that
  Shaka was unconcerned about tribal differences or
  ethnicity in defending Africa from the colonizing
  Europeans. In essence, his philosophy was if
  you are with us, you are one of us. This
  philosophy cuts across ethnic and tribal
  differences and is what gave his warriors their
  strength.

• His battle strategy was much like the German
  blitzkriegif we fight, we fight to the death.
• He changed the goals and the mentality of war for
  his followersit was no longer a game, it was for
  it all.
• For Shaka, each conflict was to be decisive. In
  short, the goal was to exterminate the enemy, not
  humiliate them.
• The Asaghi, a new weapon was issued by Shaka to
  his warriors. Each warrior got oneif you lost
  it, you died.
• There were over 700,000 warriors in his army.

10
Shaka Zulu cont.

• The Impisthe name of a Zulu warrior not only
  couldnt get married until after their military
  service, but trained barefootin order to toughen
  themselves.
• It should also be noted that Shaka was a superb
  soldier himself and would not ask anyone to do
  something he himself had not done.
• The Zulu were finally defeated in 1893The
  Pacification Of The Zulu

Asaghi
11
Five Major Colonial Powers In Africa

• Great Britain
• France
• Portugal
• Belgium
• Germany
• In addition to these, there were Spain, Italy and
  the Netherlands.

12
Mike DiMatteo Map image taken
from http//users.erols.com/mwhite28/afri1914.htm
13
Basic Reasons for European Colonization of Africa

• Geo-Strategic Since Africa was being colonized
  it was important that the European powers all get
  a piece in order to keep up with their enemies.
• Religious Colonization was done on religious
  groundsbringing Christianity to the heathen
  Africans.
• Mercantilist Free labor (Africans) was
  available for the taking, labor that would
  provide goods and resources for colonial powers
  that operated on mercantilist policies.
• Economic harvesting the vast natural resources
  for European good (linked to mercantilism), would
  provide a boost to the sagging economies of
  Europe as well as provide markets for
  manufactured goods (forced buying of European
  goods by Africans.

14
Characteristics of British Colonialism

• Indirect rule Basically the imposed government
  on African colonial territories through Africans.
  The problem here is that the British used
  Africans to impose their version of rule rather
  than letting the African institutional rule take
  over.
• Warrant Chiefs Puppet Africans who worked for
  the British system.
• Rule of Law British law, when in conflict with
  local law always took priority. This again is an
  example of indirect rule and imposition of rule.
• Military influence When push came to shove, the
  British were not shy about using their military
  power in order to make sure that their rule of
  law was followed. The advantage of guns made
  them seem superior to the native Africans and
  contributed to the psychosis of domination by the
  European powers, in this case, the British.

15
Characteristics of French Colonialism

• Assimilation This was the dominant method of
  French involvement in Africa. They chose to
  attempt to supplant traditional African culture
  with French culture. Teach the Africans French
  language, French dress, French mannerisms.
• The basic problem How is one to truly become
  French if they look different (skin tone)? This
  cannot be supplanted. Color is the definer.
  This resulted in a class of people known as
  Evoluesthose Africans who were educated in the
  French language, manner of dress, and etiquette.
  The Evolues were the ones who ultimately led the
  independence movement from French colonialism.
• Note There was an arrogance and an air of
  superiority by the French over the Evoluesthis
  played games on the mind of the Africans and led
  to the psychosis that was to plague them after
  decolonization.

16
Characteristics of Belgian Colonialism
Mike DiMatteo Image taken from home.san.rr.com/b
elgiancongo/ images/leopold_oval.gif

• Berlin Conference of 1884 gave Belgium the Congo.
• Overt exploitation Rather then the policy of
  assimilation that the French employed.
• Dehumanizing because of the barbaric treatment
  at the hands of the Belgians. They operated on
  the dictum, We will tell you what is good for
  you, dont question us.
• Force Publique Peace keeping force in Africa.
  Their only job was to support the imperial
  enterprise and forcefully put down any
  insurgencies. This force was made up of trained
  Belgians, NOT Africans.

King Leopold II of Belgium
17
Belgian Colonialism Cont.

• Zappo Zaps A tribe of tough guys that were
  recruited by the Belgians to enforce the Red
  rubber campaigns. They were ruthless, physically
  strong, and not from the area that they were
  enforcing. This is the signature of Belgian
  ruleruthless and only in Africa for monetary
  gain.
• Red Rubber Campaigns Zappo Zaps bringing back
  a workers hand as proof that the worker had been
  killed - to establish the notion that if the
  workers didnt work hard extracting rubber from
  the rubber trees for the Belgians, they were
  going to be killed.
• Result? The Belgian Congo was the least prepared
  of all the African colonies for independence as
  they were given nothing, but were stripped of
  their wealth and the people killed.

18
Characteristics Of Portuguese Colonialism

• Much like Belgium, Portugal adopted a policy of
  abuse rather than assimilation or indirect rule.
• All Roads Lead To Portugal Conscript labor,
  poor working conditions, and social
  stratification lead to the disembowelment African
  society in the colonial holdings of Portugal.
• Racial Stratification This idea was central in
  the Portuguese occupation of Africa. It can be
  said that race was central in the Portuguese
  colonial theme.
• Vocabulary Words that reflect racial
  stratification
• Chibolo-the conscript labor force
• Indigenas-Africans native to the land (about 97
  of the population)
• Sipias-These were Indigenas empowered to control
  the rest of the population

19
Characteristics Of Portuguese Colonialism cont.

• Assimilados-Indigenas who became Portuguese
  Roughly about 10 of the population. They became
  Sipias, teachers, supervisors, machine workers.
• Mestizos-People of mixed race. These people
  could go to Portugal. In general, they were
  better educated and rose up through Portuguese
  society in Africa.
• It should be noted that the Portuguese created a
  pyramidal societal structure. This was much
  different than other colonial nations and can be
  compared to the Indian Caste System in order to
  understand it. Each group had its place, but
  onethe Degradadosthe lowest in that society had
  no room to move up the social scale. They can be
  compared to the serfs of Eastern Europe in the
  18th Century or the Pariahs (untouchables) of the
  Indian Caste System.
• The Mestizos, much like the Evolues, were the
  ones that led the independence movement in the
  Portuguese territories, with dire consequences as
  we shall see later.

