NEW JERUSALEM UNIVERSITY

ETHIOPIA AFRICA BLACK INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS

MIAMI INCORPORATED (EABIC MIAMI INC.)

AFRICAN HISTORY COURSE

MODULE 1 AFRICA BEFORE AND AFTER
PARTITION
Unit 1 Origin of Africa
Unit 2 Slave Trade
Unit 3 Abolition of Slave Trade
Unit 4 European Iperiali!
Unit " Partition of Africa
UNIT 1 ORIGIN OF AFRICA
#ONTENTS
1$% Introduction
2$% Ob&ective!
3$% 'ain #ontent
3$1 European (riter! and Africa
3$2 Arab )i!torian! and Africa
3$3 African )i!torian!
3$4 Evidence of Africa*! Pa!t
4$% #onclu!ion
"$% Suar+
,$% Tutor-'ar.ed A!!ignent
/$% Reference!01urt2er Reading!
1$% INTRO3U#TION
T2e earl+ 4riting! b+ an+ (e!tern 2i!torian! and European! t2at Africa 2a! no 2i!tor+5 but t2e
2i!tor+ of European! in Africa5 2a! been debun.ed b+ ne4 finding!$ T2e!e unfolding
di!coverie!5 e!peciall+ in arc2aeological finding!5 2ave put to re!t t2i! di!cour!e b+ t2e 42ite or
(e!tern oriented !c2olar!5 t2at Africa 2a! no pa!t$ T2i! unit5 t2erefore5 introduce! t2e learner to
t2e variou! 4riting! of 42ite 2i!torian! and t2e debun.ing of t2e vie4 t2at Africa 2a! no 2i!tor+
until t2e coing of t2e European!$ T2e earl+ Arab 4riter! and African 2i!torian! 2ave !2o4n
!ub!tantial evidence to debun. t2i! belief$ T2i! cour!e 4ill al!o give an in!ig2t into t2e
under!tanding of t2e African pa!t a! 4ritten b+ African! and t2eir diver!e 4a+! of governing
one anot2er before t2e advent of t2e 42ite coloniali!t!$
2$% O67E#TI8ES
At t2e end of t2e unit5 t2e learner u!t be able to do t2e follo4ing9
: di!cu!! t2e role of European 4riter! to t2e under!tanding of African
pa!t
: identif+ t2e contribution of African civili;ation to t2e 4orld
: e<plain t2e contribution of Arab 2i!torian! to t2e under!tanding of
t2e African pa!t$
3$% 'AIN #ONTENT
3$1 European (riter! and Africa
'an+ Europe 4riter!5 for a long tie5 4ere of t2e opinion t2at !ince African !ocietie! 4ere
ainl+ non-literate5 t2e+ 4ere not 4ort2+ of !tud+ becau!e 2i!tor+ could not be properl+ !tudied
in t2e!e !ocietie!5 2ence t2e+ 2ad no 2i!tor+ at all$ In fact5 to t2i! !c2ool of t2oug2t5 t2e
continent contributed little or not2ing to civili;ation$ One of t2e!e iperiali!t!* 4riter!5 A$P
Ne4ton e<pre!!ed t2e vie4 t2at =)i!tor+ onl+ begin! 42en en ta.e to 4riting$ It i! concerned
alo!t
entirel+ 4it2 4ritten record! and can a.e u!e of aterial reain! 4it2 42ic2 t2e
arc2aeologi!t! and ant2ropologi!t! are concerned$> In t2e !ae vein5 in 1?"15 'arger+ Per2a5
a Re!earc2 lecturer in #olonial Adini!tration at t2e O<ford Univer!it+ 4rote5 =Until t2e ver+
recent penetration b+ Europe t2e greater part of t2e continent @AfricaA 4a! 4it2out t2e 42eel5
t2e ploug2 and tran!port-anial!B alo!t 4it2out !tore 2ou!e! or clot2e! e<cept !.in!B 4it2out
4riting and !o 4it2out 2i!tor+$> Profe!!or )ug2 Trevor Roper of t2e Univer!it+ of O<ford in
1?,2 revie4ed t2i! vie4$ According to 2i5 =Per2ap! in t2e future t2ere 4ill be !oe African
2i!tor+ to teac2$ 6ut at pre!ent t2ere i! noneB t2ere i! onl+ t2e 2i!tor+ of European! in Africa$
T2e re!t i! dar.ne!! and dar.ne!! i! not t2e !ub&ect of 2i!tor+$ T2ere i! onl+ t2e unre4arding
g+ration! of barbariou! tribe! in picture!Cue but irrelevant corner! of t2e globe$> D$($1$ )egel5
a Deran p2ilo!op2er5 in 1E3%-31 lecture!5 divided t2e people! of t2e 4orld into t4o9 2i!torical
people! 42o 2ad contributed to t2e developent of an.ind5 and non-2i!torical people!
42o 2ad no 2and in t2e developent of 2uanit+$ Africa5 according to 2i5 4a! placed in t2e
latter categor+$ (2en t2e e<ploration b+ t2e (e!tern Nationali!t! began5 Europe @E<plorer!A
4ere a!toni!2ed b+ t2e ric2 art5 a ric2 culture5 a ric2 2eritage and !tate craft of African !ocietie!$
T2e ric2 civili;ation di!pla+ed b+ African!5 ade t2e to conclude t2at t2e advanceent in
civili;ation b+ African! u!t depend on e<ternal !tiulu! ari!ing fro contact 4it2 one of t2e
branc2e! of t2e #auca!ian race$ In 2i! boo.5 T2e Race! of Africa5 2e po!tulate! t2e !puriou!
)aitic )+pot2e!i!$ )e !a+!9 Apart fro relativel+ late !eitic influence$$$$ =t2e civili;ation! of
Africa are t2e civili;ation! of t2e )aite!5 it! 2i!tor+ t2e record of t2e!e people! and of t2eir
interaction 4it2 t2e t4o ot2er African !toc.!5 t2e negro and 6u!2an5 42et2er t2i! influence
4a! e<erted b+ 2ig2l+ civili;ed Eg+ptian! or b+ !uc2 4ider pa!torali!t! a! are repre!ented at
t2e pre!ent da+ b+ t2e 6e&a and SoaliF T2e incoing )aite! 4ere pa!toral European!
arriving 4ave after 4ave G better ared a! 4ell a! Cuic.er 4itted t2an dar. Negroe!>$ Related
to t2e )aitic )+pot2e!i! i! t2e Sudanic State T2eor+$ T2i! t2eor+ 4a! developed b+ t4o
profe!!or! of )i!tor+ G 7$3 1age and R$A Oliver$ In t2eir boo.5 A !2ort )i!tor+ of
Africa5 publi!2ed in 1?,25 =all African .ingdo! 4ere e!!entiall+ identical and could be referred
to under t2e coon label of Sudanic !tate!> !uc2 Sudanic !tate! too. t2eir origin of .ing!2ip
fro Eg+pt$ T2i! practice diffu!ed to t2e re!t of Africa$
T2e )aitic 2+pot2e!i! and Sudanic t2eor+5 a!!ued t2at t2ere 4ere no developent! initiated
b+ African!$ If t2ere 4ere an+ at all5 li.e t2e conCue!t and e!tabli!2ent of epire!5 it u!t be
traced to e<ternal influence$ T2i! tendenc+5 in t2eir o4n calculation5 i! to portra+ African!
a! in2erentl+ inferior5 being incapable of evolving a better adini!tration of t2eir iediate
environent$ To t2e5 Eg+pt5 t2e 2eart of 4orld civili;ation cannot be part of Africa but t2e
'editerranean 4orld$ T2e S4a2ili culture of Ea!t Africa 4a! !een b+ t2e (e!tern 4riter! a! an
Arabic invention rat2er t2an 6antu developent$ To &u!tif+ t2e +ear! of colonial rule5 European
4riter! laboured !eriou!l+ to di!credit t2e ric2 cultural 2eritage and civili;ation of African
!ocietie!$ To t2e!e 4riter! and t2eir 4e!tern apologi!t!5 colonial era 4a! an age of
enlig2tenent to Huncivili;ed African!*$
3$2 Arab )i!torian! and Africa
T2e negative rear.! about African pa!t b+ colonial 2i!torian!5 not 4it2!tanding5 Arab !c2olar!
or 2i!torian! 2ad 4ritten a lot about African civili;ation before Europe incur!ion into Africa$
T2ere 4a! an iperiali!t e<pan!ion polic+ of Arab! in Africa during t2e fir!t centur+ of I!la
@,22-/22A$ T2i! 4a! t2e tie 'u!li! fro Arab nation! gained a !trong2old in Africa$ 'u!li
trader! and itinerant !c2olar! penetrated fro Nort2 Africa and t2en to (e!t Africa$ T2e ancient
epire! of D2ana5 'ali and Song2ai in t2e (e!t Sudan5 and al!o central Sudane!e !tate! in
)au!a land5 Iaduna5 6orno5 So.oto etc 2ad a do!e of I!laic influence$ In Ea!t Africa5 I!laic
influence !pread to 'o;abiCue5 Nort2 Africa and Ea!t Africa$ T2e con!eCuence of t2i! i!
literac+ in Arabic5 42ic2 4a! t2e official language$ 'u!li !c2olar! produced a lot of 4riting!
42ic2 include! t2e 4riting of political5 biograp2ic5 culture and !ocial 2i!tor+ of t2e epire!$
T2e!e !c2olar! produced a lot of Tari.2! and c2ronicle! in t2e elevent2 to t2e !eventeent2
centurie!5 !uc2 4or.! include Tari.2 a!-Sudan @)i!tor+ of SudanA Tari.2 a!- Don&a5 2i!tor+ of
Don&a$
Ot2er! are Tari.2 al- 1ettac2 and Iano #2ronicle$ 'an+ 4riter!5 42o 4ere non-'u!li!
borro4ed fro t2e!e 4riting! to update t2eir .no4ledge about African 2i!tor+$ T2oug2 !oe
2i!torian! !ee t2e 4riting! of =Arab !c2olar! a! repre!enting t2e ot2er !ide of t2e !tor+ 42ic2
2a! been all too little 2eard aid t2e over-42eling claour of Europe colonial vie4!>$ T2i!
cannot debun. t2e fact t2at 2i!torian! toda+ are failiar 4it2 epire! of (e!tern Sudan
becau!e of t2e 4riting! of Arab !c2olar! in t2eir variou! Tari.2!$ T2e 4riting! 2ave been able to
put to re!t t2at Africa 2ad no pa!t @2i!tor+A but dar.ne!!5 and dar.ne!! cannot !urvive a! 2i!tor+
of a people$
3$3 African )i!torian!
In t2e pa!t before 4ritten record!5 African )i!torian! depended on +t25 oral tradition5 !ong and
popular 2i!tor+$ T2oug2 oral tradition 2a! it! !2ort coing!5 it*! u!e cannot be done a4a+ 4it2
de!pite t2e proble of c2ronological !eCuence$ In !pite of !2ort-coing!5 t2i! tec2niCue 2a!
been eplo+ed for t2e purpo!e of collection5 pre!ervation and anal+!i! of oral tradition$ T2e
palace 2i!torian5 42o u!ed t2i! et2od5 2ad done it ver+ 4ell in t2e pa!t$ Jegend5 !ong and
popular 2i!tor+ 2ad al!o been u!ed to narrate t2e pa!t of t2e people$
T2e ab!urditie! 4ritten b+ European 2i!torian! 4ere c2allenged b+ educated African 2i!torian!$
T2e fir!t group 4ere African! in 3ia!pora$ T2e!e include 3r$ Anton (il2eiel5 a D2anaian$ )e
4rote on t2e contribution 42ic2 Nort2 African! @particularl+ t2e 'ooraA ade to t2e developent
of Europe t2roug2 t2eir contact 4it2 Roan Epire in 1/%3$ Olauda ECuiano .no4n a!
Du!tavu! 8a!a5 an e<-!lave 4rote a biograp2+ about t2e culture of 2i! place of origin5 t2e Igbo
land in pre!ent da+ Nigeria$ T2e contribution of Reverend Sauel 7o2n!on5 42o publi!2ed a
)i!tor+ of t2e Koruba in 1?215 reain! a valuable repo!itor+ of Koruba oral tradition for t2e
conteporar+ 2i!torian!5 no atter 42ere t2e+ coe fro$
At t2e end of t2e Second (orld (ar in 1?4"5 profe!!ional African 2i!torian! eerged to put to
re!t t2e propaganda t2at Africa 2ad no 4ritten pa!t or no 2i!tor+ at all$ In 4riting t2e African
pa!t5 t2e!e 2i!torian! dealt 4it2 docuent! of t2e pa!t5 4ritten and un4ritten to recon!truct
African pa!t$ Proinent aong t2e!e 2i!torian! 4ere I$O 3i.e5 S$O$ 6ioba.u5 Obaro I.ie5
7$1$A A&a+i and a 2o!t of ot2er!$ T2e Publication of I$O 3i.e*! Trade and Politic! in t2e Nigeria
3elta5
1E3%-1EE"5 ar.ed a rear.able departure fro earlier 4ritten 2i!tor+ of African pa!t$ T2e
!econd 4a! t2e e!tabli!2ent of In!titute of African Studie! and Ibadan Sc2ool of )i!tor+$
T2ere are !pecific culture 2i!tor+ pro&ect! li.e 6enin and Koruba )i!torical Re!earc2 Sc2ee!5
#onference! of African )i!tor+ etc$ T2e ne4 2i!toric tradition re&ected t2e coloration of African
pa!t b+ t2e European )i!torian!$ T2e tradition5 anc2ored b+ 4ell-bred African 2i!torian!5
eCuipped b+ t2e validit+ of non-4ritten !ource! of 2i!toric re!earc25 42ic2 2a! been prooted
t2roug2 interdi!ciplinar+ approac25 led to t2e di!cover+ and aut2entication of !ource! of African
pa!t$
3$3 Evidence of African #ivili;ation
It i! generall+ accepted t2at after arc2aeological finding!5 t2e fir!t an 42o t2e odern race!
of t2e 4orld toda+ belong5 i! a !ingle biological !pecie! called )oo Sapien! @T2in.ing anA
42o coe! fro Africa$ Adel Patton of Univer!it+ of 'i!!ouri-St$ Joui!5 3epartent of )i!tor+
in one of 2i! lecture! !aid Africa 4a! t2e fir!t (orld and 42ic2 atte!ted to t2e fact t2at t2e (orld
4a! Africa$ In Dlobal ter!5 or in earlie!t tie! t2e cradle of 2uan.ind 4a! found in Olduvai
Dorge in t2e Dreat Rift 8alle+5 Tan;ania in Ea!t AfricaB ore t2an t4o illion +ear! ago$ )e
!aid furt2er5 t2at =Ale<ander t2e Dreat build t2e cit+ of Ale<andria facing t2e 4e!t on t2e Nort2
of t2e 'editerranean in 332 6$#$ T2i! occurred !oe t2ree centurie! before #2ri!t 4a! born$> It
4a! al!o in t2e cit+ t2at one of t2e !even 4onder! of t2e 4orld t2en 4a! found5 a four 2undred
feet tall lig2t t2at could be !een fro !event+ ile! a4a+$ 6+ 3% 6$# Ale<andria cit+ 2ad
becoe t2e 4orld*! fir!t great etropoli! 4it2 a population of ,%%5%%% in2abitant!$
'ore arc2aeological finding! revealed t2at an occupation of Acropoli! culture in Libab4e i!
carbon-dated to around A$3 33%$ T2i! i! follo4ed b+ four !ucce!!ive !tage! of occupation
ar.ed b+ c2ange! in potter+ and a!!ociated ob&ect!$ In Ja.e #2ad5 a tribe called So @giant
loo.ing tribe!A u!ed pot! to !tore grain and 4ater5 42ic2 4ere al!o di!covered$ T2e !ae tribe
ca!t ob&ect! in bron;e$ It i! believed t2at t2e olde!t bron;e! in (e!t Africa are fro Ife5 42ic2
latter !pread to 6enin$
At a !ite in 'eroe5 about 12% ile! Nort2 of I2artou5 Sudan5 t2ere are evidence of !lag 2eap!
