Colonialism

Though the British had long occupied the coasts of its future colonies, Sierra Leone only became an official British Protectorate in 1896, The Gambia in 1889, Nigeria in 1901, and Ghana in 1902 following the subdual of the Ashanti leader Yaa Asantewaa. Portugal claimed Guinea-Bissau, while TogolandTogo) became a German colony in 1884. Liberia managed to retain its independence despite extensive territorial losses. Modern-day Guinea, Senegal, Mali, Benin, Burkina Faso, and Niger were consolidated into the federation of French West Africa. (modern-day

Though it shared in the horrors of the pre-colonial slave trade, West Africa was in many ways better managed than other African regions of the colonial era, enjoying small measures of self-rule in many areas. However, French and British rule still discouraged the development of local industry, preferring to force the exchange of raw materials for European finished goods. A number of taxation measures were instituted, causing many difficulties for areas whose economies were structured on subsistence agriculture. Both France and Britain recruited troops from its colonies for World War I and World War II; at the end of the former, the German Togoland was partitioned evenly between France and Britain by the League of Nations.

Inspite of the many activities of European missionaries and traders in West Africa between 1808 and 1880 and these consequences, a large area had not been affected socially or economically by 1880.

Apart from the basin of the Niger, the Gambia and Senegal these activities were confined to the coast. Most of the states were still enjoying their autonomous existence.

Between 1880 and 1900, European political influence was extended to every corner of West Africa and only one state Liberia remained independent.

CAUSES OF THE PARTITION.

Economic reasons

There was a need for new markets for surplus manufactured goods caused by the spread of the industrial revolution from England to France and they during the second half to the 19th century.

There was a demand for raw materials. The industrial used countries wanted to control the sources for the minerals and raw materials for their industries.

These was need to invest surplus capital. As more and more profit accumulated in the European countries the need for the new areas where surplus capital could be more profitably invested became felt.

Social Reasons: The industrial and capitalist system also produced surplus working power. As more machines were invested more people found themselves out of work. Thus there was need to provide employment for such disposed labour for other areas of the world and West Africa was seen as a resort.

European countries wanted colonies to settle their surplus population. Such settlements were made on North, eastern central and southern Africa but climatic conditions and mosquitoes prevented such settlements in West Africa.

Political reasons

It was impossible for European nations to expand their territories within Europe. For Russia, they expanded in central Asia, U.S. in the far West and for the European countries, it was the sea and the new islands beyond.

Nationalism: During the last two decades of the 19th century colonies became royal of a nation's greatness and prestige. The more colonies a nation - state had, the more powerful and great she was considered lo be.

After the humiliating defeats of 1870 - 71, France turned her attention overseas to demonstrate that she was still a great power. Germans also wanted a ‘'place on the sun" while Italy also entered the race mainly for reasons of prestige.

The race for colonies on West Africa began in 1879 when King Leopold of the Belgians and Franco sent out Stanley and de Bruzza to conclude treaties with the rulers of the Congo basin. This area had been occupied by the Portuguese and the Belgian, / French intrusion of those areas alarmed them. British also felt threatened in tho rights of the regions of Benin and chiefs by French activities on Porto- and in the early 1800.

The British as a result supported the Portuguese on the Congo issue and at the same time dispatched Hewit on May 1864 to declare a protectorate over the modern southern districts of Nigeria by the fe-s Hewitt arrived in West Africa, Germany had already annexed Togoland in June.

Germany entered the race because by the 1880s , the pressure being brought to bear upon her by the Chambers of commerce and merchants had become great.  Secondly, Germany traders and missionaries on the West Coast wore appealing for protection.

British refused to protect Germany traders In south- West Africa and this gave Bismarck opportunity to annex the region in 1884. in May 1884, Nichitagal v/as sent to annex Cameroon. An International Conference was held in Berlin from November 5th 1684 to 30th January 1885 under the chairmanship of Bismarck.

The aim of this conference was to lay down rules to govern this race and to avoid the possibility of an open conflict. The Berlin Act was signed in February 1885.

Any power which wanted to claim any territory should notify other signatory powers in order to enable them to make claims of their own.

Such annexation should be followed by effective occupation before they became valid.

There should be freedom of trade on the Congo basin arid freedom of navigation on the Congo and the Niger rivers.

During and after the Conference, the Europeans powers sent out more envoys and soldiers who by persuasion c force or bribery gst African rulers to sign agreements on which they gave away in some cases innocently their territories.

Most of these rulers later realized the full significance of these agreements and rose up in rebellion. Such rebellions were crushed and the rulers were either killed or exiled.

By 1890, the whole of West Africa and indeed of the entire African continent had been occupied by the European nations to meet their selfish, economic, political and social ends.

RESULTS OF THE SCRAMBLE, PARTITION AND COLONIALISM OF AFRICA

1.    There was emphasis on the production of cash crops as opposed to food crops, thus it led to frequent famine.

2.    Colonialism introduced forced labour. The many plantations of cotton, tobacco, coffee, sugarcane, among others were worked on by force.

3.    Compulsory taxation was introduced. People were supposed to pay tax in money form, which was difficult to obtain. This compelled the people to work in their companies for very low wages.