20
Characteristics Of German Colonialism
Mike DiMatteo Image taken from the following
website coas.missouri.edu/.../jpattrickwwi/
nonsliced/ger_helmet.jpg

• German colonization of Africa is characterized by
  extremely harsh and brutal treatment of the
  native Africans
• It has come to be known as the German Iron Fist
• The lasting memory of German colonization is the
  Herero Rebellion which took place from 1903-1907.
  In response to the rebellion over poaching of
  cattle and treatment of native Africans, the
  Germans poisoned the water supply killing 75-80
  of the Herero people. Those that were captured,
  were not allowed to own land or animals, but were
  made slaves.

21
Characteristics Of German Colonialism

• There were few instances of preparing or helping
  the people assimilate or improve themselves
  through the system. The native Africans were
  seen as little more than animals.
• General Lothar von Trotha was the general
  responsible for the massive extermination of the
  Herero people
• Maji-Maji Rebellion of 1905-1907 (Tanzania) was
  another instance of a people who wouldnt take
  the harsh treatment any longer and thought it
  better to die than be degraded. In short, the
  Africans there were nothing more than slave labor
  in the building of an irrigation system.

22
Immediate Consequences of European Colonialism in
Africa

• 1884-85 Berlin Conference established boundaries
  now considered sacred even though it mixed
  ethnic groups that didnt want to be mixed or had
  preexisting ethic hatred/prejudice
• Result? African nations have endured decades of
  internal strife as they try to reconcile some of
  these ethnic differences

23
Immediate Consequences of European Colonialism in
Africa

• Decolonization methods varied according to the
  European nation that was in control, thereby
  handicapping some more than others, but making
  the transition poor for all.
• Britain, France turned over the nations, but
  kept them dependent on their help in the form of
  aid, favored nation status. This has created a
  type of neo-colonialism among many African states
  that still rely on the British or French. It
  should be noted here that after WWII, neither the
  French or British were capable of holding on to
  their colonial possessions in Africa as they had
  neither the power militarily or the resources
  financially.
• Portugal, Belgium, Germany Ethically, morally
  and and sadly destructive of the African nations
  that they were in control of. They didnt leave
  those states in any condition to take care of
  themselves. Portugal literally left, taking
  everything of value with them, and leaving the
  native Africans to fend for themselves in a world
  in which they were not equipped to survive.

24
Immediate Consequences of European Colonialism in
Africa

• Result? Economic struggle because of a reliance
  on one crop (monocropism), poor education,
  disorganized and disjointed societies without an
  identity. One of the great tragedies of the 20th
  Century that goes ignored in many circles.
• Uneven Development Some African nations such as
  Nigeria have developed more quickly as they have
  had the leadership and resources (petroleum) to
  better cope in the 20th Century world. Others
  such as The Congo (DRC) have been struggling to
  survive largely because of the shape that they
  were left in when they were decolonized.
• Internal Strife This refers to the struggle
  between those that collaborated with the colonial
  powers and those that did not. There is division
  there now that the powers have gone. The
  collaborators know how the game works, but there
  is resentment by those that resisted.

25
Long Term Ramifications of European Colonialism
in Africa

• Disjointed governments that are racked by graft,
  dictatorships, and internal strife
• Horrible food shortages exacerbated by lack of
  government organization
• Greedy dictators that use the people for their
  own means and strip the nation of its wealth for
  their own use
• Overdependence on foreign aid, European
  favoritism toward former colonies, and
  international involvement in internal African
  state affairs

26
Long Term Ramifications of European Colonialism
in Africa
Mike DiMatteo Graph taken from http//www.harpe
rcollege.edu/mhealy/eco212/review/ldctextoutline.h
tm

• Overpopulation of sub-Saharan nations resulting
  in overuse of national resources, unrealistic
  pressure on the arable land, and furthering the
  poor economic conditions that currently exist
• Rise of multiparty systems An attempt to
  represent all Africans in a nation in the
  political process. This has been unsuccessful in
  most places, with ethnicity being the determining
  factor in voting, rather than the best candidate
  winning

27
Long Term Ramifications of European Colonialism
in Africa

• A loss in untold billions of African resources
  that should have belonged to Africans. This is
  money and resources that will never be recovered.
  The result? African nations that are in debt
  with almost no chance of getting out of it,
  creating a situation in which that debt will be
  passed on to future generationsHIPIC (Heavily
  Indebted Poor Income Countries).

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Long Term Ramifications of European Colonialism
in Africa

• On the Positive
• Africa for Africansthey have the chance to make
  their own destiny
• A rise of cultural revivalism. Africans are
  finding their roots and rediscovering their
  glorious pre-colonial past
• Political vibrancyespecially where multiparty
  systems are in effect. More voices are being
  heard
• There is no doubt that European colonialism was
  more than devastating to the African continent,
  and the ideas represented here are just the tip
  of the iceberg.