Back to: History SSS 3
My brilliant scholar, welcome back! How are you today? I hope you’re feeling great and ready to learn something important. You are doing an amazing job by learning about African history, and I’m super proud of you! Today, we will discuss how Africa was taken over by European powers, how Africans reacted, and the impact of colonial rule.
Colonial Subjugation Occupation And African Reaction
Imagine living peacefully in your land, ruling yourselves, following your traditions, and making your own decisions. Then, suddenly, foreigners arrive, telling you that they now control everything—your land, your resources, and even your way of life. Would you accept this or fight back? This was the situation many African societies faced during colonial subjugation and occupation.
Colonial Subjugation and Occupation
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, European countries—especially Britain, France, Germany, Portugal, and Belgium—began taking control of African lands. This process was known as colonial subjugation, meaning Africa was forced under foreign rule.
The main reasons for colonisation included:
Economic reasons – Europeans wanted Africa’s gold, diamonds, rubber, palm oil, and other natural resources to fuel their industries.
Political reasons – European countries competed for power, and having more colonies meant more global influence.
Religious reasons – Missionaries wanted to spread Christianity and European culture, believing African traditions were “uncivilised.”
After the Berlin Conference of 1884–1885, where European leaders met to divide Africa among themselves, they sent their soldiers and administrators to take full control. Some African leaders signed treaties with the Europeans, hoping to protect their people, while others resisted.
African Reactions to Colonisation
Africans reacted in different ways to colonial occupation. Some collaborated (worked with the Europeans), while others resisted (fought back).
1. Peaceful Negotiations
Some African leaders signed treaties, believing the Europeans would respect their independence. However, most of these treaties were used by Europeans as excuses to claim African lands.
2. Armed Resistance
Many African societies fought back against European invasion. Some of the major resistance movements included:
Samori Toure’s resistance – He led the Wassoulou Empire (present-day Guinea, Mali, and Côte d’Ivoire) in fighting the French from 1882 to 1898. He used guerrilla warfare but was eventually captured.
The Zulu resistance – Led by Shaka Zulu and later Cetshwayo, the Zulu Kingdom fought against British rule in South Africa. The Zulu defeated the British at the Battle of Isandlwana in 1879, but they were later defeated.
The Ashanti resistance – The Ashanti people of present-day Ghana fought several wars against British control from 1824 to 1900 but were eventually colonised.
The Mahdist resistance – In Sudan, a religious leader, Muhammad Ahmad (the Mahdi), led a jihad against the British and Egyptian forces in the 1880s. His army defeated the British at Khartoum in 1885, but the resistance ended in 1898.
3. Religious and Spiritual Resistance
Some African groups believed their gods and ancestors would help them defeat the Europeans. A famous example is the Maji Maji Rebellion (1905–1907) in Tanzania, where people believed sacred water (“maji”) would protect them from German bullets. Sadly, this did not work, and thousands were killed.
Despite their bravery, most African resistance movements failed because the Europeans had better weapons, organised armies, and more resources. By the early 1900s, almost all of Africa was under European control, except for Ethiopia and Liberia, which remained independent.
Summary
Colonial subjugation and occupation occurred when European countries forcefully took over Africa in the late 19th and early 20th centuries for economic, political, and religious reasons. Africans reacted in different ways—some leaders signed treaties, while others fought back in major resistance movements like those of Samori Toure, the Zulu, the Ashanti, and the Mahdists. However, due to superior European weapons and strategies, most African societies were eventually colonised.
Evaluation
- What were the main reasons for European colonisation of Africa?
- What was the Berlin Conference, and how did it affect Africa?
- Name three African resistance movements against colonisation.
- Why did most African resistance movements fail?
You are doing an incredible job learning about Africa’s history! Keep going—your knowledge will empower you to understand the present and shape the future. I can’t wait to see you in the next lesson. And always remember, Afrilearn is here to make learning fun and exciting for you!
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