of an iron indu!tr+ 42ic2 4a! flouri!2ing t2ere5 per2ap!5 a! earl+ a! t2ree centurie! before birt2
of #2ri!t$ T2i! indu!tr+ u!t 2ave e<i!ted to ta.e care of t2eir in!truent of 4ar5 li.e !pear! and
doe!tic c2ore! li.e 2oe!5 cutla!!e! and door 2inge!$ Iron-!iting in Africa i! not ne4 up till
toda+$ It 4a! practi!ed fro earlie!t tie to t2e pre!ent to ta.e care of our indu!trial and
doe!tic need!$ Et2iopia i! one of t2e olde!t countrie! in t2e 4orld$ T2e beginning of
Et2iopia 2i!tor+ i! traced to t2e Epire of A.!un5 42ic2 !tarted in "%% 6#$
A tenuou! lin. 4a! aintained 4it2 #optic Patriarc2 of Ale<andria5 and t2e legendar+ Pre!ter
7o2n5 t2e faou! #2ri!tian .ing of Africa$ )e en&o+ed 4ide recognition in edieval Europe$ T2e
Ab+!!inian!5 a! t2e de!cendant! of A.!uite! 4ere .no4n5 fa!2ioned a cople< literate
culture on a religiou! foundation5 and a feudal !ocial !+!te 42o!e ba!ic coponent! 4ere t2e
rural pea!ant5 t2e 4arrior ruler and t2e prie!t$ At t2e top of t2i! 2ierarc2+ !at t2e .ing of .ing! on
Soloanic t2rone$ T2e occupant! of t2i! t2rone claied de!cent fro t2e biblical .ing Soloon
and t2e Mueen of S2eba and +t2ical d+na!tic 2i!tor+ of !oe 35%%% +ear!$
T2e people living 4it2in t2e countr+5 4e no4 call Nigeria date! bac. to "5%%%6#5 t2en t2e
people practi!ed !ettled agriculture$ 6etter docuentation e<i!t on t2e No. culture5 42o 4ere
iron a.ing people living on t2e 7o! plateau a! earl+ a! 3%%6#5 faou! for t2eir terracotta
!culpture$
4$% #ON#JUSION
In t2i! unit5 4e 2ave di!cu!!ed t2e negative 2i!torical record 4ritten b+ European )i!torian!
about Africa$ To debun. t2i!5 4e 2ave been able to trace t2e origin of an to Africa and t2e
beginning of civili;ation to t2e !ae continent$ Over t2e +ear!5 Africa 2ad evolved fro t2e u!e
of
!iple tool! to cople<$ Iron tool! of bot2 4arfare and doe!tic u!e 4ere di!covered and u!ed$
Oral tradition 2ad been able to !u!tain t2e African pa!t and not 4ritten record!$ T2e ne4 Africa
2i!torian!5 e!peciall+ after (orld 115 eCuipped 4it2 profe!!ional training and oral tradition laid to
re!t t2e European 2i!torical belief t2at Africa 2ad no pa!t$ T2i! 2a! gone to !2o4 t2at trade and
interaction e<i!ted in Africa before t2e advent of t2e iperiali!t!$
"$% SU''ARK
In t2i! unit5 4e 2ave loo.ed at t2e earl+ period of Africa a! e<plained b+ t2e 42ite 2i!torian! on
non-availabilit+ of 4ritten record!$ T2e belief t2at Africa 2ad no 2i!tor+ 4a! al!o di!cu!!ed$ In
t2e proce!!5 4e 2ave been able to bring to t2e fore t2e 4riting! of Arab 2i!torian! 42o5 2ave
4ritten record! of African pa!t$ 1ro t2e!e 4riting!5 it 4a! po!!ible to e<plain t2e political5
econoic and !ocial interaction! t2at too. place in Africa before t2e 42ite invader!$ (e 2ave
been able to trace t2e contribution of Africa to 4orld civili;ation$
,$% 'ARIE3 ASSIDN'ENT
1$ =Africa 2a! no 4ritten record of t2e pa!t5 !o it 2a! no 2i!tor+$>
#oent on t2i! !tateent$
2$ (2at i! t2e contribution of Africa to 4orld civili;ation$
/$% RE1EREN#ES01URT)ER REA3INDS
Adu5 6oa2en @1?,,A$ Topic! in (e!t African )i!tor+5 Jondon9 Jongan$
7o!ep2 #$ Anene and Dodfre+ N$ 6ro4n @ed$A @1?,,A$ Africa in t2e
Nineteent2 and T4entiet2 #enturie!5 Ibadan$
UNIT 2 SLAVE TRADE
#ONTENTS
1$% Introduction
2$% Ob&ective!
3$% 'ain #ontent
3$1 Origin of Slave Trade
3$2 Tran! Atlantic Slave Trade
3$3 Rea!on! for Slave Trade
3$4 Effect! of Slave Trade on Africa
4$% #onclu!ion
"$% Suar+
,$% 'ar.ed A!!ignent
/$% Reference!01urt2er Reading!
1$% INTRO3U#TION
T2i! unit 4ill trace t2e origin of !lave trade in Africa$ It 4ill al!o di!cu!!
2o4 doe!tic !lave! 4ere captured and !old to !laver+ or u!ed 4it2in
it*! environent$ T2e unit 4ill reveal to t2e !tudent 2o4 Europe5 on t2e
prete<t of evangeli! too. African! a! !lave! to t2eir land$ T2e ipact
of !lave trade on Africa and (e!tern Europe 4ill al!o be di!cu!!ed$
2$% O67E#TI8ES
At t2e end of t2i! unit5 t2e !tudent !2ould be able to9
N e<plain t2e origin of !lave trade
N rea!on! for !lave trade
N t2e effect of !lave trade on Africa$
3$% 'AIN #ONTENT
3$1 Origin of Slave Trade
Slave trade 2a! it! origin in variou! nation! of t2e 4orld$ T2e Dree.!
colonie! in t2e 'editerranean 4ere founded b+ Dree. pirate!5 42o
plundered t2e to4n and !old t2e into !laver+$ In earl+ tie!5 ninet+ per
cent of t2e population of Dreece 4a! !lave!$ According to Ari!totle5
H#ertain people! are naturall+ free5 ot2er! are naturall+ !lave!*$ T2e
Roan population copri!ed ore !lave! t2an freean$ T2e!e !lave!
4ere dra4n fro 6ritain and ot2er European nation!5 A!ia and Africa$
T2e!e people 4ere t2e tiller! of t2e !oil5 labourer!5 !ervant!5 court
&e!ter!5 coo.!5 2airdre!!er!5 u!ician!5 and gladiator!$ It i! 4rong to !a+
t2at !lave trade too. place all over Africa$ 1or e<aple5 noadic 'a!ai
and ot2er noadic tribe!5 did not parta.e in t2e 2einou! trade$ Again5 in
di!cu!!ing !laver+ in Africa5 di!tinction u!t be dra4n fro !lave!
captured in 4ar! and t2o!e 42o voluntaril+ gave t2e!elve! up in order
to !erve for a certain period 4it2 a a!ter$ An e<aple of t2i! 4a! t2e
pa4n! for debt!$ T2i! people gave t2e!elve! up for unpaid debt$ T2e+
!erved t2eir a!ter! for certain period of tie and t2e+ leave a! !oon a!
t2e agreed period to !erve i! over$ T2e treatent of 4ar !lave! differ
fro place to place$ T2e+ a+ be !old off5 integrated into t2e !ociet+ or
4or. for t2e a!ter for life$ No 42ere 4ere !lave! ore copletel+
integrated into t2e fail+ of t2e o4ner t2an aong t2e coa!tal
counitie! of Nigeria$ To capture t2e !cenario! of !lave trade in
Africa5 a 4riter !aid5 =It i! one of t2e 2ar!2 and unpalatable fact! of
2i!tor+ t2at t2e principal-alo!t t2e onl+-indu!tr+ of tropical Africa for
an+ centurie! 4a! t2e trade in !lave! carried on ainl+ b+ t2e
#2ri!tian people! of (e!tern Europe and t2e 'u!li Arab!$> T2e !ale of
African! into !laver+ began long before t2e birt2 of #2ri!t and Prop2et
'o2aed$ T2ere i! evidence t2at African !lave! 4ere acCuired not
onl+ for doe!tic c2ore!5 but t2e+ engaged t2e in t2e building of
pro&ect! li.e t2e p+raid! of Eg+pt$ T2e fir!t !et of African !lave! to be
!old 4ere !aid to be Nubian! 42o lived Sout2 of Eg+pt$ 1ro 2ere t2e+
4ere !old to Europe and t2e 'iddle Ea!t$
Anot2er iportant !ource of earl+ !lave !uppl+ 4a! Ea!t Africa$ T2e
a&orit+ of !lave! fro t2ere found t2eir 4a+ to A!ia$ T2e!e !lave!
becae a !ub!tantial nuber in t2e population of Tur.e+5 Arabia and
Per!ia$ T2e Arab incur!ion! in 'agrib @Jib+a5 Tuni!ia5 'orocco and
AlgeriaA and t2e Sa2ara @t2e (e!t Africa RegionA !tiulated t2e outflo4
of !lave! fro (e!t Africa$ Arab erc2ant! 42o t2roug2 Tran! Sa2ara
Trade route! invaded t2e Sudan5 4ere !oon attracted b+ t2e pre!ence of
!lave trade in 1e;;an$ 6efore long5 about one t2ou!and cael! anned
b+ 6erber erc2ant! invaded (e!tern Sudan$ T2e article! of trade 4ere
ainl+ gold and !lave! for (e!tern Sudan and gla!!e! and ear-ring!
etc fro Nort2 Africa$ T2e lin.! bet4een (e!tern Sudan5 t2e
'editerranean and 'iddle Ea!t 4ere ultiplied and !u!tained b+
caravan! 42o doinated t2e Tran! Sa2ara Trade route$ Slave! 4ere t2e
a&or induceent for t2e Arab trader! to ri!. t2e 2a;ard! of Tran!
Sa2ara Trade route$ T2e old epire! of (e!t Africa5 D2ana5 'ali5
Song2ai and ot2er!5 derived t2eir 4ealt2 fro e<port of gold5 =42ic2
gro4! on tree!5> and !lave! $ T2e capital of D2ana Epire5 Iubi5 4a!
noted for it! !lave ar.et5 42ic2 no doubt .ept !uppl+ con!tant b+ raid!
on t2e people! living to t2e !out2$ (2en D2ana 4a! eventuall+ defeated
in battle b+ t2e Aloravid!5 an+ of t2e in2abitant! 4ere carried off to
be !old a! !lave! in Nort2 Africa$ At t2e pea. of 'ali*! glor+5 'an!a
Ian.an 'u!a in 13245 4ent to 'ecca to perfor t2e 2ol+ pilgriage
4it2 five 2undred !lave! carr+ing gold article!$ T2ere i! enoug2
evidence to !2o4 t2at t2e )au!a !tate! and Ianei-6ornu region
!u!tained t2eir 4ealt2 t2roug2 !ale! of !lave!$
3$2 T2e Tran! Atlantic Slave Trade
T2e arrival of European! on t2e (e!t #oa!t of Africa opened a ne4 vi!ta
in t2e Africa !lave trade$ T2e Atlantic !lave trade becae t2e ain preoccupation
of European nation! in Africa in t2e beginning of eig2teent2
centur+$
In 14415 Don;alve!5 one of t2e Portugue!e e<plorer! returned to Ji!bon
4it2 ten African !lave! 42o 2e pre!ented to Prince )enr+$ )e received
t2e 4it2 great plea!ure$ 6+ t2e tie of Prince )enr+*! deat25 about
/%% and E%% !lave! 4ere e<ported annuall+ to Portugal$ T2oug2 Prince
)enr+ 4a! !aid to 2ave condened t2e practice5 about 44E !lave!5 in
14E, and 14?35 belonged to Portugue!e cro4n alone$ T2i! figure i! t2e
annual iportation of !lave! to Portugal$
6ra;il and Spain occupied t2e larger part of (e!t Indian I!land! and
ainland of Sout2 Aerica$ Portugal undertoo. to !uppl+ !lave! to
Spain on contractual agreeent$ T2e Negro !lave! 4ere !2ipped t2roug2
(e!t India I!land to Spain$ T2e di!cover+ of Ne4 (orld- Nort2
Aerica increa!ed t2e need for ne4 !lave!$ T2e 3utc2 founded a
copan+ for (e!t Africa !lave trade and !et up fort in Dold #oa!t
@D2anaA5 in order to c2allenge t2e po!ition of ot2er rival!$ T2e
Portugue!e5 t2e 1renc25 t2e 3utc25 3ane!5 Deran!5 S4ede!5 Spaniard!
and t2e 6riti!2 4ere all involved in t2e trade$ T2e+ built !2ip! de!igned
purpo!el+ for t2e evacuation of !lave! fro (e!t Africa$ Alt2oug2 t2e
!lave erc2ant! did not capture !lave! t2e!elve!5 local African
potentate! obtained t2e !lave! and tran!acted !ale! 4it2 t2e European
!lave erc2ant! on t2e coa!t$ 1or in!tance5 in Nigeria5 t2e !tate! of
Jago! and 6onn+ and ot2er!5 even in t2e interior5 4ere ruled b+ c2ief!5
42o ade fortune! fro t2e tran!action!$ T2e practice 4a! t2at5 !tronger
neig2bour! ade 4ar again!t 4ea.er neig2bour! and too. all t2e
in2abitant! of t2e 4ea.er neig2bour! a! !lave!5 42o 4ere in turn !old off
at t2e port! to t2e 42ite !lave erc2ant!$ At t2e pea. of !lave port! in
Africa5 6ritain 2ad fourteen5 )olland fifteen5 1rance t2ree5 and Portugal
and 3enar. four eac2$
Portugue!e !laver+ activitie! in t2e #ongo and Angola 4ere better$ )ere
t2e Portugue!e 4ere free fro un2ealt2+ rivalr+ aong t2e contending
force! in t2e trade$ Slaving 4a! indirect in t2e #ongo5 but in Angola it
4a! direct$ 1ort! 4ere e!tabli!2ed in t2e 2interland to protect t2e !lave
caravan! on t2eir 4a+ to t2e coa!t$ T2e interior port! or fort! 4ere to
c2ec.ate African leader! 42o ig2t 4ant to intervene in t2eir
activitie!$ An irregular ta<5 u!uall+ ea!ured in !lave!5 4a! ipo!ed on
African c2ief! in order to copel t2e to raid t2eir neig2bour! for
!lave!$ T2e 2alf ca!te Portugue!e called Pobrero! and Portugue!e
becae !trong allie! in t2e trade$ It 4a! not uncoon for t2i! !et of
people to in!tigate 4ar aong neig2bour! in order to capture ore
!lave!$ To rai!e t2e nuber of !lave!5 t2e Portugue!e governor
augented 2er incoe b+ anipulating !laving licen!e! granted to !lave
contractor!$ T2e Portugue!e 4ar of conCue!t 4a! no ore t2an ilitar+
e<pedition to increa!e t2e nuber of !lave! needed to be tran!ported
t2roug2 Atlantic Ocean to 6ra;il$
T2e 3utc2 occupation of Sout2 Africa fro t2e iddle of !event2
centur+ called for t2e iportation of Negro5 al!o Indian !lave! to
provide c2eap labour$ T2roug2out t2e !eventeent2 and eig2teent2
centurie!5 !lave! 4ere !2ipped into Sout2 Africa fro (e!t Africa5
India5 #+lon and 'ala+ Arc2ipelago$ T2e 6riti!2 en found e<cu!e! for
raiding !ettleent! for !lave!$
African !c2olar!5 e!peciall+ 2i!torian!5 u!t be ore careful in blaing
t2e !lave trade on t2e 42ite! or European!$ A cur!or+ too. at t2e event!
a! t2e+ unfoldedB point finger! to African ruler! 42o did not onl+
connive 4it2 European! to en!lave t2eir .in and .it25 but directl+
aggravated t2e proce!! of !laver+ b+ burning village! to acCuire !lave!$
T2e !ale of African !lave! fro !eventeent2 centur+ up4ard 4a! done
ainl+ b+ t2e African ruler! t2e!elve! e!peciall+ in t2e coa!tal
region!$ African! becae en!laved in four different 4a+!9 fir!t5 criinal!
!old b+ t2e 2ead of 2i! coittee a! puni!2entB !econdl+5 free
African! obtained b+ raid! of le!! po4erful counitie! b+ African!B
t2irdl+5 doe!tic !lave! re!oldB and fourt2l+5 pri!oner! of 4ar$ All t2e!e
!lave! 4ere bartered for European erc2andi!e !uc2 a! gun5 gunpo4der5
calico5 ru5 bead! and iron and copper bar!$ 6+ t2e beginning of
eig2teent2 centur+5 t2e average co!t of a 2ealt2+ ale African !lave
delivered on board !2ip 4a! N1%5 b+ t2e iddle of t2e centur+ it 2ad
increa!ed to N1"$
It i! not totall+ true t2at European! 4ere not captured a! !lave! before in
Africa$ In 1E%%5 Ku!uf foug2t t2e Tur.! 42o 4ere ruler! t2en5 and
defeated t2e$ 1or centurie! t2e 6arbar+ #or!air! aintained
!overeignt+ fro t2e European po4er!$ T2e+ 4ere able to e!tabli!2 t2eir
!uperiorit+ over European! in t2e 'editerranean 4ater!$ T2e+ captured
European! a! !lave! and copelled t2e to build t2eir palace!$ T2e
relation!2ip 4a! t2at of a!ter-!ervant5 t2oug2 t2i! did not la!t for long$
3$3 Rea!on! for Slave Trade
T2e 3utc2 occupation of Sout2 Africa in t2e iddle of t2e !eventeent2
centur+ nece!!itated t2e iportation of !lave! trade fro (e!t Africa$
T2e !lave! 4or.ed in vine+ard!5 grain-land! and vegetable garden!
o4ned b+ t2e !ettler!$ 6ecau!e of t2eir foot2old! in t2e Ne4 (orld5
1renc25 3utc2 and 6ritain continued to deand and bu+ !lave! to 4or.
in t2eir variou! plantation! in t2e Ne4 (orld$ #aribbean I!land5 ne4l+
acCuired b+ 6ritain5 4it2 a fertile land for !ugar cane plantation5 needed
!lave! to 4or. on t2e!e plantation! 42en t2e Spaniard! began to e<plore
Nort2 and Sout2 Aerica bet4een 14?2 and 1"%4$ S2e began to
e!tabli!2 plantation! in t2e area!$ S2e again e<ploited ineral re!ource!
in t2i! ;one$ A proble of labour aro!e$ T2e indigenou! people! of t2i!
area 4ere not !trong enoug2 to be engaged in t2i! t+pe of ta!.$
Spaniard! 42o 4ere alread+ u!ed to agilit+ and !trengt2 loo.ed for
!lave! in Africa to 4or. on t2e!e plantation!$
3$4 Effect! of Slave Trade
A 4riter de!cribed t2e !ig2t of a !lave t2u!9
=T2e 6riti!2 8ice-#on!ul of 6eng2a;i !a4 !lave! 42o 4ere eaciated
to ere !.eleton!5 t2eir long5 t2in leg! and ar! and unnatural !i;e and
proinence of t2eir .nee! and elbo4!5 2and! and feet5 gave t2e a o!t
repetitive and !2oc.ing appearance5> T2e!e !lave!5 greater nuber of
t2e !uccubed to t2e t2ir!t and agon+ of t2e Sa2aran !lave erc2ant!
