The Establishment of Colonialism and African Reaction

The Establishment of Colonialism and African Reaction

Colonialism is the situation where by one country dominates or rules another country socially, politically, economically and culturally. Most African countries were colonized by European countries after the Berlin conference except Ethiopia and Liberia. African countries lost their independence, sovereignty and control over their own matters after being colonized.

The Methods / Ways of Establishing Colonial Rule

1. Diplomacy method
2. The use of force violence
3. Alliance or collaboration
4. Administrative technique e.g. Direct rule, indirect rule and Assimilation
5. Ideological methods e.g. Introduction of Western Education, Western civilization racism and introduction of Christianity
6. The use of infrastructures and communication Media
7. Economic technique e.g. Destruction of Industries, this was done by importing ready manufactured goods from abroad e.g. clothes, beads, wine

The Diplomacy Method

1. This method was the method of signing bogus treaties done by colonialists with African local rulers, which cheated Africans to accept colonial control.

2. African local leaders signed those treaties without understanding their meaning because they did not know how to read and write.

3. After signing the treaties, African local leaders would find their areas colonized.

4. Examples:

   • Karl Peters signed many treaties with Chief Mangungo of Msovero, Kilosa, Usangara, and Uluguru.
   • Stanley signed treaties with King Lobengula of Ndebele (Zimbabwe).

Military Conquest / Use of Force

1. Military conquest was a method/way of imposing/establishing colonial rule whereby colonialists used military force such as army, soldiers, police etc. to force Africans to accept colonial rule when the diplomacy method/way failed.

2. Example:

   • Germany used force/violence/military conquest to force Mkwawa of the Hehe to accept colonial control in his territory.

Alliance or Collaboration

This was another technique/way or method of imposing/establishing colonial rule whereby colonialists united or cooperated with some societies, which had enmity, by supporting one side to defeat the other then colonize all together.