The Partitioning and Colonization of Africa: A Brief History of European Imperialism in Africa

European presence in Africa by 1875 consisted of just forts and trading posts along the coast and a few tiny colonies. That all changed after the Berlin Conference.

   

Between 1880 and 1910, Africa was divided up among the Europeans at the so-called Berlin Conference that took place in 1884. At this conference, fourteen European nations had convened to settle the political partitioning of Africa; but no African was to be invited or made privy to their decisions. Subsequently, for the next seven decades, decisions affecting Africa and its people were made not in Africa, but in London, Paris, Madrid, Lisbon and other European capitals.

Major Players

France and Britain were the two major players during the Scramble for Africa. France acquired a huge empire in North and Western Africa, namely, Algeria, Ivory Coast, Tunisia, Dahomey (now Benin), Senegal, Morocco and Mali. Other areas in West Africa such as Togoland and Cameroon which were German colonies until their defeat in World War I, were ceded to France.

Britain's colonies on the other hand, were scattered throughout the continent. Although the French controlled the most territory, Britain ruled territories with larger population. Her possessions included Nigeria, Gambia, Gold Coast (now Ghana), Sierra Leone, South Africa, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), Uganda, Kenya, Egypt, the Sudan, Somaliland and Libya, Southwest Africa, (now Namibia) Tanganyika (now Tanzania). By 1914 there were only two independent countries left in Africa: Ethiopia and Liberia.

Ethiopia heretofore not colonized by any power, succumbed to the late-coming Italians under Mussolini’s Fascist military -- with a little help from the Third Reich -- in 1935. Up until this date, the Italians had fought many losing battles against the Ethiopians. However, victory finally tilted toward Italy after they had acquired most of the left-over mustard gas bombs from Nazi Germany. Italy controlled Ethiopia until 1942 when they were driven out by the British, under a mandate from the League of Nations.

Liberia was never colonized by the Europeans as they were unable to navigate the extremely dangerous waters off the coast of Cape Palmas at the tip of Southern Liberia during the Scramble. The area was subsequently settled by freed American slaves who wanted to escape the inhumane treatment they endured from their captors.

The Main Reasons for Imperialism

There are several reasons why European nations competed with each other to gain colonies in Africa. For one, they all wanted to gain power and prestige. The more territory that they were able to control in Africa, the more powerful and important they appeared to be in the eyes of other imperialist nations.

Modern Imperialism and its Impact

Imperialism played a big part in the economies of large, industrial or militarily-powerful nations and even in the world economy in the last two centuries. Secondly, the continent was tremendously rich in natural resources, which could be brought to Europe and turned into manufactured goods, which then could be sold back to Africans at exorbitant price tags. It was not uncommon for a European nation to take over a territory in Africa simply to prevent another European power from taking it.

The Spread of Imperialism

European rule came to Africa in several ways. Which ever way it took, it had always been more about the exploitation of the ample natural resources (including slaves) than helping the Africans economically through fair trade. Sometimes a European trading company made agreements with African chiefs permitting the company to trade and keep order in the area. The traders would then put pressure on their home government in Europe to take the territory over in order to protect their investments.

In a few cases, tribal chiefs voluntarily asked for the protection of one European nation in order to avoid being taken over by another European nation. Sometimes, it was reported, the Africans even asked for European protection against other African tribes. Treaties were signed by the African chiefs in which they gave a European company or government the right to rule and to take over the land and resources in their area.

Thousands of similar treaties were signed by African rulers who ignorantly gave away most of their land rights and sovereignty to the Europeans. It would be too late by the time the African chiefs realized their grievous error.

References:
The Horizon History of Africa, American Heritage Publishing Co., New York, 1971