42ip! 42ic2 4ere in con!tant u!e$ After t2e long &ourne+ to t2e coa!t5
t2e !lave! 42o 4ere in c2ain! H4ere 2erded in Hbarracoon!* until t2e+
4ere !old to t2eir bu+er!$ 3uring t2e period of t2e !lave trade about 3%
to 4% illion !oul! 4ere lo!t in Africa$ T2e o!t pat2etic of it all 4a!
t2at t2e!e group! of people 4ere t2e virile population 42o 4ere in t2eir
iddle age!$ T2e lo4 population of Ea!t and #entral Africa 4a! a! a
re!ult of !everal raid! in t2e pa!t$ T2e !lave trade accounted for t2e
de!truction of o!t .ingdo!$ T2e table belo4 !2o4! t2e nuber of
!lave! 2andled b+ t2ree a&or European countrie! involved in t2e trade$
Table 19 Slave E<port! fro (e!t Africa b+ t2e t2ree a&or po4er!5 1/%1 - 1E1%
England9 25%%%5/%%
1rance9 ,1351%%
Portugal9 ,115%%%
Total9 352335E%%
T2e !upreac+ of 6ritain i! clear in t2i! calculation5 !2e alone
accounted for about ,, per cent of all !lave! !2ipped b+ t2e t2ree a&or
po4er!$ T2e e!tiate above varie! fro !c2olar to !c2olar but t2at doe!
not ean t2at t2e nuber i! unnece!!aril+ 2ig25 in !oe ca!e! it i! le!!$
T2e total lo!! of !lave! in t2e period of 1/%1 G 1E1% 4a! about four and
2alf illion5 averaging 415%%% a +ear$ Soe !c2olar! are of t2e opinion
or believe t2at t2e e<pan!ion of !oe !tate! !uc2 a! O+o and 3a2oe+
i! traceable to !lave trade$ T2i! !ubi!!ion i! open to c2allenge$ State!
li.e D2ana5 'ali5 Song2ai and ot2er! attained t2e 2eig2t of t2eir glor+
4it2out t2eir involveent in !lave trade$ Dold 4a! t2eir ain article of
trade and t2e+ 4ere .no4n all over Africa for t2e po!!e!!ion of
abundance of gold$ Again5 6enin ro!e and attained an advanced !tage of
developent about fift+ +ear! before an+ European ever !et 2i! foot on
t2e !oil of 6enin and t4o 2undred +ear! before t2e coenceent
before Europe*! deand for !lave! fro t2e coa!tal region of
(e!t Africa$
Po4erful ruler! eerged in t2e coa!tal region$ 1or e<aple in 1/"%5 t2e
.ing of 3a2oe+ 4a! 4ort2 about N"%%5 %%% fro !ale! of !lave! in 2i!
.ingdo$ T2e entreport! on t2e coa!t becae ore populated and good!
4ere e<c2anged 4it2 t2e European trader! and t2o!e 42o engaged in
!lave trade$ T2i! created additional eplo+ent opportunit+ for t2e
farer! 42o !uppl+ food!tuff for t2e!e people and ot2er trader!$ T2e
raid on t2e to4n! and village! left in t2eir trail blood5 Han unitigated
i!er+ G a crie unredeeed b+ one e<tenuating circu!tance and
an+ t2ou!and! of African! dead*$ T2i! unitigated !cenario created b+
t2e deand of European! for !lave! inten!ified inter tribal 4ar!5 42ic2
2it2erto5 4ere !ettled 4it2 no rancour$ T2e!e 4ar! becae ore and
ore !elf otivated5 e!peciall+ b+ greed+ ruler!5 t2an t2e pre-European
4ar!>$ A 2i!torian pointed out t2at =fig2ting 4a! otivated b+ greed not
b+ !elf-pre!ervation or iperial abition!B t2e+ al!o becae ore and
ore fatal and blood+5 becau!e of t2e u!e of fire-ar!$> Indu!trie! 42ic2
began before t2e European! appeared in Africa 4ere di!rupted$ Suc2
indu!trie! a! bron;e ca!ting5 anufacturing of clot25 bead! and ot2er
local indu!tr+ li.e !it2ing 4ere abandoned during !lave trade$
1aring5 t2e ain !ta+ of African econo+ 4a! di!rupted too$
Slave! e<ported fro Africa 4ere able-bodied en and 4oen5 42o
4ould 2ave contributed ien!el+ to t2e developent of Africa$ T2e
!e< ratio5 according to a !c2olar5 i! t4o en to one 4oan$ A! !aid
earlier t2ere are no available !tati!tic!5 but it 4a! e!tiated b+ ($
Rodne+ t2at about 2% per cent of t2e !lave! 42o left Africa to Europe
died in t2e Atlantic cro!!ing called Hiddle pa!!age*$ And about 1, per
cent died cro!!ing t2e Tran!-Sa2ara trade route to t2e coa!t$ T2ere 4a!
abnoral !tagnation in t2e population of Africa 2a! !2o4n in t2e table
belo49 T2i! i! in illion!$
Table 29 (orld Population-Africa5 Europe and A!ia @illion!A
#ontinent! 1,"% A$3 1/"% A$3 1E"% A$3 1??% A$3
Africa 1%%%%%%%% 1%%%%%%%% 1%%%%%%%% 12%%%%%%%
Europe 1%3%%%%%% 144%%%%%% 2/4%%%%%% 423%%%%%%
A!ia 2"/%%%%%% 23/%%%%%% ,",%%%%%% E4/%%%%%%
Alt2oug2 t2i! a+ loo. outrageou!5 it cannot be accepted a! preci!e5 but
it indicate! a con!en!u! aong re!earc2er! on population5 t2at Africa
2a! abnoral cen!u! figure of !tagnation$
T2e onl+ advantage of !lave trade 4a! t2e 4ealt2 of European! 42o
participated directl+ in t2e trade$ T2e Aerica farer! 4ere able to
!ecure Hc2eap labour5* @t2e !lave*! labourA5 to till and cultivate t2eir !oil5
2ence t2eir acreage increa!ed and ore 4ealt2+ farer! eerged$ T2e
pro!perit+ of Jiverpool and Nante! citie! in t2e nineteent2 centur+ 4a!
traceable to t2e !lave trade t2e erc2ant! involved in$ T2e !4eat of
!lave! built Nante! and JiverpoolO T2e!e t4o citie! becae t2e greate!t
centre! in Europe becau!e of t2e booing !lave trade$ T2e erc2ant!
42o derived t2eir 4ealt2 t2roug2 t2i! trade 4ere able to bu+
con!iderable repre!entation in Parliaent$
T2e late developent of ca!2 crop! in Africa 4a! a! a re!ult of !lave
trade$ T2e European governent! 4ere categorical about t2e
e!tabli!2ent of ca!2-crop cultivation in Africa$ 1or in!tance5 in 1/"1
t2e 6riti!2 6oard of Trade ordered t2e Dovernor of Dold #oa!t #a!tle5
T2oa! 'elville5 to !top t2e developent of cotton cultivation aong
t2e 1ante5 ba!ed on certain in!truction fro 6ritain t2atB =T2e
introduction of culture and indu!tr+ aong!t t2e negroe! i! contrar+ to
t2e .no4n e!tabli!2ed polic+ in t2i! countr+5 t2ere i! no !a+ing 42ere
t2i! ig2t !top5 and t2at it ig2t e<tend to tobacco5 !ugar5 and ever+
ot2er coodit+ 42ic2 4e no4 ta.e fro our colonie!B and t2ereb+ t2e
African!5 42o no4 !upport t2e!elve! b+ 4ar!5 4ould becoe planter!
and t2eir !lave! be eplo+ed in t2e culture of t2e!e article! in Africa5
42ic2 t2e+ are eplo+ed in Aerica$>
A b+-product of !lave trade 4a! t2e e!tabli!2ent and founding of
1ree-to4n and Jiberia bot2 in (e!t Africa$ T2e e!tabli!2ent of
1ree-To4n 4a! done b+ t2e 6riti!2 p2ilant2ropi!t 42o founded a place
for t2e eaciated !lave! at Sierra-Jeone$ T2e !lave! 4ere broug2t in
fro Jondon5 #anada and #aribbean5 about 152%% citi;en!$ In 1E22
ot2er batc2 of !lave! arrived and fored t2e ne4 countr+ called Jiberia$
4$%#ON#JUSION
T2e !lave trade e<po!ed t2e relation!2ip! t2at e<i!ted bet4een Europe
and Africa fro t2e fifteent2 centur+ to nineteent2 centur+$ T2e
relation!2ip 4a! t2at of a!ter5 !ervant relation!2ip$ Africa 2ad no !a+ at
all in t2e political eCuation$ African leader! continued to act a! iddle
en bet4een !lave !upplier! and bu+er!$ T2e price of !lave! cannot be
fi<ed b+ t2e eit2er$ T2e effect of t2e trade accounted for t2e lo4
population of o!t region! of Africa toda+$
"$% SU''ARK
T2e unit di!cu!!ed t2e origin of !lave trade$ T2e trade i! not liited to
Africa onl+ but ore prevalent in Africa$ Tran! Sa2ara Trade Route! and
Tran! Atlantic !lave trade and t2eir con!eCuence! 4ere al!o 2ig2lig2ted$
T2e rea!on! for engaging in t2i! trade 4ere li!ted$ Ipact on t2e
econo+5 political and !ocial live! of African! and European! 4ere
e<plained$
,$% 'ARIE3 ASSIDN'ENT
Trace t2e origin of !lave trade and !laver+ in Africa$
@1A Slave trade contributed to t2e developent of 4e!tern Sudan in t2e
eig2teent2 centur+$ 3i!cu!!$
@2A #arefull+ account for t2e !crable for !lave! in Africa in t2e
nineteent2 centur+ b+ t2e European!$
@3A 3e!cribe briefl+ t2e origin! and gro4t2 of tran!-Sa2aran !lave trade$
@4A (2+ did !lave trade la!t for !o long in AfricaP
/$% RE1EREN#ES01URT)ER REA3INDS
7o!ep2 #$ Anene and Dodfre+ N$ 6ro4n @ed$A @1?,,A$ Africa in t2e
Nineteent2 and T4entiet2 #enturie!5 Ibadan$
To+in 1alola5 Trade 4it2 European! in t2e 1?t2 #entur+5 @1??,A$ in An
Econoic )i!tor+ of (e!t Africa !ince 1/"%5 D$O Ogunrei and
E$I$ 1alu+i @edA5 Ibadan$
UNIT 3 ABOLITION OF SLAVE TRADE
#ONTENTS
1$% Introduction
2$% Ob&ective!
3$% 'ain #ontent
3$1 Abolition of Slave Trade
3$2 6riti!2 Parliaent
3$3 Re!i!tant to Abolition
3$4 Slave Settleent
3$" E<ternal Trade in Office
3$, Political Iplication of Ne4 Trade
4$% #onclu!ion
"$% Suar+
,$% 'ar.ed A!!ignent
/$% Reference!01urt2er Reading!
1$%INTRO3U#TION
T2i! unit deal! 4it2 t2e abolition of !lave trade$ T2e call for t2e
eradication of t2e obno<iou! trade 4a! ore pronounced b+ 6ritain
e!peciall+ aong t2e p2ilant2ropi!t! and 2uanitarian !ocietie!$ (2en
ere pronounceent! did not 4or.5 t2e+ carried t2e e!!age to t2e
6riti!2 Parliaent$
At la!t on 2"t2 'arc25 1E%/5 a bill to abrogate !lave trade 4a! pa!!ed in
6riti!2 Parliaent$ T2i! unit al!o treat! t2e rea!on! for t2e abolition of
!lave trade$ It al!o di!cu!!e! 42+ t2ere 4a! a !trong re!i!tant to t2e
abolition of !lave trade and 2o4 finall+5 t2e beginning of 6riti!2
indu!trial revolution put a final 2alt to t2e trade$
2$% O67E#TI8ES
At t2e end of t2i! unit a learner !2ould be able to9
N di!cu!! t2e origin of !lave trade
N advance rea!on! for !lave trade
N e<aine t2e rea!on! for t2e abolition of !lave trade$
3$%'AIN #ONTENT
3$1 Abolition of Slave Trade
T2ere 2a! been a great deal of controver!+ t2at !urround! t2e abolition
of !lave trade$ Soe 2i!torian!5 o!tl+ 6riti!2 li.e #oupland5 'at2ie!on
and 'ellor5 attributed t2e abolition of !lave trade and !laver+ to purel+
2uanitarian or oral and religion con!ideration!$ On t2e ot2er 2and5
!oe 2i!torian!5 (illia and 3i.e5 2ave argued t2at t2e abolition can be
traced to econoic rea!on!$ One of !uc2 4riter #onton5 !tate!5 =T2at t2e
!lave trade 4a! aboli!2ed largel+ becau!e it 2ad no4 becoe ore
profitable to !ee. in (e!t Africa ra4 aterial! and ar.et! rat2er t2an
!lave!$>
A ore careful !tud+ of !lave trade abolition can bot2 to be !aid to be
2uanitarian and econoic rea!on!$ According to Adu 6oa2en @1?,4A5
HIn t2e fir!t place5 it !2ould not be forgotten t2at t2e attac.! on t2e !lave
trade did not reall+ begin in Europe and England until t2e eig2teent2
centur+ G t2e ver+ centur+ 42en in t2e real! of literature5 p2ilo!op2+
and religion5 ep2a!i! 4a! being placed in t2e eCualit+5 fraternit+ and
t2e libert+ of anO* T2i! 4a! t2e !ae centur+ t2at 7o2n (e!le+
preac2ed t2e eCualit+ of an$ And t2at all en are eCual before Dod$ )e
condened t2e !lave trade on t2e ground! t2at it 4a! ungodl+ and
in2uan$ Rou!!eau5 Ada Sit25 Sauel 7o2n!on and 3avie 3efoe all
condened t2e !lave trade and !laver+ ainl+ on oral and
2uanitarian ground!$
T2e !econd group of people 42o actuall+ organi;ed and launc2ed t2e
attac. on !lave trade and reained per!i!tentl+ in t2eir frontal attac.
4ere en 42o 4ere filled 4it2 2uanitarian and evangelical outloo. in
t2eir approac2$ T2e+ 4ere Dranville S2arp5 T2oa! #lar.!on5 )enr+
T2ornton5 (illia (ilberforce5 and later 1o4ell 6u<ton and 7ae!
