Agents of Industrial Capitalism

Overview

In the 19th century, European powers focused on the exploration of Africa, seeking to understand the continent's geography, resources, and potential for colonization.

East Africa

The major explorers in East Africa included:

• John Hanning Speke
• Richard Francis Burton
• James Grant
• Samuel Baker
• Henry M. Stanley
• Dr. David Livingstone

Central Africa and Congo

In Central Africa and parts of the Congo, the prominent explorers were:

• Dr. David Livingstone
• Henry M. Stanley (who later explored the Congo after Livingstone)

West Africa

In West Africa, the leading explorers included:

• Richard Lander
• Dr. Barth
• Mungo Park
• Clapperton
• Dr. Baikie
• Gaspard Mollien
• Cailie

The Role of Explorers in the Colonization of Africa

1. They reported back about the potentialities of the African resources: Clapperton reported about the river Niger to the British government while Speke reported about the potentiality of Lake Victoria and named it Victoria to honor Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.
2. They provided important information about the nature of African societies: They reported about the hostility, calmness and hospitality of the African people.
3. They explored important mountains and researched the geology, climatic conditions, topography, lakes and animal species in Africa: This knowledge later attracted European powers to colonies Africa.
4. They provided messages to their government about the existing evils of slave trade and the areas where slave trade was still conducted.

Introduction

1. Missionary activities in Africa began in the 19th century.
2. The Protestant churches from Europe and America were the pioneers in spreading Christianity.
3. Roman Catholic missionaries arrived later, especially from France.

Dominant Missionary Societies

The major missionary societies included:

1. London Missionary Society (LMS)
2. Church Missionary Society (CMS)
3. Roman Catholic Missionary Society
4. Universities Mission to Central Africa (UMCA)

Role of Missionaries

1. Although few missionaries were direct agents of imperialism, many played a key role in the spread of European influence in Africa.
2. European Christian missionaries contributed significantly to the expansion of European capitalism by introducing European values and systems to African societies.

Early Missionaries in East Africa

Key missionaries in East Africa:

• Johann Ludwig Krapf
• John Rebman
• Dr. David Livingstone

These missionaries were essential in facilitating the growing European presence in Africa.

The Roles played by Missionaries in the Colonization of Africa

1. They acted as interpreters and propagandists at the time of treaty making: Mofat stayed among the Ndebele for about 30 years serving the British South African company (BSAC) for treaty making between the companies (BSAC) and King Lobengula.
2. They acted as advisors to African chiefs: The British missionaries of the church missionary society convinced Kabaka to accept protectorate.
3. They introduced Western civilization to the interior through education and schools: This aimed to prepare people of low ranks to serving colonial masters at the time of colonization.
4. Missionaries softened the minds and the hearts of Africans: European imperialists' interests influenced their activities by preaching and emphasizing the spiritual beliefs such as "give to God what which belongs to God," and "give to Ceaser what belongs to Ceaser". In the end, this preaching weakened African opposition and shaped the regions for future colonial administration.
5. They converted Africans to the new faith (Christianity): They were easily employed as puppets to extend colonial rule. Typical examples are the converts of Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Ghana who were able to protect the British economic interests and paved the way for future colonisation by the British.
6. Missionaries reduced resistance among African societies: This was done by converting some societies and preaching obedience to administrators.
7. Introduction of new crops: Horner grew coffee at Bagamoyo around 1870 the church missionary's society grew cotton in Uganda. This prepared people to acquire the skills, which were important for future cash crop production during the colonial era.
8. They helped in the abolition of slave trade: They planned for successful Christianization of the freed slaves as they preached the word of God. They wanted to create the conducive and peaceful environment for the development of legitimate trade, which was exploitative in nature and was after capitalists interests.
9. Missionaries had closer links with rulers and interfered even in political matters: They allied European imperialism while they were working in the interior of Africa. This situation provoked the hostility from African rulers. In this case, missionaries appealed strongly for the protection from their home governments, which later led to effective colonization.

Role of Traders

1. Traders were among the first Europeans to visit the interior and coastal areas of Africa.
2. They operated under the influence of capitalists who also supported missionaries and explorers.
3. Their main objective was to exploit new sources of raw materials, find markets, and identify new areas for investment by industrial capitalists.

Key Traders in Africa

1. William Mackinnon
2. James Stevenson
3. Harry Johnston
4. Carl Peters

The Role played by Traders in the Colonization of Africa

1. They opened a new a exploitative system: Therefore, Africa became the target for European interests. This resulted in stiff rivalries and competition among European industrial nations.
2. Introduction of circuit through legitimate trade: This involved the importation of European manufactured goods. Thus, the chain of dependence was created and the African local industries and the arts were destroyed.
3. Traders exposed Africa to the world capitalist system of economy: The use of currency, banking and credit facilities began to be witnessed by Africans. This resulted into exploitation of African resources. The fair and quick turns obtained by traders attracted European colonialists to come into Africa.
4. They opened communication systems such as roads: This laid the foundation for future colonial infrastructure. For example, the road from Lake Nyasa to Tanganyika known as Livingstone road was opened by traders and was used during the colonial administration.

Role of Companies and Associations

1. Companies and associations were among the most important agents in the colonization of Africa.
2. These groups organized themselves to advance their interests and further the objectives of their home governments.
3. They received financial support from their respective governments to operate effectively in areas where the governing powers had economic interests.

Key Objectives

1. The primary aim of these companies and associations was to finance exploration that would uncover areas of economic opportunity in Africa.
2. Their activities helped pave the way for colonial expansion by securing access to resources and strategic locations.

The Role played by Companies in the Colonization of Africa

1. Monopolization and exploitation of African resources: These resources were highly needed by the European capitalists in their industries. In all parts of Africa Company played a crucial role of collecting raw materials and carried out trade activities.
2. Elimination of local intermediaries and creation of custom duties and tariffs: These was carried out by the companies, which attracted the imperialist's powers to control Africa.
3. The companies encouraged their home government to colonies Africa: For example, the Royal Niger Company encouraged the British to colonies Nigeria after gaining the control of the different trading areas in the region.
4. Signing treaties: The Company played an important role of signing different treaties with African local chiefs. These treaties helped imperial powers to claim and justify the colonization of particular territories, especially during the Berlin Conference One
5. Creation of infrastructure: These included commercial centers, administrative headquarters, roads, railways and waterways. They were allocated in those areas where they operated where by later on were used by the imperial powers to transport administrators to colonies and impose laws on the land.
6. The companies laid foundations for their home government to colonies African: They suppressed African resistance through a police force used to maintain peace, order and stability within the region. For example in East Africa, the German East African Company recruited Swahili, Sudanese and Buganda soldier to counter the coastal Arab resistance of 1888-1889.
7. They provided important information about economic potentiality of African areas: Africa was exposed to the imperial powers, which aimed to colonies the continent.
8. The companies provided rudimentary administration in areas of their operation: Some company leaders such as Sir. George Turban Goldie of the Royal Niger Company, Harry Johnston, the representative of Cecil Rhodes of the British South Africa Company, attended the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885. They also notified the conference about areas where they operate on behalf of their mother countries.
9. The company played an important role of marking of the administrative boundaries: Which were later identified as boundaries of the European spheres of influence. They prevented any other rival European imperial power from taking their territories.