4.    Colonialism destroyed African technology.   All the local manufacturing was condemned. Therefore, at the end of it the whole society was rendered dependent in every article needed, which had to come from Europe.

5.    Industrialization was only geared at processing plants. No attempt was made to establish heavy industry. These processing plants were meant to reduce the bulk and hence lowering transport costs to Europe.

6.    Loss of independence: With the coming of colonialists, most of Africa's strong empires and kingdoms became disorganised and powerless. Kings lost control over their people.

7.    There was division of ethnic groups. People of the same culture were forced to form different countries, which were ruled by different people. Examples are the Ewes in Ghana and Togo; then Yoruba in Nigeria and Benin.

8.    Colonialism prevented the growth of national unity. This is because Europeans used many methods, which left Africans, divided. They included indirect rule, divide and rule, and oven use of force.

9.    It was responsible for underdevelopment of African countries since they relied on developed countries for aid.

10. Foreign social behaviors have been introduced in Africa such as homosexual, lesbianism and prostitution,

11. Africans were highly tortured during colonial period hence creating a class of people who suffered from inferiority complex.

12. Colonialism has promoted consumption of foreign manufactured goods, which has given them more market in Africa than locally made goods.

13. It has promoted use of languages in Africa such as French in  Senegal, Ivory Coast and Mali. English in Nigeria, German in Cameroon and as a result people are more attached to those countries than theirs.

14. New cash crops such as coffee, tea, cotton, tobacco and sisal were introduced in Africa which widened the exportable crops from Africa.

15. There was increase in trade between Africa and Europe.

16. Loss of land to white settlers especially in Senegal, Nigeria and Ghana.

17. Urbanization came up in Africa due to the need for market centres especially where whites settled.

18. Development of transport and communication in form of roads, railways and airports.

19. Promotion of brain drain where most educated people went to developed countries for jobs.

20. Creation of import and export system based on Europe's demand.

21. Rural urban migration came up because people had to look for jobs in towns.

22. Colonial boundaries have remained a source of interstate conflicts in Africa.

23. Introduction of legitimate trade which replaced slave trade.

24. Elimination of African rulers by either defeat or deportation

25. There was de-tribalisation.

26. There was depopulation

27. Led to the growth of elitist group of people in West Africa for example Leopold Senghor, Sekou Toure, Kwame Nkrumah.

28. The above led to the growth of African nationalism and the struggle for independence.

29. The good African culture such as respect for the elders, honest and royalty was replaced by bad aspects of European character.

30. Europeans brought scientific methods of healing and preventing diseases through the establishment of hospitals.

31. Mining industries developed in West Africa,

Reasons why the African states easily lost their independence

During the conquest of Africa, few Europeans were involved. Large armies of 20,000 were easily defeated by European led armies of 2,000 or less.

Africa was conquered by African officers trained by Europeans and fighting with European arms.

The firearms which the Africans possessed were not modern. Few Africans possessed the fast action repeater rifles or maxim - type of gun which European armies had. Golie's army against Nupe employed such experimental devices as flares, search lights, special incendiary shells to search roofs tight. The impressive waits of most African cities and traditional massing of troops were easily destroyed.

Some Africans abandoned traditional military tactics and put impressive resistance for example Samori Toure's guerilla warfare, suitable for fast soldiers in a forest region. Such techniques were hampered by the lack of natural barriers such as rugged mountains West Africa gently rolling Savannah was ideal for European military methods.

It was impossible to mobilize African citizens without interfering with the production of food. To mo\/e every citizen would create famine and yet they had nothing to exchange for food. The

Mandinka and Asante had gold for export and therefore were to put up a strong resistance.

African states were dijuncted and so it was easy to defeat them since each state fought on its own and never united against the common enemy.

POLITICAL WEAKNESSES

Professional military classes were very small and standing armies were rare

A poorly developed sense of nationalism and an almost total absence of racial solidarity combined to make the military effort ineffective.

Power struggles were intense. Prominent members of the royal lineage were often potential or actual leaders of opposition factions. Candidates; therefore, would accept foreign assistance to gain their ends. The Europeans often found collaborators.

In Dahomey, the French found a brother of the displaced King to occupy the throne.

Poorly developed sense of nationalism and an almost total absence of racial solidarity combined to make the military effort ineffective.

In June, Lugard dethroned the Fulani Etsu and replaced him with candidates from a rival Fulani faction.

The large empires of the Western Sudan- Sokoto, Rebah, Tokolar, and Mandinka were relatively recent creations. Their subject people were either totally subdued or were resentful, or their Loyalty was in doubt.   

Only Asante and Dahomey had developed some sort of strong nationalism resembling that of European states in the 19th century. Asante Used the Golden stool, which symbolized their soul united the people.

There were few cases of effective inter - African alliances against the European invaders.

Jealousy and concern for religious prestige prevented an alliance of the Futa Jalon, Tokolar and Mandinka empires against the French. It was often was for the European power to secure the alliance of one group of the people against another. The British used Ibadan against Ijabu, Itsekeri and urhobo against Benin, Fante against Asante.

One state looked upon a European alliance as an instrument of gaining ascendancy of at least equality with rival.