Step2en$ It 4a! t2i! people 42o fored t2e !ociet+ for t2e abolition of
!lave trade in 'a+ 1/E/ and 6riti!2 Anti-Slaver+ in 1E23$
6+ t2e end of eig2teen centur+5 t2e 6riti!2 (e!t Indian I!land 2ad 2ad
enoug2 !lave! for t2e plantation$ In fact about fift+ per cent of t2e !lave!
iported 4ere re-e<ported to t2e I!land! of ot2er European po4er!$ T2e
6riti!2 conCue!t of ne4 fertile 1renc2 and 3utc2 i!land! bet4een 1/?2
and 1E%3 led to !tiff copetition 4it2 ot2er European countrie!$ So5 t2e+
2oped t2at t2e abolition of !lave trade 4ould 2alt t2e e<pected gain to
t2e econo+$ Again5 !ince 6ra;il and #uba 2ad ore !ugar and
produced at a c2eaper rate t2an t2eir!5 and t2ere 4a! a !urplu! !ugar in
England t2at needed bu+er!5 6ritain 4ould prefer to 2ave ar.et! rat2er
t2an !lave!$ A 4riter5 (illia contended t2at it 4a! t2e accuulation of
un!old !ugar in 6ritain and t2e !ub!eCuent need for ar.et t2at
engineered t2e pa!!ing of t2e abolition bill! in 1E%/ and 1E33$
T2at 6ritain relied on African !lave! for 2er econo+ i! not in doubt$
T2e te<tile5 t2e !ugar refiner+5 t2e !2ipping5 42ic2 6ritain i! .no4n for5
and t2e iron indu!trie! all depended indirectl+ on t2e !lave! !2ipped to
(e!t Indian I!land!$ 6ut t2ing! too. anot2er dien!ion 42en 6ritain
!tarted 2er indu!trial revolution G t2at i! t2e c2ange fro production b+
2and to production b+ ac2ine!$
All t2e!e indu!trie! cea!ed to rel+ on 2uan cargo @!lave!A fro (e!t
Indian I!land!$ T2e !2ip o4ner! 4ere a.ing ore profit! fro
conve+ing ra4 cotton and unrefined !ugar fro 6ra;il and United State!
to Europe and 6ritain t2an fro conve+ing !lave! to t2e (e!t Indian!$
T2en t2e traffic. in !lave dropped$ T2e deand for ra4 aterial aro!e a!
ore and ore ac2ine! 4ere put into u!e$ T2e indu!triali!t! and
2uanitarian! agreed t2at in!tead of iporting Africa labour @!lave!A5
t2e+ could !tart to encourage Africa to gro4 t2eir ra4 aterial! for t2eir
indu!trie!$ T2u! b+ t2e earl+ nineteent2 centur+5 it 2ad becoe clear t2at
African !lave! 2ad cea!ed to be an econoic factor in 6ritain5 and t2at
Africa could !erve 6ritain effectivel+ b+ producing ca!2 crop! and
fini!2ed good! could be !old to Africa too$
In 6ritain5 e!peciall+ in Jiverpool5 t2e a&or !lave port 2ad b+ 1E%%
becoe le!! dependent on !lave cargoe!$ 6riti!2 erc2ant! t2at u!ed t2e
port for !lave cargo 2ad !2ifted t2eir attention to cotton and ot2er good!$
Profit fro t2i! bu!ine!!5 !lave trade5 declined con!iderabl+ and !2re4d
bu!ine!! en oved t2eir one+ to ore lucrative bu!ine!!$ 6+ t2e end
of id nineteent2 centur+ 42en t2e ipact of indu!trial revolution
@a!! production of good! ba!ed on t2e u!e of ac2ine!A 4a! being felt
in all t2e European countrie! and in t2e United State!5 t2e need for
!lave! graduall+ diini!2ed and !lave trade becae unnece!!ar+$
3$2 6riti!2 Parliaent
In 1E%" t2e )ou!e of #oon! pa!!ed a bill t2at outla4ed an+ 6riti!2
!ub&ect to capture and tran!port !lave! to 6riti!2 !2ore!$ T2i! ea!ure
4a! bloc.ed b+ t2e )ou!e of Jord!$ In 1ebruar+ 1E%,5 Jord Dreenville
fored a 42ip adini!tration$ Dreenville and 2i! foreign !ecretar+5
#2arle! 1o<5 4ere !trong opponent! of !lave trade$ 1o< and (illia
(ilberforce led t2e eradication capaign in t2e )ou!e of #oon$
Dranville 4a! left 4it2 t2e ta!. to per!uade t2e )ou!e of Jord! to bac.
abolition capaign$ )e pre!ented a critical arguent in a !peec2 to t2e
)ou!e of Jord! on t2e obno<iou! !lave trade$ )e argued t2at t2e trade
4a! Hcontrar+ to t2e principle of &u!tice5 2uanit+ and !ound polic+* and
2e critici!ed fello4 eber! for not 2aving aboli!2ed t2e trade long
ago$ (2en t2e vote 4a! ta.en t2e Abolition of Trade 6ill 4a! pa!!ed in
t2e )ou!e of Jord! b+ 41 vote! to 2%$ In t2e )ou!e of #oon! it 4a!
carried b+ 114 to 1" and it becae la4 on 2"t2 'arc25 1E%/$
6riti!2 captain! 42o 4ere caug2t 4it2 !lave! in t2eir !2ip! 4ere fined
E1%% per !lave found on board$ In order to circuvent t2e la45 !2ip! t2at
4ere about to be caug2t b+ Naval S2ip!5 duped !lave! into t2e !ea$
T2oa! #lar.!on and T2oa! 1o4l 6u<ton argued t2at t2e be!t 4a+ to
!top !laver+ 4a! to ban !lave trade$ )o4ever5 it 4a! not until 1E33 t2at
Parliaent pa!!ed t2e !laver+ Abolition Act$
6riti!2 anti-!lave capaign 4a! one of t2e o!t iportant refor
oveent! in t2e nineteent2 centur+$ 6ut t2e 2i!tor+ i! not 4it2out
ironie!$ 3uring t2e cour!e of eig2teent2 centur+5 6ritain 4a! one of
countrie! t2at participated in t2e obno<iou! trade$ Indeed5 it 2a! been
e!tiated t2at bet4een 1/%% and 1E1% 6riti!2 !lave erc2ant! iported
about t2ree illion !lave! fro Africa acro!! t2e Atlantic$ Parado<icall+5
t2e !ae 6ritain5 t2at c2apioned !lave trade5 al!o c2apioned t2e
anti-!lave trade capaign$ 6efore t2e bill 4a! pa!!ed into la4 in 1E33$
Several effort! 4ere ade to 2alt t2e trade$ T2e Mua.er!5 for in!tance5
petitioned Parliaent again!t !lave trade a! earl+ a! 1/E3 and !iilar
petition 4a! !ubitted in 1/E"$ T2i! tie5 in 1/E"5 t2e petition 4a! !ent
in b+ in2abitant! of 6ridge4ater in Soer!et$ In 1E235 !oe of t2e
leading eber! of African in!titution! including #lar.!on5 (ilberforce
and Lac2ar+ 'acaula+ organi;ed a ne4 anti-!laver+ !ociet+$ Ji.e ot2er
anti-!lave trade !ocietie!5 t2i! ne4 one 4a! a national organi;ation 4it2
branc2e! and net4or. of regional and local au<iliarie!$
3$3 Re!i!tant to Abolition
T2e abolition of !lave trade or t2e Atlantic Slave Trade left t4o region!
of Africa copletel+ unaffected$ In!tead of !toppage5 t2e e<port of
!lave! in t2e direction of Ea!t and Nort2 Africa 4a! on t2e increa!e$ T2e
Ea!t Africa !lave trade 4a! 2andled b+ t2e Arab! 42o 2ad !ettled in t2e
coa!tal to4n! of Ea!t Africa$ A fe4 of t2e ig2t 2ave found t2e 4a+!
to t2e 2interland5 but o!t of t2e relied on African leader! to !ell
!lave! to t2e$ T2e po!ition of t2e region in ter! of !ale of !lave! 4a!
ade anife!t in 1E4% 42en t2e Arab ruler of Oan5 Se++id Said5
decided to tran!fer 2i! court fro 'u!cat to Lan;itar$ T2e ai 4a! to
inaugurate a !+!teic e<ploitation of re!ource! of Ea!t Africa$ One of
t2e!e re!ource! 4a! t2e Africa !lave$ T2e e<pan!ion of crop! and ot2er
plantation b+ Said5 reCue!ted ore !lave! to 4or. on t2e!e plantation!$
T2e deand for ore !lave! in 'iddle Ea!t and Arabia5 propted Ea!t
Africa ruler! to continue t2e trade$ Under t2e tutelage of Said5 and
a!!i!ted b+ Indian finance5 ore and ore Arab organi;ed caravan!
42ic2 penetrated t2e 42ole of Ea!t Africa for !lave!$ T2e!e activitie! of
t2e Arab reac2ed t2e la.e! of #entral Africa and be+ond$ In a nuber of
place!5 t2e Arab! e!tabli!2ed Hcolonie!* a! centre! for t2e collection of
!lave!$ In t2e upper region of River #ongo5 t2e Arab! attac.ed t2e
organi;ational !+!te5 42ic2 4ere poor5 raided t2eir village! and !ei;ed
en and 4oen for !lave!$
T2e Nile 8alle+ and Sa2aran trade route! provided ot2er avenue! for t2e
e<port of Negroe! to Nort2 Africa and 'editerranean$ T2e 4ar
precipitated b+ t2e 1ulani &i2adi!t in 1E%45 in )au!a land5 al!o provided
opportunitie! for t2e capture of pagan! for t2e !lave trade$ T2e 6enue
troug2 lo4 population i! traceable to t2e an+ !lave! ta.en fro t2e
region in t2e pa!t b+ t2e 7i2adi!t!$ T2i! region5 called t2e 'iddle 6elt in
Nigeria of toda+5 4a! tered pagan ;one$ In 6ornu5 t2e leader continued
to raid for !lave! in t2e region! Sout2 of Ja.e #2adB in Iano5 Iat!ina
and ot2er to4n!5 t2ere 4ere open !lave ar.et!$ Slave! 4ere t2e ain
article of trade$ T2e !ae can be !aid of 6ornu-1e;;an and (adai
6eng2a;i route! during t2e nineteent2 centur+$ T2e tran!-Sa2aran trade
in !lave! 2ad a uniCue feature of Tran! Atlantic route$ Apart fro t2e
fact t2at an+ of t2e !lave! 4ere +oung 4oan and eunuc2!$ T2e long
arc2 acro!! t2e de!ert and 2eav+ deat2 toll it involved 2ad no parallel
in t2e 2i!tor+ of !lave trade$
Ot2er European nation! and United State! did not co-operate 4it2
6ritain becau!e of t2e need to protect t2eir o4n econo+$ 'o!t of t2e
econoie! of t2e!e countrie! depended largel+ on !lave trade$ T2e+
prevented 6riti!2 interference in t2eir o4n affair!$ T2e African
iddleen t2at 2ad ade fortune! fro t2i! trade 4ere again!t t2e
abolition a! !tated earlier$ T2e co-operation bet4een !lave dealer!
e!peciall+ Spani!2 and t2e Portugue!e and t2eir all+- African erc2ant!
con!tituted a great ob!tacle to abolition of t2e trade$
It 4a! not ea!+ for 6riti!2 naval officer! to arre!t !lave dealer! on t2e
Atlantic Ocean$ T2e 2uanitarian! and p2ilant2ropi!t! 4ere faced 4it2
proble! after t2e abolition of !lave trade$ T2ou!and! of freed !lave!
4ere returned to (e!t African #oa!t$ A! earl+ a! 1//25 4it2 t2e effort!
of Dranville S2arp5 one of t2e abolitioni!t!5 t2e #2ief 7u!tice Jord
'an!field5 2ad decreed t2at an+ !lave t2at !et! 2i! feet on t2e !oil of
England 4a! a free !lave$
T2e re!ult of t2i! 4a! t2at o!t recaptured !lave! becae free and
t2ou!and! of t2e reain in England$ 'o!t of t2e!e freed !lave!
becae uneplo+ed and de!titute per!on!$ To overcoe t2e plig2t of
t2e!e !lave!5 t2e 2uanitarian! found a colon+ on t2e (e!t #oa!t of
Africa$ A !ite on t2e coa!t of odern Sierra Jeone 4a! c2o!en$ In earl+
=1/E/5 2?% blac. en5 41 blac. 4oen5 /% 42ite pro!titute!5 and !i<
42ite c2ildren5 3E official! and craft!en 4it2 t2eir failie!5 and one
private pa!!enger5 !et !ail fro England$> T2e+ fored t2e odern
Sierra Jeone$
In t2e United State!5 t2e fear t2at 1reed Slave! ig2t in!tigate t2e
en!laved to rebel or ig2t increa!e t2e agitation for independence led to
t2e foundation in 1E21 of t2e colon+ of Jiberia 42ic2 attained it!
independence in 1E4/$ 6+ 1E3%*! o!t European nation! 2ad pa!!ed t2e
abolition act$
3$4 'i!!ionar+ Activitie!
T2e 2uanitarian! devoted o!t of t2eir tie to !preading #2ri!tianit+
and European culture in Africa$ 6et4een 1/?2 and 1E%45 t2e+ 4ere
involved in t2e foration of a nuber of i!!ionar+ !ocietie! in (e!t
Africa$ Suc2 !ocietie! 4ere (e!le+an 'i!!ionar+ Societ+ and t2e
6apti!t 'i!!ionar+ Societ+$ In 1/?"5 t2e (e!le+an 'i!!ion Societ+ !ent
out a part+ of ec2anic! and preac2er! to Sierra Jeone5 t2i! group
e<tended t2eir activitie! to t2e Dabia in 1E/15 to D2ana in 1E34 and
Koruba land in 1E4,*!$ A 2o!t of ot2er i!!ion! 4ere e!tabli!2ed in (e!t
Africa e$g$ T2e Dla!go4 and Scotti!2 'i!!ionar+ Societ+5 #2urc2
'i!!ionar+ Societ+5 Nort2 Deran or 6reen 'i!!ionar+ Societ+
42ic2 operated in Togo5 t2e Evangelical 'i!!ionar+ Societ+ fro
S4it;erland in Ea!tern D2ana5 t2e United Pre!terian #2urc2 of Scotland
in #alabar and ot2er!$
T2e!e !ocietie! did not concentrate in building c2urc2e!5 preac2ing t2e
go!pel and converting African! t2e+ al!o taug2t ne4 et2od! of
preparing e<port crop! to t2eir o4n countrie!$ In D2ana #2ri!tianit+ 4a!
not t2oug2t alone$ T2e!e !ocietie! paid attention to t2e developent of
agriculture and legitiate trade a! a !ub!titute to !lave trade$ T2e+
introduced ne4 crop! li.e cocoa5 !et up plantation agriculture$ T2e+ al!o
!et up !ettleent centre! a! e<periental far!$ T2e 'et2odi!t
e!tabli!2ed t2e coffee5 clove5 cinnaon and orange plantation in cape
coa!t$ T2e 6apti!t i!!ionarie! !et up cocoa plantation! at A.ropong
fro 42ere t2e+ !upplied pod! and !eedling! to farer!$ Soe of t2e!e
!ocietie! fored copanie!$ 6a!el 'i!!ionar+ Societ+ in D2ana fored
t2e 6a!el Trading #opan+ @no4 .no4n a! t2e UT#A in 1E"?5 42ile t2e
#2urc2 'i!!ionar+ Societ+ @#'SA fored t2e (e!t Africa #opan+ in
1E,3$
T2e greate!t contribution of i!!ionar+ !ocietie! 4a! in education$ T2e+
!et up eleentar+ and !econdar+ !c2ool! in t2e 42ole of (e!t Africa
42ere t2eir activitie! too. place$ In 1E415 t2e #'S 2ad t4ent+-one
eleentar+ !c2ool! and a! earl+ a! 1E2/5 it founded t2e 1ora+ 6a+
#ollege5 42ic2 e<i!t! until toda+$
T2e !ocietie! devoted t2eir tie to t2e developent of local lingui!tic
!tudie! 4it2 a vie4 to reducing t2e African language! to 4riting and
teac2ing t2eir convert! 2o4 to read t2e 6ible in t2e vernacular$ 6+ 1EE%5
o!t local language! 2ad been in t2e 4ritten for$ T2e+ 4ere t2e
Koruba5 T4i5 E4e5 )au!a5 Eti. and Tene$ (it2 education5 a ne4 group
of African elite eerged$ T2i! group of African! encouraged t2e
agitation for independence in o!t Africa countrie!$
Jiving!tone 42o 2ad e<plored t2e Ea!t Africa region per!uaded t2e
6riti!2 Dovernent to !end 2i bac. to coand an official e<pedition
to e<plore t2e navigable po!!ibilitie! of t2e Labe;i$ T4o i!!ionar+
organi!ation! cae to 2i! re!cue5 t2e Jondon 'i!!ionar+ Societ+ @J'SA
and t2e Univer!itie! 'i!!ion to #entral Africa @UNA#AA$ 6ut t2e
i!!ion et 4it2 di!a!ter$ T2e Labe;i proved un!uitable for
navigation and UNA#A i!!ion5 bro.en b+ di!ea!e and t2reat of !lave
raid!5 2ad to 4it2dra4$ T2e Scot!5 Jiving!tone5 countr+en5 began t2e
oveent$ 6+ 1E/"5 t2e Scotti!2 c2urc2e!5 !upported b+ indu!triali!t!
founded i!!ion !tation in t2e !2ire 2ig2land$ T2e #at2olic intervened in
t2e!e activitie!$ Suddenl+ in 1EE/-E a !erie! of Arab attac.!5 otivated
b+ t2e 'a2di!t 'oveent in t2e Sudan5 t2reatened t2e 4or. of t2e
i!!ionarie! in t2e interior$ 1urt2er nort25 4or. of t2e i!!ionarie! 4a!
interrupted b+ a S4a2ili trader and t2ree 42ite fat2er! 4ere forced to
abandon t2eir !tation!$ In 1EE% t2e!e 6i!2op! and !oe i!!ionarie!
