Colonialism and Decolonization in Africa

Economic and population losses from the slave trade were offset by the introduction of New World crops like maize, cassava, and manioc.
European anti-slavery efforts were driven by moral concerns and the desire for African raw materials (palm oil, peanut oil, beeswax, ivory, gum, coffee - the legitimate trade).
Key dates:
- 1807: Slave trade outlawed in Britain.
- 1808: Slave trade outlawed in the US.
- 1833: Slavery outlawed in the British Empire.
- 1863: Emancipation Proclamation.

Increased scientific exploration of Africa.
Mungo Park's expedition up the Gambia River (1795-7).
David Livingstone's missionary exploration in Central Africa (mid-19th century).
Missionary activity in non-Muslim areas, explaining contemporary Christian denominational composition in Africa.

Technological advancements in the late 19th century facilitated increased European interaction in Africa:
- Steamboats: Enabled travel upriver.
- Quinine: Treatment for malaria.
- Rapid-fire and accurate firearms; more durable weapons.
These advances led to the Scramble for Africa and the beginning of colonialism.

European presence began in the mid-15th century but the colonial era is considered to begin in the late 19th century.
Berlin Conference of 1884-1885: European delegations divided Africa among themselves, initiating the "Scramble for Africa" (without African representation).
Ethiopia and Liberia were the only countries not placed under European control.

Colonization was made possible by European developments in medicine, weapons, and transportation technology.
European powers' desire for colonies reflected nationalist rivalries and the need to maintain the balance of power.
Colonization was linked to the need to intensify trade for raw materials to fuel the Industrial Revolution and the rise of capitalism.
As M. Jules Ferry, former premier of France, stated in 1885, colonial policy was a necessity for industrial nations to secure markets.

African colonization was practiced by a select number of European countries:
- Belgium
- Britain
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Portugal
- Spain
The Dutch colonized the East and West Indies and had a significant colony in South Africa, which later became independent and was conquered by the British.

European powers could only claim sovereignty over an area if it was effectively occupied.
Infighting occurred among European groups, often with European leaders using native troops against each other.
Proxy wars were common, with African leaders working with Europeans against other African leaders or internal factions, supported or not supported by European powers (strategy of Divide and Conquer based on political or ethnic rivalries).

The way areas were occupied depended on the type of African governments encountered.
- Indirect Rule: Europeans ruled through an African leader.
- Private Armies: e.g. Cecil Rhodes.
Resistance eventually succumbed to superior technology and political fragmentation among Africans.

Cecil Rhodes' perspective on colonialism:
- Believed that it was the duty of Europeans to take Africa.
- More territory meant more of the Anglo-Saxon race, considered the "best" and "most honorable."
- Advocated for acquiring raw materials and exploiting cheap labor in the colonies and a dumping ground for surplus goods.
- Believed the more of the world inhabited by the "first race" (Europeans), the better it is for the human race.

The goal of Europeans in Africa was not to develop modern African states.
Primary goals:
- Maintain law and order.
- Encourage obedience and loyalty to colonial authorities.
- Promote the political and economic interests of the colonizer.
Local leaders were to collect taxes, encourage cash crop production for export, and provide cheap labor.
Infrastructure was primarily dedicated to extracting raw materials.
Educated Africans served as bookkeepers, clerks, and minor officials to serve the cultural, political, and economic interests of the Europeans.

Military and police forces maintained order, with European officers and native enlisted personnel.
African soldiers were used to suppress revolts and fight in European wars.
Europeans rarely learned African languages and tried to prevent alliances among diverse African troops.

Contemporary ethnic and regional tensions in Africa have roots in colonial administrative policies.
Colonial policies favored certain ethnic or regional groups over others, leading to disparities in education and economics (e.g., northern vs. southern Nigeria, Hausa vs. Yoruba vs. Ibo).

World War II decreased African contact with Europe but mobilized African populations and broadened their world view.
Educated Africans advocated for independence and became nationalist leaders, capitalizing on post-WWII global political instability.
African independence began in the 1950s.
Ghana (formerly the Gold Coast) was the first Sub-Saharan African country to gain independence in 1957.

No typical pattern of decolonization; each country had its own method depending on settler interests, mineral resources, and African anticolonial leadership.
Where there were substantial European colonists, decolonization was often violent (e.g., Algeria, Kenya, South Africa, Zimbabwe).
The Portuguese held onto their colonies longer than other Europeans (e.g., Angola, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique).

Belgium: "Pragmatic Paternalism" – Africans need to be dominated so that Europeans can serve them better.
Portugal: "Exploitative Neglect" – Africans were either left alone or forced to work like slaves through forced contract labor.

British used constitutional conventions (African organized into parties and vote for independence).
French thought their colonies would vote to remain under French control, but all but one (Guinea) voted to remain part of France.

African independence from their European colonizers is not fully complete.
Neocolonialism: indirect control that Europeans still have over their former African colonies.
Imperialism: policy of extending a country’s influence over other countries through political power and foreign trade.