Colonialism is one of the most important events in international relations. It has not only defined relationships; it represents a policy to some people, a force to others and an experience to all. A number of reasons; political, economic, cultural and psychological have been identified to have been responsible for colonialism. What is however relevant here is that European powers employed colonialism to have a foothold in Africa and Asian countries.
The partition of Africa at the Berlin conference, held in Germany between Nov. 1884 and February 1885 formalized the intrusion of the European power into Africa, which began through the activities of their trading companies, the signing of treaties with Africa rulers, and their conquest and subjugation of their domains. As a result, Britain established control over 4 million square miles of territory, France ruled over 3 ½ million and Belgium with about 1 million (Adeniran, 1983:194). A major policy of colonial rule was the policy of divide and rule. This was to ensure complete domination and to prevent organized resistance against their rule from hitherto homogeneous ethnic group balkanized into separate states: Due to this artificial partition, the Yoruba and Hausa were divided between France in Benin Republic, and Britain in Nigeria.
This division was further strengthened when Britain adopted the policy of Association to rule her colonies while France preferred the policy of assimilation to administer her territories. Worse still, French and English languages, the official language of colonial masters became the lingua franca in the respective colonies, which further compounded efforts at integration after interdependence (Nkrumah, 1963: 216 – 222).
Just like it began colonial rule was sustained by force, but the colonialists particularly, the British were diplomatic enough to know when to apply the break. France, however, suffered the bitter consequences of defeat in the Algerian War of Independence. Portugal was also late in accepting the reality that independence must be granted to her colonies because they were seen as extension of the territories of the imperial powers.
TUTOR-MARKED ASSIGNMENT
The partition of Africa at the Berlin conference, held in Germany between Nov. 1884 and February 1885 formalized the intrusion of the European power into Africa, which began through the activities of their trading companies, the signing of treaties with Africa rulers, and their conquest and subjugation of their domains. As a result, Britain established control over 4 million square miles of territory, France ruled over 3 ½ million and Belgium with about 1 million (Adeniran, 1983:194). A major policy of colonial rule was the policy of divide and rule. This was to ensure complete domination and to prevent organized resistance against their rule from hitherto homogeneous ethnic group balkanized into separate states: Due to this artificial partition, the Yoruba and Hausa were divided between France in Benin Republic, and Britain in Nigeria.
This division was further strengthened when Britain adopted the policy of Association to rule her colonies while France preferred the policy of assimilation to administer her territories. Worse still, French and English languages, the official language of colonial masters became the lingua franca in the respective colonies, which further compounded efforts at integration after interdependence (Nkrumah, 1963: 216 – 222).
Just like it began colonial rule was sustained by force, but the colonialists particularly, the British were diplomatic enough to know when to apply the break. France, however, suffered the bitter consequences of defeat in the Algerian War of Independence. Portugal was also late in accepting the reality that independence must be granted to her colonies because they were seen as extension of the territories of the imperial powers.
SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE 5
- What is the term colonial imperial ideology?
CONCLUSION
Today, African states are free from political domination; but the legacies of that foreign rule are still almost intact. In addition to these legacies, colonialism also created problems that have continued to define Africa presently. Therefore the challenge before African political leadership is how to shake off this externally created syndrome, and reshape African political, economic and social institutions towards meeting the true needs of African society. What makes this challenge a difficult one is the conditions of post-colonial dependency, which most African states currently face?SUMMARY
We have briefly examined the problems and legacies of colonialism. We de-constructed this legacy into its political, economic and socio-cultural manifestations. We also recommend that Africa must free herself from this crippling colonial legacy to truly develop.TUTOR-MARKED ASSIGNMENT
- What do you understand by colonial legacy? Explain how it is shaping Africa today.
- Distinguish between the political and economic legacies of colonialism and how they are related.
- Explain why Western influence is not evenly distributed across a given post-colonial state in Africa.
Social Plugin