4ere arre!ted b+ Arab! and luc.il+ e!caped a!!a!!ination$
3$" E<ternal Trade in Africa
T2e vacuu created b+ t2e abolition of !lave trade u!t be filled b+
anot2er trade$ Sir T$1 6u<ton called for t2e Hcivili;ation5 coerce and
#2ri!tianit+ in Africa$ )e !ugge!ted in 1E3? 2o4 plantation agriculture
!ettleent! and legitiate !lave trade could eliinate !lave and !laver+$
In t2e follo4ing +ear 2e reCue!ted aid to e!tabli!2 t2e Niger plantation$
6e!ide! t2e inten!ification of e<ploration5 t2ere 4ere fe4 attept! to !et
up plantation agriculture to produce ca!2-crop! for e<port in Africa5
along t2e line of Euro-Aerican odel$
T2e production of pal oil5 42ic2 4a! !eriou!l+ needed in Europe5
caug2t t2e attention of European! and African!$ T2e ne4 ac2ine in
Europe and Aerica needed oil pal for lubrication and !oap for bot2
factor+ 4or.er! and t2e populace$ Oil Pal 2a! been gro4ing 4ild fro
tie ieorial$ T2e+ !ei;ed t2i! opportunit+ to doe!tic it and
cultivate it in large plantation$ T2e 6riti!2 Ro+al African #opan+
@6RA#A particularl+ too. part in t2e e<portation of t2i! good to Europe$
T2e Niger 3elta 4a! t2e a&or producer of pal oil$ T2e Cuantit+ of
pal oil increa!ed rapidl+ t2roug2out t2e centur+ fro 15%%% ton! in
1E1% to "5%%% in 1E3% and to 3%5%%% ton! in 1E"%$ Ot2er product!
e<pected fro (e!t Africa 4ere gu Arabic5 coffee5 cotton5 groundnut5
tiber and ot2er!$ T2e la!t t4o decade! of nineteent2 centur+ !a4 t2e
beginning of large !cale ining b+ European copanie!$
T2e trade continued to increa!e in volue after 1E42$ 6ritain too. t2e
lead in t2i! pur!uit$ Probabl+ becau!e !2e 4a! t2e fir!t indu!triali;ed
nation$ 1rance 4a! !econd5 42ile Deran+ &oined later in t2e !econd
2alf of t2e nineteent2 centur+$ Ot2er participant! li.e t2e 3ane!5 t2e
3utc2 and t2e Aerican! 4ere be2ind ot2er nation!$ T2e copetition
aong nation! in (e!t Africa becae ore uncofortable$ T2e
bitterne!! aong t2e e!tabli!2ed trading 2ou!e!5 t2e !all and ne4 one!
42o 2ad &u!t &oined t2e trade and t2e African trader! becae ore
evident$ In t2e !earc2 for ore trade and profit!5 European trader!
penetrated t2e interior$ Soe of t2e copanie! 4ere eager to in!titute
t2e idea of c2artered copanie! 4it2 onopol+ over trade$
T2e Ro+al Niger #opan+ @RN#A5 a #2artered #opan+ 42ic2 becae
t2e protot+pe for ot2er #2artered copan+ in Africa revived t2e
c2artered copan+ a! a et2od of acCuiring and ruling territor+$ It 4a!
one of t2e copanie! t2at !ucceeded$ T2e arc2itect of RN#5 Sir
Tauban Doldie 4ent to lo4er Niger5 t2e o!t flouri!2ing centre for
trade in pal oil produce in 1E// to acCuire it$
T2i! 4a! a tie of cut- t2roat copetition aong t2e European trading
copanie!$ T2ere 4a! con!tant rivalr+ aong African c2ief! over 42o
control! t2e u!e of river Niger$ T2e 3elta c2ief t2at collected levie! 4a!
in !trong !truggle for t2e control! 4it2 ot2er c2ief!$ Doldie !olved t2i!
proble once and for all$ )e organi;ed all 6riti!2 trading copanie!
into a !ingle copan+ a! t2e United African #opan+ @UA#A in 1E/?$
T2ere 4a! a copetition bet4een t4o 1renc2 copanie!5 t2e
#opagnie 1rancai!e de l*AfriCue ECuiatriale and t2e #opagne de
Senegal5 t2e Cue!t for 1renc2 to e!tabli!2 a colon+ in (e!t Africa and
t2e advance of Deran+ fro #aeroon to Nort2ern Nigeria5 forced
Doldie to iprove t2e organi;ation and activitie! of UA#$ In 1EE25
Doldie increa!ed t2e capital of UA# fro E2%%5 %%% to E1 and offered
public !2are!$
6ecau!e of t2e t2reat fro ot2er nation!5 Doldie applied for c2arter to
control t2e Niger territor+$ T2e c2arter epo4ered t2e RN# to govern
t2e territor+$ T2i! al!o gave 2i t2e po4er to prevent ot2er European
copanie! to trade in t2i! ;one$ )e u!t not interfere 4it2 people*!
cu!to! and religion and could collect ta<e! to defra+ adini!trative
e<pen!e!$ T2e copan+ 4a! renaed Ro+al Niger #opan+$
T2e RN# ipo!ed 2ig2 dutie! on e<ported and iported good! and 2e
reCue!ted t2at all copanie! in t2e area u!t obtain licen!e before
trading and at a ver+ 2ig2 c2arge!$
3$, Political iplication of Ne4 Trade
T2e political iplication of t2e!e econoic activitie! 4a! far-reac2ing$
Ji.e t2e i!!ionarie!5 t2e European trader! con!tantl+ appealed to t2eir
2oe governent to intervene and re!tore peace and !tabilit+ 42ere
t2e+ doinate$ It 4a! !ipl+ becau!e of t2i! t2at European po4er!
becae involved in t2e political arrangeent of African !ociet+ during
t2e nineteent2 centur+$ T2e granting of c2arter to RN# to interfere in t2e
affair! of t2e Niger territor+5 and t2e 6riti!2 involveent in t2e
A!ante-1ante 4ar! in t2e nineteent2 centur+ are .no4n e<aple!$ T2e
intervention in A!ante-1ante 4ar led to t2e final anne<ation of Sout2ern
D2ana in 1E/4$ In anot2er vein5 1renc2 anne<ed Porto Novo and
#otonou in t2e earl+ 1EE%*! ainl+ to facilitate t2e activitie! of 2er
trader!$ Appeal! fro Deran trader! and i!!ionarie! fro Togo land
and #aeroon*! gave Otto 8on 6i!arc. t2e e<cu!e to attac. t2o!e
area! in 1EE4$
T2e polic+ of legitiate trade 4a! not trul+ a colonial approac25 but a
4a+ of preparing t2e ground for colonial intervention in t2e affair! of
t2e !tate!$ 6et4een 1E"2 and 1E,1 t2e 6riti!2 intervened in Jago!5 on
t2e ground t2at t2e+ 4ere replacing a ruler 42o 4a! in !upport of !lave
trade for a ruler 42o 4a! in !upport of legitiate coerce$ 6ritain
attepted to find a congenial local political ruler and 4or. t2roug2 2iB
building up t2eir !trengt2 t2roug2 ilitar+ advice and !upplie!5 to create
!tate! 42ic2 4ould give added !ecurit+ to coerce and !uppre!! !lave
trading$ In Nort2 Africa5 Eg+pt 4a! a !pectacular e<aple of !uc2
6riti!2 polic+5 t2oug2 6ritain and 1rance participated but a!!i!ted t2e
I2edive in 2i! bid to free 2i! !tate fro Tur.i!2 control$ 'ilitar+
officer! 4ere !econded to 2i b+ bot2 countrie! for !ervice in Eg+ptian
ar+$ T2e 1renc2 !ucce!!full+ con!tructed t2e Sue; #anal$ T2roug2out
t2i! period t2ere 4a! no !ign of colonial aut2orit+ in Eg+pt$
T2e 6riti!2 calculation 4a! t2at =T2e African !tate! needed to be free
fro out!ide intervention if !2e 4ere to pur!ue t2e polic+ 4it2out
political control of African !tate!>$ If !uc2 polic+ did not favour 6ritain5
t2an t2e arrangeent collap!ed$ T2at i! if t2e colon+ fell under t2e
control of ot2er European po4er!$ Again Africa needed to be able to
4it2!tand t2e !train! created b+ European coercial5 financial and
cultural ipact$ If t2i! 4or.ed 4ell5 t2e need for ra4 aterial 4ould be
re!t a!!ured$ 6ut t2e control of Africa began 42en t2e fir!t condition
outlined above collap!ed$
In 1E,?5 1rance5 Ital+ and 6ritain a!!ued t2e direct control of Tuni!ian
finance!$ T2ere 4a! al!o a great financial cri!i! in Eg+pt5 42ere .2edive
found t2at Eg+ptian finance! 4ere no longer enoug2 to eet intere!t
pa+ent on t2e 2uge debt of t2e !tate$ 1rance and 6ritain 4ere t2en
given t2e control$ 'ean42ile 6ritain 2ad !et ac2iner+ in otion to
control t2e Sue; #anal 42ic2 4a! vital for 2er counication 4it2 t2e
India Epire$ T2e 4ar bet4een Deran+ and 1rance in 1E/%5 42ic2
ended in favour of Deran+5 encouraged Deran+ to !ta+ off t2e
acCui!ition of colon+$ In!tead t2e !udden !tabilit+ attained b+ 1rance in
1E?/5 4a! 4elcoe b+ Deran+$ T2e Republican! got control of 1renc2
pre!idenc+ and ou!ted 6onaparte and onarc2i!t! fro t2e centre of
po4er$ Alo!t iediatel+ 1rance returned to Africa to re-a!!ert it!
po!ition on t2e continent$ Deran+ 4elcoed t2i! developent becau!e
6i!arc. t2oug2t t2at colonial interference b+ 1rance could onl+
4ea.en 2er and divert 2er energie! fro plan! to revenge again!t
Deran+$ At t2e 6erlin #onference of 1EE45 6i!arc. pla+ed t2e role of
H2one!t bro.er*5 2e did not onl+ urge 6ritain to anne< #+pru!5 but
pre!!ed 1rance to ta.e Tuni!5 42ere t2e+ 4ere 4orried b+ t2e pre!ence
of 2%5%%% Italian !oldier!$ In 1EE15 1rance occupied t2e countr+ and
Ital+ reained po4erle!! in t2e pre!ence of Deran+*! tacit !upport of
1rance$
4$% #ON#JUSION
In t2i! unit5 t2e di!cu!!ion5 a! e<plained earlier i! ba!ed on !lave trade
and !laver+$ T2at !lave trade !tarted in Africa5 a+ not be true at all$
Slave and !laver+ 2ad t2eir origin bot2 in Europe and Africa$ 6ritain t2at
!pear 2eaded t2e abolition of !lave trade 2ad 2er ulterior otive! $ T2e
beginning of 2er indu!trial revolution5 42en ra4 aterial! 4ere needed
rat2er t2at !lave! called for t2e abolition of t2e !lave trade$ 6ut !oe
!c2olar! al!o argued t2at 2uanitarian! and p2ilant2ropi!t! 4ere
!eriou!l+ again!t t2e trade in 2uan being!$ T2e+ !a4 t2i! a! again!t t2e
tenet! of t2eir religion and t2e+ preac2ed again!t it$ )o4ever5 4e .no4
t2at t2e co-operation of ot2er nation! 4a! ba!ed on t2e fact t2at
tran!portation of ra4 aterial! fro Africa 4a! ore lucrative t2an
!lave cargoe!$ T2i! encouraged t2e to abandon t2e trade$ 6e!ide!5 t2e
i!!ionar+ !ociet+*! activitie! in Africa t2at di!couraged !lave trade
cae in 42en !ub!titute for t2e trade 4a! 2and+-t2e econoic option$
"$% SU''ARK
In t2i! unit5 4e 2ave di!cu!!ed t2e origin of Atlantic !lave trade and
!laver+ in bot2 Europe and Africa$ In e<plaining5 4e 2ig2lig2ted t2e
variou! group! t2at eventuall+ participated in t2e abolition proce!!5 and
2o4 finall+ t2e trade 4a! !topped$ (e di!cu!!ed t2e contending force!
during and after t2e !lave trade$ T2e diploatic aneuvering! b+ t2e
big po4er! 4a! al!o e<plained$
,$% 'ARIE3 ASSIDN'ENT
1$ E<plain5 in detail t2e controver!+ t2at !urround! t2e abolition of
!lave trade$
2$ (2+ did 6ritain ta.e leading part in t2e abolition of !lave tradeP
3$ (2+ did t2e trade in African !lave! la!t for !o longP
4$ 3e!cribe briefl+ t2e origin and et2od! of Tran!-Atlantic !lave
trade$
"$ #oent on t2e !tateent t2at5 =!lave trade ruined t2e
developent effort! in Africa>$
/$% RE1EREN#ES01URT)ER REA3INDS
Adu 6oa2en5 @1?,,A$ Topic! in (e!t African )i!tor+5 Jondon9 Jongan$
7o!ep2 #$ Anene and Dodfre+ N$ 6ro4n @ed$A @1?,,A$ Africa in t2e
Nineteent2 and T4entiet2 #enturie!5 Ibadan9 Univer!it+ Pre!!
and Nel!on$
UNIT 4 EUROPEAN IMPERIALISM
#ONTENTS
1$% Introduction
2$% Ob&ective!
3$% 'ain #ontent
3$1 Political and Strategic 1actor!
3$2 Econoic 1actor
3$3 Re!ult! of Iperiali!
3$4 Effect of Iperiali! on European Relation!
4$% #onclu!ion
"$% Suar+
,$% 'ar.ed A!!ignent
/$% Reference!01urt2er Reading!
1$% INTRO3U#TION
T2i! unit i! a continuation of our di!cu!!ion on t2e influence of
European political life$ It al!o introduce! t2e learner to t2e variou!
rea!on! 42+ t2e partition of Africa too. place$ T2e vie4! of ot2er
4riter! on t2i! topic 4ill al!o be e<plained$ T2i! unit focu!e! on
European iperiali! in general too$
2$% O67E#TI8ES
At t2e end of t2i! unit +ou !2ould be able to9
N e<plain 42+ European native! partitioned Africa
N di!cu!! t2e feature of European iperiali!
N appl+ t2e .no4ledge gained in t2e unit to t2e under!tanding of
iperiali! in general$
3$% 'AIN #ONTENT
8ariou! arguent!5 e!peciall+ b+ European (riter!5 4ere u!ed to &u!tif+
iperiali! in Africa$ T2e rea!on! or otive! be2ind t2e act5 differ fro
one European countr+ to t2e ot2er$ 6ut t2e rea!on! can be categori;ed a!
follo4!9
3$1 Political and Strategic 1actor!
T2e ru!2 or t2e !crable for po!!e!!ion! and 2egeon+ in Africa and
1ar Ea!t after 1E/% b+ European po4er! 4a! dictated priaril+ b+
con!ideration of European po4er diploac+$ 3uring t2e 4ar5 6i!arc.
4a! able to out pla+ 1rance5 and Al!ace-Jorraine 4a! conceded to
Deran+ in 1E/%$ After 1E/15 42en Deran+ and Ital+ becae united5
European governent! cea!ed to be preoccupied 4it2 European
proble!$ T2ere 4a! no roo for diploatic anoeuvre5 a! 4a! t2e ca!e
in t2e pa!t$ To re!olve t2i! deadloc.5 t2e European countrie! loo.ed to
fre!2 region! to find !cope for t2eir abition!5 t2u! =Pro&ecting
European conflict!> el!e42ere$
T2e !tate!en 4ere al!o !ati!fied 4it2 relative balance-of-po4er
po!ition in Europe$ T2e+ 4ere al!o propted b+ peace on all part! of t2e
4orld t2en$ Eac2 !tate!an 4a! con!ciou! of additional po4er obtained
b+ anot2er !tate$ Ital+ and Deran+5 t2e ne4 !tate! and great po4er!5
4ere con!ciou! of 2aving ne4 epire!$ 6ritain5 42o 2ad large colonial
epire!5 4a! a4are t2at ot2er European po4er! 4ere &ealou! of 2er
e<pan!ioni!t policie!5 !2e !tarted on an active coloni;ation polic+ to
.eep a2ead$
T2e ain preoccupation of 6ritain 4a! to protect e!tabli!2ed intere!t!5
and !afeguard t2e 2ig24a+ to t2e in!ured ar.et! of India5 #2ina and
Au!tralia colonie!$ 6ritain5 .no4ing 2er intere!t5 acCuired !trategicall+
located po!!e!!ion! en route to t2e!e colonie!$
T2e period 1E/"-1?%% 4a! t2e H2e+da+* of 6riti!2 e<pan!ioni!t polic+5
codified iperiali!$ T2e activitie! of Jord #roer in Eg+pt5 Jord
'ilner in Sout2 Africa and 7o!ep2 #2aberlain 2ad 4ild !pread !upport
of 6riti!2 governent$ 6ritain at t2e initial !tage 4a! lu.e4ar to4ard!
acCuiring epire! in Africa5 but t2e 6riti!2 governent agreed at a latter
!tage5 t2at if !2e u!t acCuire epire! it u!t be !elective$ 1or !trategic
rea!on!5 6ritain !trengt2en 2er control over t2e !ea route! to India5 and
to prevent ot2er po4er! fro controlling t2e!e area!5 6ritain retained
'auritiu! and #ape colon+ in 1E1"5 anne<ed Aden in 1E3?5 too. an
intere!t in Lan;ibar and Ea!t Africa and eventuall+ involved in Eg+pt
and t2e Sue; #anal$
1or political rea!on!5 po!!e!!ion! !erved a! a beneficiar+ Hpa4n* in t2e
po4er gae or politic! of Europe rivalrie!$ T2e ain eneie! of 6ritain
2ad been 1rance and Spain5 a&or colonial e<pan!ioni!t! too$ 6ritain
u!ual gae plan 4a! for 2er allie! to con!tructivel+ engage t2e!e
eneie! on land5 42ile5 4it2 t2e naval po4er t2at !2e 2ad5 !2e could
underine t2eir naval po4er fro !uc2 ba!e! a! Dibraltar in t2e
'editerranean$ Anot2er factor for 2er greed in colonial e<pan!ion i!
coercial$
6ritain developed e<ten!ive trade 4it2 t2e 'editerranean countrie!5
including India and #2ina$ Po!!e!!ion of t2e!e colonie! !erved a! naval
ba!e for 6riti!2 naval !2ip! and al!o refueling !tation! for !2ip! apart
fro coercial or trading rea!on and al!o u!ed a! a garri!on to
!uppre!! !lave trade and pirac+ on t2e 2ig2 !ea!$ In addition5 6ritain
econoic or political intere!t again!t 2o!tile po4er! could be c2ec.ed$
A! po4er !2ifted in Europe fro 1rance and Spain to4ard! t2e ne4
!trong Deran+ and Ru!!ia5 6ritain e<tended 2er influence ea!t4ard!$
T2e 4e!tern 4riter! advanced anot2er political arguent a! rea!on! for
iperiali! in Africa$ T2e+ !a+5 in order to !afeguard t2e African! for
eac2 ot2er5 !ecurit+ u!t be 2eig2tened around t2e and European! in
t2e id!t$ T2e+ argued furt2er t2at in certain region!5 !avage noadic or
tribal population ebar.ed on raid! or act! of pillage again!t t2eir
neig2bour! 2ence t2e need for intervention$ T2e intere!t of !table
governent5 la4 and order and !ecure trading condition! nece!!itated
t2eir !uppre!!ion$ 6ritain advanced t2i! rea!on to e<pand control in (e!t
Africa after nuerou! conflict! 4it2 A!2ante$
3$2 Econoic 1actor
7$ A )ob!on5 faou! 6riti!2 econoi!t5 follo4ing Jenin5 attributed t2e
colonial e<pan!ioni!t polic+ of t2o!e +ear! to !pecial ne4 econoic
force! at 4or. in t2e o!t indu!triali;ed nation of t2e (e!tern and
Ea!tern Europe$ 3avid T2o!on5 in 2i! boo.5 Europe Since Napoleon5
!a+!5 =T2i! econoic e<planation of t2e urge for iperiali! i! u!uall+
ta.en to ean t2at t2e ba!ic otive! 4ere al!o t2e otive! and t2at5
42atever political5 religion!5 or ore ideali!tic e<cu!e! ig2t be ade5
t2e real ipul!e 4a! al4a+! one of t2e capitali!tic greed for c2eap ra4
aterial!5 advantageou! ar.et!5 good inve!tent! and fre!2 field! of
e<ploitation>$
)e !a+! furt2er t2at5 42at )ob!on called =econoic taproot of
iperiali! 4a! !ucce!!ive capital in !earc2 of inve!tent
opportunitie!B and t2at t2i! e<ce!!ive capital 4a! derived fro !aving!
ade po!!ible b+ t2e en!laving people of t2e colonie! or b+ uneCual
di!tribution of 4ealt2$
Jenin in a pap2let on5 Iperiali!5 t2e 2ig2e!t !tage of capitali!5
de!cribed iperiali! a! =a direct continuation of t2e fundaental
propertie! of capitali! in general$ T2ere 4a! a con!picuou! general
iproveent in t2e econoic condition of 4or.er! in t2e ore
developed econo+5 42il!t in t2e colonial territorie!5 t2e people5 argued
Jenin5 capitali! 2ad found ne4 proletariat! to e<ploit$*
Natural re!ource! @e!peciall+ iron and coalA led to ne4 invention! and
t2e indu!trial revolution in 6ritain and clap-do4n on !lave trade5
accuulated !urplu! of fini!2ed good! for ar.et 4ere readil+ available$
T2ere 4a! an increa!e in indu!trial gro4t2 in ot2er European countrie!$
T2e need for colonie! becae ore prevalent$ It 4a! di!covered t2at
over!ea! colonie! po!!e!!ed abundant ra4 aterial! 4anting to be
tapped$ T2e!e ra4 aterial! 4ere in !2ort !uppl+ at 2oe or non
e<i!tence at all$ E<aple! 4ere gold5 ivor+5 oil5 rubber5 and ot2er
ineral!$ T2e product of t2e tropic!5 e!peciall+ fro Africa5 4ere got b+
trading 4it2out political control or tariff$ T2e condition of trade 4a!
dictated b+ t2e iperiali!t!5 if an+$
T2e Cue!t for ar.et for t2eir fini!2ed good! 4a! al!o iportant5 de!pite
t2e 2ig2 population up!urge e<perienced in Europe$ Until 1E/% 6riti!2
anufacturer! of te<tile!5 ac2iner+5 and 2ard4are 2ad found good
ar.et! in ot2er European countrie!$ After t2i! period Deran+5 1rance5
6elgiu5 and ot2er nation! in Europe 4ere able to !ati!f+ t2eir ar.et
deand!5 42ic2 t2e+ begun to protect again!t 6riti!2 tariff !+!te$
T2e!e countrie! begun to produce !urplu! for 42ic2 t2e+ !oug2t ar.et!
abroad5 e!peciall+ Africa$ T2e colonie! provided ar.et! for !urplu!
anufactured good!$ In e<c2ange t2e+ provided c2eap agricultural
produce for t2e European nation!$ After t2e abandonent of free trade
regie in Europe during t2e 1E/%!5 European po4er! becae ore
!eriou! about acCuiring colonie! in Africa$ T2e+ feared t2at apart fro
not benefiting o!t colonial po4er! 4ould clo!e t2eir boarder! to ot2er
European nation! 4it2 2ig2 tariff barrier$
In 1E,%-/E5 an+ inve!tor!5 particularl+ 6riti!2 inve!tor!5 lo!t 2eavil+
42en central and Sout2 Aerican !tate! and Eg+pt defaulted$ T2i! gave
t2e opportunit+ to loo. for ne4 field! of inve!tent of !urplu! capital$
(2en Eg+pt and Tuni!ia becae ban.rupt5 becau!e of t2e uneven
condition of loan5 t2e+ 4ere forced to borro4 one+ at 2ig2 intere!t
rate! fro European inve!tor!$ T2i! foreign financial control over t2eir
econo+ preceded t2eir occupation b+ 1rance and 6ritain re!pectivel+$
#2artered copanie! 4ere u!ed b+ 6ritain a! a device for over!ea!
e<pan!ion$ 1or e<aple t2e!e copanie!5 Ea!t Africa copan+5 t2e
Ro+al Niger #opan+ and t2e Sout2 Africa #2artered #opan+5 pla+ed
a leading role in t2e occupation of territorie! in Africa b+ 6ritain$
T2e indu!trial progre!! in Europe re!ulted into t4o a&or factor!5 42ic2
ade t2e occupation of Africa ea!ier for t2e European$ T2e iperiali!tic
tendencie! of Europe 4ould 2ave been 2alted 4it2 t2e antagoni!t
po!ture! e<2ibited b+ African!5 but for t2e !uperior fire po4er of
European po4er!$ In ot2er to ta.e full advantage of econoic potential!
of Africa5 rail4a+ line! 4ere con!tructed to t2e 2interland to facilitate
t2e evacuation of ra4 aterial! to t2e port! for t2e colonial erc2ant!$
T2e H&ungle* a! Africa 4a! referred too5 becae ore dangerou! becau!e
o!Cuito bite!$ T2e developent of Cuinine to counter alaria turned
Africa to livable continent 42ere European! could live in and no ore a
42ite an*! grave$
Ket anot2er eleent in t2e gro4t2 of iperiali! 4a! en 42o
cobined t2e abilit+ of good adini!tration 4it2 !oldier+ po!ture$ T2e+
4ere not i!!ionarie! but 4elcoed an opportunit+ to bring order and
efficient adini!tration out of t2e H&ungle*$ Suc2 en5 a! entioned
earlier5 4ere Jord #roer in Eg+pt5 Jord Juggard in Nigeria5 Jord
'ilner at t2e #ape5 'ar!2al J+aule+ in 'orocco5 Iarl Peter! in Deran
Ea!t Africa$ T2e e<tend and con!olidation of European control over
Africa5 4it2out t2e!e en5 4ould 2ave been difficult or ipo!!ible$ T2e
nature of coloni;ation or coloniali! or iperiali! varied fro nation
to nation$
Po4er Dae9 Soe 4riter! 2ave argued t2at a po4erful nation 4a!
&u!tified in !ee.ing colonie!$ T2en 42en t2ere 4a! relative peace in
Europe5 t2e !o called balance-of-po4er 4a! t2e vogue5 t2e need to
acCuire ore colonie! becae ore pronounced$ It 4a! argued t2at
po4erful nation! 4ere &u!tified to !ee. for colonie!$ T2i! arguent 4a!
advanced b+ Sir 7o2n Seele+ in 2i! boo. T2e E<pan!ion of England
@1EE3A and t2e 1renc2an Jero+-6eaulieu$ )erbert Spence
@1E2%-1?,3A5 populari;ed t2e t2eor+ of =t2e !urvival of t2e fitte!t> an
adaptation of t2e biological t2eorie! of 3ar4in to t2e !truggle! of anB
1riedric2 Niet;!c2e @1E44-1?%%A5 believed t2at force alone 4ould 2elp
t2e nation in it! !truggle for life$
A failure in doe!tic or foreign polic+ and in order to !ati!f+ public
deand! for pre!ervation of national pre!tige a! copen!ation for !oe
failure! in Europe ade !oe countrie! to acCuire colonie!$ T2i! factor
influenced t2e acCui!ition of colonie! b+ 1rance$ After t2e defeat of
1E/%5 Deran+ encouraged 1rance to acCuire colonial territorie! in
Africa$
#2ri!tian i!!ionarie! pla+ed a proinent role in t2e !pread of
coloniali!$ T2e o!t faou! aong t2i! group5 4a! a Scot5 3avid
Jiving!tone$ )e 4a! a edical i!!ionar+ 42o 4a! originall+ !ent to
Africa b+ Jondon 'i!!ionar+ !ociet+$ )e later returned under
governent au!pice! a! an e<plorer to open a pat2 to coerce and
#2ri!tianit+$ T2e #at2olic 'i!!ion! in 1rance5 even ore t2an 6ritain
!ent i!!ionarie! to Africa5 to convert African! to #2ri!tianit+$ T2e
#at2olic i!!ion in 1rance 4ere ver+ active5 and t2e+ provided t4o
t2ird! @fort+ t2ou!andA of all #at2olic i!!ionarie!$ 6+ 1E/"5 t2e+
!pread fro Algeria into Tuni!ia and !et up a religiou! protectorate t2at
preceded t2e political protectorate$ 3uring t2e nineteent2 centur+5
i!!ionarie! 4ere .een to !pread t2e #2ri!tian fait25 and al!o
encouraged t2e p2ilant2ropi!t! and 2uanitarian! 42o 4anted to aboli!2
un-#2ri!tian cu!to! aong t2e African people$ 6ritain &u!tified t2e
rea!on for 2er e<pan!ion a! a ean! to curb t2e indigenou! !lave trade$
Raci!t factor 4a! al!o advanced for t2e coloni;ation of Africa$ Soe
4riter! in t2e nineteent2 centur+ encourage t2e in!tinctivel+ !uperiorit+
of Teutonic5 Anglo-Sa<on or European! race over ot2er race!$ In fact
Deran+ believed t2at Deran5 t2en5 4a! a H!uperior race*$ Raci!t idea!
4ere particularl+ popular in 6ritain and Deran+ during t2e nineteent2
centur+$ In 1EE"5 Rud+ard Iipling !aid it 4a! t2e =42ite an*! burden>
to 2elp educate and civili;e t2e le!! fortunate colonial people$
T2e pre!!ure of population in Europe 4a! on t2e increa!e5 but t2i! !till
found outlet in igration to United State! and Au!tralia$ Nationali!t!
argued t2at if colonie! 4ere po!!e!!ed5 European national! 42o 4i!2ed
to igrate could !till operate under t2eir variou! la4! in t2e countrie! or
colonie! 42ere t2e+ re!ide$ T2oug2 an+ countrie! de!ired a =place in
t2e !un>5 an+ over!ea! colonie! 4ere to prove un!uitable for large!cale
European 2abitant!$ T2e rea!on! for iperiali! varied fro one
countr+ to anot2er$ According to 3avid T2op!on @1?"/A9
=T2e !ource! and t2e nature of t2e urge to iperiali! 4ere ultiple5
and varied con!iderabl+ fro one countr+ to anot2er$ It 4a! not &u!t t2at
trade follo4ed t2e flag5 but t2at t2e flag accopanied t2e botani!t and
buccaneer5 t2e 6ible and t2e bureaucrat5 along 4it2 t2e ban.er and t2e
bu!ine!!an>
3$3 Re!ult! of European Iperiali!
T2oug2 iperiali!tic activitie! can bring !oe benefit! to bot2 ot2er
countr+ or European countrie! and t2e colonie! it broug2t along !oe
di!a!trou! effect! on to t2e colonie! on t2e long run$$ At t2e initial !tage5
t2e coing of t2e (e!tern countrie! broug2t a con!iderable econoic
advantage to t2e colonie!$ T2i! led to t2e developent of natural
re!ource! li.e cotton5 cocoa5 rubber etc5 indu!triali;ation5 iproveent
of agricultural et2od! and irrigation5 42ic2 provided 4ealt2 for t2e
population$
'odern edicine 4a! introduced$ T2e treatent of alaria t2roug2 t2e
di!cover+ of Cuinine al!o put a !top to deat2 t2roug2 o!Cuito bite!$ T2e
!c2ool! built b+ t2e i!!ionarie! increa!ed t2e literate level of t2e
colonial people and ore becae #2ri!tian! 42o can read and 4rite$
T2e priitive organi;ation of governance 4a! c2anged$ T2e colonial
governent developed in!titution! of governent5 and provided la4 and
order 42ere t2ere 4ere anarc2+ and c2ao! 2it2erto$ T2e+ 4ere al!o !aid
to 2ave provided training in t2e art of !elf-governance$ 6ut generall+
colonial people preferred t2e !elf G rule rat2er t2at ruler! fro anot2er
land5 2o4ever corrupt or inefficient5 t2eir ruler! ig2t be$ One
erroneou! belief of foreign rule i! t2at colonial people! are in !oe 4a+!
inferior to rule t2eir people5 t2i! i! not !o$
3$4 Effect of Iperiali! on European Relation!
6efore 1EE% 1rance5 6ritain and Ru!!ia 2ad carried on polic+ of
e<pan!ion 4it2out 2indrance and !eriou! cla!2e!$ After 1EE% t2e entr+ of
H!uper po4er!* and ne4 copetitor! for t2e o!t valuable reaining
!pace! on t2e eart2 re!ulted to 2ig2 ten!ion and negotiation of nuerou!
!ecret arrangeent!$ T2oug2 t2i! 4a! not !o !eriou!5 e!peciall+ 42en it
related to African affair!5 but !till t2ere 4a! 2ig2 ten!ion$ T2i! 4a!
u!uall+ re!olved aicabl+5 42en ten!ion 4ere too 2ig2$ 1or e<aple5
42en t2e partition of Africa reac2ed a cre!cendo point it 4a! re!olved at
6erlin #onference of 1EE4-1EE"$
T2e rivalr+ over Eg+pt and later (e!t Africa cau!ed ebittered relation!
bet4een 1rance and 6ritain in t2e +ear! bet4een 1EE2 and 1??E$ 6ritain
4a! al4a+! in t2e forefront of coloni;ing t2e be!t !pace! on eart2$ S2e
con!idered t2e natural re!ource! of t2e area!5 for e<aple Nigeria5
D2ana5 Ivor+ #oa!t and Dabia valuable$ T2e!e area! 4ere coloni;ed
b+ 6ritain becau!e of t2eir econoic potential!$ Eg+pt5 2ad Sue; #anal
and t2i! fored a bridge to lin. ot2er nation! of t2e 4orld5 apart fro
ric2 natural re!ource! t2e countr+ i! endo4ed 4it2$
Partl+ a! copen!ation for di!appointent! in Africa5 Ital+ &oined t2e
3ual Alliance in 1EE3$ T2e 3ual Alliance 4a! !et up b+ 6i!arc. in
1E/?$ T2e otive! for t2i! alliance 4ere cople<$ 6ut it 2ad to do 4it2
t2e !tabili;ation of Deran+ in Europe Deran refu!al to aid 6ritain in
t2e far Ea!t again!t Ru!!ian e<pan!ion 4a! a contributor+ factor to t2e
Anglo-7apane!e alliance of 1?%2$ 6ritain entered into agreeent 4it2
Ru!!ia in t2e Anglo-Ru!!ian #onvention of 1?%/$ T2e de!ire of 6ritain
4a! to aid t2eir rivalr+ in #entral A!ia$
T2e po4er gae c2anged in Europe$ T2ere 4a! no peranent friend or
ene+ but peranent intere!t$ #olonial rever!e! 4ere !uffered b+
1rance in 1E?E in t2e 1a!2oda incident and Ru!!ia in 1?%"5 42ere !2e
4a! defeated b+ 7apan$ T2ere 4ere rene4ed intere!t of t2e!e po4er! in
t2e !en!itive i!!ue! of Al!ace-Jorraine and t2e 6al.an! 42ic2 1rance
lo!t to Deran+ in 1E/%$ T2e abrupt anner of t2e Deran!
intervention in 'orocco5 42ic2 cau!ed Algebra! and Agadir cri!e! of
1?%, and 1?11 led to a tig2tening of bond! of t2e 1rance-6riti!2 entrant
and an increa!ed !tate of ten!ion in Europe$ T2e Italian attac. in Tripoli
in 1?11 4a! a contributor+ factor or cau!e of t2e 6al.an 4ar$
6et4een 1/,3 and t2e 1E/%! fe4 European po4er! !2o4ed little intere!t
in acCuiring territor+ out!ide t2eir !2ore!$ T2e colonial abition of
1rance 4a! cut !2ort in India5 Nort2 Aerica and ot2er area! b+ 6ritain
in t2e eig2teent2 centur+ during t2e Napoleonic 4ar!$ T2oug2 6ritain
gained #anada fro 1rance in 1/,35 !2e lo!t o!t of 2er colonial
epire! in Nort2 Aerica in 1/E2$ Spain and Portugal lo!t o!t of t2e
epire! in Sout2 Aerica 42en t2e+ becae independent after 1E1"$
'an+ European po4er! 4it2dre4 fro Africa5 e<cept 1rance and
6ritain5 42en !lave trade 4a! aboli!2ed in t2e earl+ part of t2e
nineteent2 centur+$ T2e+ felt !ince t2e a&or !ource of revenue 2ad been
2alted5 t2ere 4a! no need to !ta+ be2ind in t2e colonie!$ Again5 t2e
1renc2 Revolutionar+ and Napoleonic (ar! 2ad been co!tl+ for
European po4er! in ter! of live! and one+$ After 1E1" recover+ and
adaptation to a period of great econoic and indu!trial progre!! G
indu!trial Revolution$ T2e+ 4ere al!o concerned 4it2 t2e proble!
cau!ed b+ t2e developent of liberal and national oveent! re!ulting
fro 1renc2 Revolutionar+ idea!5 42ic2 t2reatened t2e 2it2erto e<i!ting
order$
T2ere 4a! t2e general belief t2at t2e co!t of colonial acCui!ition
out4eig2ed t2e benefit!$ T2e e<perience of t2irteen Aerican colonie!
t2at revolted !ee! to lead credence in t2i! direction$ T2i! 4a! t2e idea
of 6ritain during t2e id-8ictorian era$
T2e a&or colonial po4er! in 1E1"-1E/% 4ere Spain5 Portugal5
Net2erland!5 6ritain5 1rance and Ru!!ia$ 6ritain 4a! not too .een in t2e
fir!t place to coloni;e territorie!$ All !2e 4a! intere!ted in 4a! India and
!2e 4a! not .een to incur ne4 co!t re!pon!ibilitie! in t2i! area too$
1rance 4a! .een to e<tend 2i! influence to Africa5 probabl+ becau!e of
religiou! and econoic rea!on!$
6ut t2e tepo of acCui!ition c2anged in 1E/%!$ T2i! led to titanic effort
to acCuire colonie! at all co!t!$ T2ere 4ere entrie! of ore copetitor!$
After t2e abandonent of free trade and revival of 2ig2 tariff regie!5
European countrie! 4ere an<iou! to obtain .e+ trade area! in Africa$
T2e+ feared t2at t2eir rival! in t2e colonie! 4ould do t2e !ae5
ipo!ing 2ig2 tariff in t2eir colonie! and t2ereb+ e<cluding t2e fro
trade in t2eir re!pective colonie! in t2e 1E/%!5 6ritain under 3i!raeli
ebar.ed on a!!ive aggre!!ion to acCuire colonie! in Africa$
3uring t2e late nineteent2 centur+5 electorate and popular pre!! becae
ore vocal$ It 4a! an era of nationali!tic idea!5 people becae ore
intere!ted in 42at t2e governent 4a! doing$ In fact5 t2e people becae
ore a4are and !en!itive to failure and !ucce!! of governent bot2
foreign and local$ T2e iperiali!t! needed variou! edia to rall+ t2e
!upport of t2eir people$ #ountrie! 42ic2 4ere vulnerable to public
agitation for iperial venture! 4ere 6ritain5 1rance and Deran+$ It
ade t2e forer anti-iperiali!t 3i!raeli in 1E/25 call on 6ritain to be
=a great countr+5 an iperial countr+$> T2i! al!o forced 6i!ac. in
1EE25 to ebar. on t2e acCui!ition of colonie!5 a polic+ 2e 2ad al4a+!
put off or firl+ re!i!ted$
A !c2olar de!cribed t2i! period a! t2e beginning of Ht2e forceful
po!!e!!ion of our land over t2e forceful po!!e!!ion of our people$*
4$% #ON#JUSION
Iperiali! in Africa can be de!cribed a! t2e ipo!ition of t2e !uper
po4er! 2egeon+ on po4erle!! African !tate!$ Econoic factor over
ride! ot2er rea!on! for t2e coloni;ation of Africa$ In t2e di!cu!!ion in
t2i! unit5 t2e need to find ne4 ar.et! for fini!2ed good!5 a b+-product
of indu!trial revolution5 ade t2e European po4er! to invade Africa
"$% SU''ARK
T2i! unit 2a! e<ained t2e political and !trategic factor! t2at led to t2e
partition of Africa$ It 4a! e<plained in t2i! unit 2o4 econoic rea!on!
pla+ed a doinant role in t2e iperiali!tic tendencie! of t2e !uper
po4er!$ Ot2er in2erent factor! 4ere al!o di!cu!!ed$
T2e unit e<ained into t2e variou! factor! of coloniali!5 and t2eir
cobination a! a tool of iperiali! in Africa$ T2e inter pla+ of t2e
contending po4er! in t2e po4er eCuation 4a! al!o di!cu!!ed$
,$% 'ARIE3 ASSIDN'ENT
1$ 3i!cu!! t2e general otive! of colonial territorie! acCui!ition
4it2 !pecial reference to t2e nineteent2 centur+$
2 (2+ did econoic con!ideration! pla+ a a&or role in European
iperiali!P
3$ Indicate 4it2 !pecific reference!5 t2e feature! and for! of
European iperiali!$
4$ Ji!t t2e a&or po4er group! bet4een 1E1" and 1E/%$ (2+ 4ere
t2e+ at logger 2ead! at t2e tail end of 1E/%P
"$ (2+ did Africa lo!e in t2e po4er !truggle in t2e nineteent2
centur+P
/$% RE1EREN#ES01URT)ER REA3INDS
Jeed5 #$A @1?/1A$ European )i!tor+ 1/E?-1?145 Jondon9 'acdonald
and Evan! Jiited$
3avid T2op!on @1?"/A$ Europe !ince Napoleon5 Jondon9 Jongan!$
UNIT 5 PARTITION OF AFRICA
#ONTENTS
1$% Introduction
2$% Ob&ective!
3$% 'ain #ontent
3$1 Origin of European Scrable in Africa
3$2 6erlin #onference
3$3 1inal Partition
4$% #onclu!ion
"$% Suar+
,$% 'ar.ed A!!ignent
/$% Reference!01urt2er Reading!
1$% INTRO3U#TION
T2e relative peace in Europe and t2e !o called balance of po4er
!ituation propted t2e !crable and final partition of Africa b+ t2e
European po4er! in t2e nineteent2 centur+$ T2e ain po4er! in t2i!
!truggle 4ere 6ritain5 1rance5 Deran+5 Portugal5 Ital+ and 6elgiu$
T2e!e !uper po4er! !at in 6erlin in 1EE4-E" to H!2are* African !tate
aong one anot2er$ T2e ain rea!on@!A for t2e abolition of !lave trade
2a! no4 anife!ted in t2e forceful po!!e!!ion of Africa land b+ t2e
colonial overlord!$ T2i! unit di!cu!!e! t2e !tep b+ !tep coloni;ation or
final partition of Africa to all European po4er! involved$ It al!o trace!
t2e earlier effort b+ t2e European po4er to 2ave a !trong 2old in Africa
!tate!$
2$% O67E#TI8ES
At t2e end of t2i! unit5 t2e learner !2ould be able to under!tand t2e
follo4ing9
N t2e origin of !crable for Africa
N 42+ 6erlin #onference too. place
N 42ic2 of t2e !uper po4er! in2erited 42ic2 colonie!
N t2e role of Deran+ in t2e po4er eCuation$
3$% 'AIN #ONTENT
3$1 Origin of European Scrable! in Africa
3e!pite t2e 2a;ardou! nature of Africa to t2e European!5 an+ !till
ventured into t2e 2interland of Africa$ T2e river! 4ere full of rapid! or
4ater fall! at t2eir out2!$ 'ungo Par. died in t2e 4ater fall! of t2e
Niger 42en 2e 4a! !aid to 2ave di!covered t2e River Niger in Nigeria$
T2e 1renc25 in 2er bid to get 2old in Africa5 attac.ed Algeria in 1E3%$
T2e otive! be2ind t2i! inva!ion 4ere varied$ T2e 1renc2 'ini!ter5
Polignac 4anted 'o2aed Ali of Eg+pt to occup+ Tripoli and Tuni!
to puni!2 Algeria$ In 2i! calculation5 t2e 1renc2 4a! to aid t2e Eg+ptian
Pa!2a 4it2 a naval fleet and financial a!!i!tance$ 6ut5 6ritain 2ad a
2idden agenda5 iperiali!tic in nature5 4arned 'o2aed Ali to de!i!t
fro !uc2 ilitar+ adventuri!$ 6ritain t2en advi!ed t2e Sultan of
Tur.e+ to puni!2 t2e Pa!2a if 2e ventured (e!t 4ard!$ T2e 'ini!ter
Cuic.l+ &u!tified t2e attac. on t2e need for 1rance to open up Algeria for
bu!ine!! purpo!e!$ Joui! P2ilip 42o cae to Algeria declared t2at it 4a!
1rance*! ai to found an iportant colon+ in Algeria$
T2e countrie! t2at a.e up 'agrib are 'orocco5 Algeria5 Tuni!ia and
Jib+a$ At t2e opening of nineteent2 centur+5 t4o di!tinct adini!tration!
and political !+!te 4ere in t2e 'agrib$
On t2e one 2and i! independent 'orocco5 under S2erifian d+na!t+
founded in 1,4?5 on t2e ot2er 4ere !ei-independent adini!tration! in
Algeria5 Tuni!ia and Jib+a$ T2e Regencie! t2at controlled t2e!e area!
4ere under t2e !u;eraint+ of Sultan of Tur.e+$ Algeria 4a! adini!tered
fro Tur.e+ !ince 1"1E$ Tuni!ia 4a! under t2e Ottoan adini!tration
!ince t2e end of t2e !i<teent2 centur+$ 6ut in 1/%"5 )u!an Ibn Ali Aglia5
u!urped t2e !upree aut2orit+ and founded t2e )u!!ein 3+na!t+$ Jib+a
in 1E%% 4a! adini!tered b+ Ku!uf5 42o foug2t t2e Tur.e+! to return to
po4er$ 1or centurie! t2e 6arber #or!ain! aintained t2e !overeignt+
fro t2e European! po4er!$ T2e+ 2ave been able to e!tabli!2 t2eir
!uperiorit+ over European! on t2e 'editerranean 4ater!$ T2e+ captured
European! a! !lave! and copelled t2e to build t2eir palace!5 till t2eir
land! and ro4 t2eir galle+!$ T2eir relation 4a! a!ter-!ervant
relation!2ip unli.e 42at obtained in t2e (e!t African !tate!$ T2e
!overeignt+ e<erci!ed b+ t2e 'agrib countrie! over t2e national! of
Europe and Aerica 4a! unacceptable to t2e$ 1ro 1E%% on4ard!
t2e+ began to underine t2e !overeignt+ of 'agrib ruler! eit2er b+
refu!ing to pa+ He<action* or frontall+ bobarding t2eir port!$ T2e+ al!o
too. in intere!t t2e !ucce!!ion to t2e t2rone$ T2e+ eplo+ed a
!ubterranean et2od of !upporting a rivalr+ per!on to t2e t2rone in
order to create c2ao!$ T2i! gae plan of underining t2e !overeignt+ of
'agrib ruler! b+ t2e European po4er! 4a! a anife!tation of European
econoic iperiali!t agenda in 'editerranean Africa$ T2i! !cenario
created a launc2ing pad5 anife!ted it!elf on a a&or !cale in t2e attac.
1rance unlea!2ed on Algeria in 1E3%$ T2e 1renc2 inva!ion of Algeria
2ad an+ otive! be2ind t2e !o called &u!tification$ T2i! inva!ion 4a!
not ade in t2e open for fear of 6riti!2 reaction$ T2e 1renc2 'ini!ter5
Polignac5 4anted 'u2aed Ali of Eg+pt to occup+ Tripoli and Tuni!
and puni!2 Algeria$ In t2i! calculation t2e 1renc2 4ere to aid t2e
Eg+ptian Pa!2a 4it2 a naval fleet and financial a!!i!tance$ 6ut5 6ritain
42o 2ad a 2idden agenda5 iperiali!tic in nature5 4arned 'o2aed
Ali to refrain fro !uc2 ilitar+ adventuri!$ 6ritain advi!ed Sultan of
Tur.e+ to puni!2 t2e Pa!2a if 2e ventured into t2e 4ar$
In 'orocco t2e iperial intere!t! of 6ritain5 1rance and Spain 4ere
ade anife!t$ 6ritain !a4 t2at 'orocco i! !trategicall+ located$ T2e
!trait! of Dibraltar guarded t2e entrance to t2e 'editerranean 42ere
6riti!2 trade 4a! !ub!tantial at t2e tie$ 6riti!2 intere!t in t2e ri!e of
'u2aed Ali and t2e occupation of Algeria b+ 1rance ade it ore
iperative for 6ritain to conCuer 'orocco$ 1rance al!o !a4 'orocco a!
a fir!t-cla!! intere!t$ S2e felt t2at Algerian di!tant a+ u!e 'orocco a! a
launc2ing ground to recapture Algeria$ Spain*! intere!t in 'orocco
dated bac. to t2e fifteent2 centur+$ T2i! diploatic aneuvering and
rivalrie! aong t2e!e nation! en!ured t2e independence of 'orocco
until 1?%45 42en 1rance and 6ritain agreed to give 1rance t2e free 2and
to anne< t2e territor+$
)u!!einic 3e+ of Tuni!ia 4a! delig2ted 42en 1rance invaded Algeria5
partl+ becau!e t2e 3e+ of Algeria 4a! 2i! traditional ene+ and partl+
becau!e 2e felt a friend!2ip 4it2 1rance 4ould protect 2i! o4n intere!t
in 2i! countr+$ 6+ 1E3"-""5 1renc2 influence increa!ed treendou!l+$
T2e 3e+ 4ent to Pari! on official vi!it in 1E4,$ T2e 6riti!2 2eld a
conce!!ion for an iportant rail4a+ fro t2e cit+ of Tuni! to Doletta$ In
1E/% Ital+ &oined t2e race of !crable for opportunitie! and !oon began
to outbid t2eir 6riti!2 and 1renc2 rival!$ Tuni!ian friendline!! to4ard!
Ital+5 42ic2 Tuni!ia entertained a! counterpoi!e to t2e un4anted
iperiali!t a!piration of 1rance5 ade 1rance to occup+ Tuni!ia in 1EE%$
To &u!tif+ t2i! occupation5 1rance alleged t2at t2e Iruir! 2ad provided
t2e 6arber rebel! 4it2 ar! and aunition$ S2e al!o 4ant to believe
t2at t2e Pan-I!laic oveent in Nort2 Africa5 including t2e #olonel
Urabi rebellion in Eg+pt5 t2e 'a2di!t oveent in t2e Sudan5 t2e
a!!acre of 1later!5 a 1renc2 colonel5 in t2e de!ert and in!urrection of
Sout2 Oran 4a! ore active in Tuni!ia$
I!laic religiou! brot2er2ood 2ad a con!iderable influence in Jib+a$
Unli.e ot2er 'agreb nation!5 !2e 4a! not ea!il+ occupied$ T2e ideolog+
of nationalit+ and feeling of onene!! 42ic2 Sanu!i++a TariCa infu!ed
into t2e people of Jib+a5 a!!ued a ore cople< dien!ion in t2e turn
of t4entiet2 centur+ 42en 1rance attac.ed t2e order5 and 42en Italian!
occupied Jib+a in 1?11$
Sout2 Africa 4a! firl+ under European rule5 !2ared bet4een t2e
6riti!2 and t2e Afri.aner!5 42o 4ere de!cendent! of t2e 3utc2$
European trader! in (e!t Africa 2ad traded 4it2 t2e coa!tal people for
four centurie!$ After t2e abolition of !lave trade t2e Portugue!e5 3utc2
and 3ane! graduall+ left (e!t Africa$ Onl+ 1rance and 6ritain reained
be2ind$ 6riti!2 po!!e!!ion of Dold #oa!t no4 D2ana 4a! an evidence of
6riti!2 adini!tration in (e!t Africa$ Sierra Jeone 2a! been a 6riti!2
territor+ !ince 1/E/ for freed !lave! and 2er trader! 4ere in Nigerian
coa!t !ince 1E32$ In 7ul+ 1EE45 Deran+ proclaied a protectorate over
Togoland$ 6ritain 4a! intere!ted in 3a2oe+$
6ritain !ent 7o!ep2 T2o!on to e<plore Ien+a for t2e Ro+al
Deograp2ical !ociet+ in 1EE4$ An earlier !ugge!tion to anne< Lan;ibar
4a! re&ected b+ 6ritain$ T2i! place 4a! later proclaied a! a 6riti!2
protectorate$
T2e virtual inevitable race for colonie! began in (e!t Africa5 not in
1EE2 or 1EE4 a! !uppo!ed5 but rat2er in 1E/? 42en Iing Jeopold of
6elgian! and 1rance !ent out Stanle+ and de 6ra;;a to conclude treatie!
4it2 local ruler! in #ongo 6a!in$ T2i! area 4a! an e<clu!ive pre!erve of
t2e Portugue!e$ T2e !udden directive t2at t2e above entioned po4er!
gave to t2eir en !urpri!ed Portugal$ 6ritain al!o felt t2reatened in t2e
region! of t2e 6ig2t! of 6enin and 6iafra$ S2e 4a! t2reatened b+ 1renc2
activitie! in Porto Novo and on t2e Niger in t2e earl+ 1EE%*!$ T2e entr+
of Deran+ into t2e race 4a! a! a re!ult of t2e pre!!ure being broug2t
to bear upon 2er b+ t2e c2aber! of coerce particularl+ t2at of
)aburg5 b+ erc2ant! !uc2 a! S$# Dodeffr+ and Adolf (oerann5 and
ban.er! !uc2 a! 8on )an!eann and 6leic2roder$ 1urt2er call! .ept on
coing fro bu!ine!!en and i!!ionarie! on t2e (e!t coa!t for
Deran protection$ 6i!arc. 4a! 4aiting for an opportunit+ to carr+
along t2e Deran public 4it2 2i in 2i! deci!ion to acCuire a colon+$
6riti!2 refu!al to e<tend protection to Deran trader! in Sout2 (e!t
Africa5 and 2er failure even to re!pon!e to 2i! repeated appeal!5 gave
2i t2i! opportunit+ in 'arc25 1EE4 to e<tend protection to Deran
trader! and anne< t2e region in April5 and in 'a+ 2e !ent an envo+5
Nac2tigal5 4it2 in!truction! to anne< t2e #aeroon!$
6ecau!e of t2e increa!e in t2e tepo b+ 1rance5 6ritain5 Deran+ and
Portugal la+ing clai! on (e!t African #oa!t5 t2e !crable for Africa
2ad reac2ed an advanced !tage b+ 7ul+ 1EE4$ It 4a! in order to dra4
rule! and regulation! t2at 4ould govern t2i! race and to avoid po!!ibilit+
of an open conflict aong t2e contending force!5 t2at an international
conference 4a! 2eld in 6erlin fro 1" Noveber 1EE4 to 3% 7anuar+5
1EE"5 under t2e c2airan!2ip of 6i!arc.$
3$2 6erlin #onference of 1EE4-1EE"
Soe 4riter!* believe t2at t2e 6erlin #onference 4a! Africa*! undoing
in ore 4a+! t2an one$ T2e colonial po4er! u!ed t2e occa!ion to
!uperipo!e t2eir doain on t2e African continent$ 6+ t2e tie Africa
!tate! becae independent in 1?"%! and 1?,%!5 t2e real 2ad acCuired a
legac+ of political fragentation t2at could neit2er be eliinated nor
ade to operate !ati!factoril+$ In 1EE4 at t2e reCue!t of Portugal5
Deran #2ancellor Otto 8on 6i!arc. called toget2er t2e a&or
(e!tern po4er! of t2e 4orld to negotiate Cue!tion! and end confu!ion
over t2e control of Africa$ 6i!arc. appreciated t2e opportunit+ to
e<pand Deran+*! !p2ere of influence over Africa and de!ire to force
Deran+*! rival! to !truggle 4it2 one anot2er for territor+$
At t2e tie of t2e conference5 E% percent of Africa reained under
traditional or local ruler!$ Africa at t2e conference 2ad it! boundarie!
divided into fift+ irregular countrie!$ T2e colonial a!ter! !uperipo!ed
t2eir culture! and religion! over one t2ou!and indigenou! culture! and
religion! of Africa$ T2e ne4 countrie! lac.ed co2e!ion or rea!on for
coe<i!tence$ T2e!e group! of people erged toget2er b+ colonial
a!ter! 4ere di!parate group! 42o reall+ did not get along$
1ourteen countrie! 4ere repre!ented b+ a plet2ora of Aba!!ador! 42en
t2e conference 4a! declared opened in 6erlin in Noveber 1"5 1EE4$
T2e countrie! repre!ented at t2e conference 4ere5 Au!tria-)ungar+5
6elgiu5 3enar.5 1rance5 Deran+5 Dreat 6ritain5 Ital+5 t2e
Net2erland!5 Portugal5 Ru!!ia5 Spain5 S4eden-Nor4a+5 Tur.e+ and t2e
United State! of Aerica of t2e!e fourteen nation!5 1rance5 Deran+5
Dreat 6ritain5 and Portugal 4ere t2e a&or pla+er! in t2e conference5
controlling o!t of t2e colonial Africa at t2at tie$ It 4a! clear t2at t2e
coercial intere!t! of Jeopold5 Portugal5 1rance and Deran+
conflicted in t2e #ongo region$ T2e initial ta!. of t2e conference 4a! to
agree t2at t2e #ongo River and Niger River out2! and ba!in! 4ould be
con!idered neutral and open to trade$ T2e #ongo 1ree State 4a!
recogni;ed b+ t2e po4er! 6ritain5 1rance5 Ru!!ia5 United State! and
Portugal$ It 4a! to be run a! an international organi;ation on a free-trade
ba!i!$ 6a!ed on t2e earlier treatie! entered into b+ Stanle+ and t2e local
c2ief!5 Iing Jeopold claied t2e 42ole of #ongo$ T2i! 4a! accepted b+
t2e conference$
T2e follo4ing point! 4ere al!o agreed upon9
@iA T2e native! of t2e!e area! u!t not be e<ploited in t2e intere!t of
European po4er!$
@iiA T2ere 4a! to be freedo of navigation on t2e #ongo and Niger
river!$
@iiiA6efore an effective clai b+ European po4er! to African territorie!5
it 2ad to be effectivel+ occupied$
A! a re!ult of t2e above rule @IIA5 t2e conference refu!ed to recogni;e t2e
clai! of t2e Sultan of Lan;ibar to uc2 of Ea!t Africa$ T2e clai of
Portugal to a va!t area bet4een Angola and 'o;abiCue 4a! not
aditted b+ t2e eber! of t2e conference$ 6i!arc. announced at t2e
end of t2e conference in 1ebruar+5 1EE"5 Deran+ 2ad e!tabli!2ed a
protectorate over Tangan+i.a in Ea!t Africa$
1ollo4ing t2e conference5 t2e give and ta.e continued$ 6+ 1?145 t2e
conference participant! 2ad full+ divided Africa aong t2e!elve! into
fift+ countrie!$
'a&or colonial 2olding! included9
N Dreat 6ritain de!ired a #ape-to-#airo collection of colonie! and
alo!t !ucceeded t2oug2 t2eir control of Eg+pt5 Sudan @Anglo-
Eg+ptian SudanA5 Uganda5 Ien+a @6riti!2 Ea!t AfricaA5 Sout2 Africa5
and Labia5 Libab4e5 and 6ot!4ana @R2ode!iaA$ T2e 6riti!2 al!o
controlled Nigeria and D2ana @Dold #oa!tA$
N 1rance too. uc2 of (e!tern Africa5 fro 'auritania to #2ad
@1renc2 (e!t AfricaA and Dabon and t2e Republic of #ongo @1renc2
ECuatorial AfricaA$
N 6elgiu and Iing Jeopold II controlled t2e 3eocratic Republic of
#ongo @6elgian #ongoA$
N Portugal too. 'o;abiCue in t2e ea!t and Angola in t2e 4e!t$
N Ital+*! 2olding! 4ere Soalia @Italian SoalilandA and a portion of
Et2iopia$
N Deran+ too. Naibia @Deran Sout24e!t AfricaA and Tan;ania
@Deran Ea!t AfricaA$
N Spain claied t2e !alle!t territor+ G ECuatorial Duinea @Rio 'uniA$
One of t2e re!ult! of t2e conference 4a! t2at it led to an inten!ification
of t2e !crable for colonie!$ O4ing to t2e regulation t2at colonie! u!t
be properl+ occupied before proclaation5 ot2er European po4er! too.
t2i! a! a !ignal to !ta.e t2eir o4n clai Cuic.l+$ T2e ot2er iportant
point of note 4a! t2at European po4er! 4ere able to !ettle t2eir colonial
di!pute! peacefull+$
3uring and after t2e conference5 t2e European po4er! !ent out ore
envo+!5 adini!trator! and !oldier! 42o5 b+ per!ua!ion or force or
briber+5 got African ruler! to !ign agreeent!5 in 42ic2 t2e+ ceded
a4a+5 in !oe ca!e! innocentl+5 t2eir territorie!$ (2en t2e!e ruler! later
reali;ed t2e iport of t2eir action!5 t2e+ ro!e up in rebellion again!t t2e
coloniali!t!$ 6ut !uc2 rebellion5 42ic2 4ere too late5 4ere cru!2ed and
t2e ruler! 4ere eit2er .illed or e<iled$ Jocal leader! li.e Jat-3ior5
Saori Toure5 6a 6eba and 6e2an;ia put up !trong re!i!tance rig2t
fro t2e beginning but t2e+ failed to !u!tain and 4in t2e 4ar$ T2e+
eventuall+ lo!t t2eir independence$ Jat-3ior of #a+or re!i!ted t2e
1renc2 till 2e 4a! .illed in 1EE"$ Saori Toure defended 2i! 2uge
epire !tretc2ing fro 6oure to nort2ern D2ana fro 1E?1 until 1E?E
42en 2e 4a! captured and deported to Dabon 42ere 2e died in 1?%%$ It
too. t2e 6riti!2 a !ub!tantial part of t2e fir!t decade of t2i! centur+ to
!uppre!! t2e re!i!tance in 6ornu and t2e 1ulani eirate! of Nort2ern
Nigeria$
3$3 1inal Partition
6+ 1?%% European po4er! 2ad partitioned aong t2e!elve! o!t of
t2e African continent5 t2oug2 Et2iopia anaged to pre!erve it! 4ide
independence$ After t2e conference t2e rivalr+ bet4een 6ritain and
1rance inten!ified$ In order to 2alt 1renc2 advanceent5 6ritain
proclaied a protectorate over Niger region in 1EE" and ade Jago!5 a
!eparate 6riti!2 colon+ in 1E,1 1rance undertoo. !eriou! ilitar+
capaign!5 and eventuall+ cru!2ed t2e po4er of t2e 'andingo ruler in
t2e Ivor+ #oa!t and t2e .ing of 3a2oe+5 b+ 1E?%$ T2e!e t4o region!
4ere ade into a protectorate and colon+ re!pectivel+$ 'an+ of 2er
po!!e!!ion! 4ere no4 !eparate b+ t2o!e of ot2er countrie! on t2e coa!tB
1rance no4 4or.ed to &oin t2e toget2er in t2e interior$ T2e un2ealt2+
rivalr+ continued bet4een 1rance and 6ritain5 in t2e proce!!5 bot2
ru!2ed to !ign treatie! 4it2 local ruler!$ 6ritain cru!2ed t2e A!2anti in a
!2ort 4ar in 1E?, and ade t2eir territor+ a protectorate$ 1rance 4anted
to connect territorie! on t2e upper Niger 4it2 3a2oe+$ In 1E?/-E t2i!
culinated in a cla!2 in (e!tern Nigeria$ T2e incident in 1a!2oda5
aggravated Anglo-1renc2 relation!$ )o4ever it 4a! !olved peacefull+$
In 1E?? Nigeria becae 6riti!2 protectorate$ 6+ 1?%3 1rance 2ad gained
o!t of Nort2-(e!t Africa5 an area e!tiated to be about 3304 illion
!Cuare ile!$
In 1EE" Deran+ advanced clai! to area! alread+ claied b+ 6ritain
and 42ere !2e 2ad alread+ !igned treatie! 4it2 local ruler!$ U!ing t2e
delinitalian coi!!ion @copo!ed of 6ritain5 1rance and Deran+A in
1EE,5 t2e t4o countrie! !ettled t2eir difference!$ Anglo- Deran
agreeent5 October5 1EE,5 4it2out con!ulting t2e Sultan of Lan;ibar5 it
4a! agreed t2at t2e ainlanot territorie! of t2e !ultan e<tended onl+ 1%
ile! interior$ T2e+ agreed on t2e H!p2ere of influence* in Ea!t Africa$
#ecil R2ode!5 t2e #ape preier5 4a! an<iou! to e<tend 6riti!2 po4er
nort24ard!$ )e 2oped t2at t2e region nort2 of 6oer Republic of
Tran!vaal 4ould be ric2 in natural ineral re!ource!$ T2ere 4a! t2e ri!.
t2at t2e route to t2e nort2 4ould be clo!ed b+ po!!ible anne<ation! b+
Deran+ or Portugal tr+ing to lin. 2er (e!t African colon+ of Angola
4it2 'o;abiCue on t2e ea!t$ R2ode fored a copan+ 42ic2 4a!
granted c2arter b+ t2e 6riti!2 governent$ T2e region 4a! occupied b+
a pioneer colun in 1E?%5 t2e local Jobenguela 2aving virtuall+ lo!t 2i!
aut2orit+ b+ agreeing to t2e Rudd #once!!ion in 1EEE$ T2e region 4a!
naed R2ode!ia in 1E?"$
4$% #ON#JUSION
T2e !crable for po!!e!!ion of territorie! in Africa 4a! fierce and
!oetie! cobative$ 6ut t2i! did not re!ult into open conflict aong
t2e !uper po4er! t2at engaged in t2e partition$ It could be !een t2at
6ritain 4a! in t2e fore front of t2e !truggle$ S2e !ucceeded in t2e control
of coa!tal countrie! of Africa5 and 42ere t2ere 4ere abundant natural
re!ource!$ 1rance follo4ed 4it2 ore territorie! but o!t of t2e!e 4ere
in t2e 2interland$ T2e 6erlin #onference of 1EE4-1EE" !et t2e pace for
t2e final on!laug2t on Africa$ T2e rule! of t2e gae of 6erlin
!afeguarded open confrontation aong t2e !uper po4er!$ T2e ruler! al!o
called to Cue!tion in!tance! 42ere coloniali!t! laid clai to a territor+
4it2out effective occupation$ T2e partition .ept European po4er! bu!+
and t2e balance of po4er in Europe 4a! !table t2roug2out t2e period in
Cue!tion$
"$% SU''ARK
6ritain 2ad been in Nigeria long before abolition of !lave trade$ 'an+
e<plorer! li.e 'ungo Par.B and even trader! cae in to e<c2ange t2eir
good! 4it2 Nigerian good!$
T2e attac. of Algeria in 1E3% b+ 1rance put t2e !crable in t2e fore a!
2ig2lig2ted t2e need of t2e !uper po4er to acCuire territorie! in Africa$
T2e 6erlin #onference of 1EE4-1EE" forali;ed t2e acCui!ition of
territorie! in Africa$ T2e final partition or !igning of treatie! and 4aging
4ar on local ruler! put paid to t2e abition of local ruler!5 42o 4anted
to reain independent of t2e !uper po4er!$
,$% 'ARIE3 ASSIDN'ENT
@1A 3e!cribe briefl+ t2e e<tent of European influence in Africa before
1E/?$
@2A (2+ 4a! 6erlin #onference convened in 1EE4-1EE"P
@3A Trace t2e gro4t2 of influence of European po4er! in (e!t Africa
after 1EE2$
/$% RE1EREN#ES01URT)ER REA3INDS
Adu 6oa2en5 @1?,,A5 Topic! in (e!t African )i!tor+5 Jondon9 Jongan$
#$A Jeed$ @1?/1A$ European )i!tor+ 1/E?-1?145 Jondon$