Summary of all lectures and articles on Africa for the course in Development Regions. Ideal preparation for the exam on! Written in simple English, making it easy to understand.
Samenvatting Regions in Development: Hoorcolleges en
Artikelen
Africa
Artikel Afrika 1 The Colonial Interlude
The history of Africa is greatly influenced by Europe through colonisation
different nations from Europe came with different purposes and had different
influences (for example on the people, education, resources, etc.)
In early history the Greek and Romans had conquered the Arabic-Africa, but sub-
Saharan Africa was first colonised by the European powers (before that diseases
and strong African leaders kept the Europeans away and let them stay on islands
off the coast).
19th century ‘scramble for Africa’ European nations attempt to gain political
and economic control of use portions of the African continent.
1884: Berlin Conference European powers divide the continent with rulers, not
taking account into dividing or combine different African tribes.
Early Arab, Persian and Turkish interests
8th century Shiite (Arabs / Persions) settle themselves for the first time on the
East African coast trade occurs between the coast, India and the Persian
countries. Three classes arise:
1) The Persian and Swahili elite (ruler = sultan) Muslims
2) The Swahili town people (traders, workers) Muslims
3) The non-Muslim slaves
19th century: more and more slavery, with more African tribes being conquered
and slaved. For European conquerors it was both an opportunity and an excuse to
intervene in the region.
Turkish hegemony in Africa was concerned with Libya and Egypt. Egypt
conquered much land in Africa, disrupted the bands with Turkey and modernised.
But bankruptcy made an end to powerful Egypt.
Early Portuguese interests
First contacts in the 15th century between Portuguese traders and West-Africa
also slavery and trade (but less significant than the Arabs in East-Africa).
15th and 16th century Portuguese centuries sail around Africa and settle in
West and East Africa, up to the Arabian territories. Few settlements were
established.
Not protecting the settlements is a big error: Arabs are conquering Portuguese
settlements in the East and other European countries occur in the West: the
Portuguese dominance is over.
Different trade ‘coasts’ arise: slavery, ivory and gold.
The inlands of Tropical Africa were not at interest until the diminish of the slavery
in the 19th century
Dutch and British at the Cape
The Dutch were the first to establish a permanent settlement with a good natural
harbour which was not taken by other countries: Cape Town. But colonisation was
not important and the town grew slow. European farmers did go into the interior
lands, where the established farms.
In the 18th century The Netherlands lost its dominant position to Britain, which
takes over Cape Town.
Dutch farmers leave Cape Town (‘Great Trek’) because of the aggressive
Anglicanism of Britain and the abolition of slavery. At the same time a mighty
,African tribe rises, the Zulu, and the Zulu and the Dutch (Boers) fight over land.
The Zulu are defeated and Britain conquers the land of the Dutch, but the Dutch
are able to set up The Republic of South Africa.
When Diamonds are found in a part of South Africa, a second ‘Great Trek’ occurs.
With the discovery of Gold a third more and more interests in the inlands of
Africa.
Wars between Britain and the Boer republics Britain wins, all territories are
combined and the contemporary form of South Africa occurs. The Boers have
some demands, for example an all-white government: apartheid.
The Explorers
The developments in South Africa do not mirror the colonialism in Tropical Africa
(colonization was earlier and bigger in South Africa). For a long time inward
investigation of Africa was only done by a few explorers: the rest of the
colonisation was mainly coastal. For example: exploring rivers.
Again, these explorers were concentrated in the West of Africa: Equatorial Africa
remained mainly untouched until the 19th century (David Livingstone discovers
large parts of the remaining African continent). The explores worked for
governments (Stanley discovers and establishes Congo for the Belgian King) or
institutions (Livingstone as missionary). They wrote vivid descriptions of the
continent (richer class wants the wealth, but for the lower classes in Europe it is
no more than stories).
The European Scramble for Africa
Control over resources is an important part for control over a region and
European countries needed to conquer long established powers and tribes in
Africa why were European countries so interested in occupying Africa?
1) The national rivalry between France and England (they had already fought all
over the world)
2) The desire to end the slave trade
3) The desire to extend Christianity
4) The desire to relieve the suffering of the poor
5) National prestige (Belgium wanted to become just as important as France for
example)
6) The desire to gain control over national resources
‘’spheres of influence’’ occurs between the European nations regions where a
certain European power has control. More European countries desire an
interconnected region, for example France (Algeria to Congo) and Britain (Cape to
Cairo). The nations are competing with each other for African land. The
expanding territories of the European powers are partly because of the explorers,
who more and more are legal land grabbers, with treatments and agreements.
The countries are having conflicts about boundaries and regions Berlin
Conference needed 1884-1885: Africa is divided by the European nations.
Germany fought with inland populations, one of the darkest sides of the
colonisation. Often companies where found to manage the colonization, for
example the Royal Niger Company. One big game of country capture and
invading (for example German Tanzania and Namibia, English East Africa,
independent Ethiopia).
Colonial Policies
The European policies differ from time to time and place to place because
most countries didn’t expect immediately wealth from their colonies, policy and
general development were slow. Each power had his own cultural and political
perspective.
, Germany
Germanys time in Africa was short and unsuccessful. After World War I it lost all of
its colonial regions. Countries: Togo, Tanzania, Namibia, Cameroon. The local
governments were expected to be independent from the Reichstag in Berlin, so
less money went to Africa. There were economic prospects because of some
infrastructural investments.
Belgium
Had only Congo. Belgium saw itself as the ‘father’ of Congo Congo had to be
modernised and the population Christian. Decisions about Congo needed to be
made in Brussels. Belgium, not Congo, benefited the most from the exports from
the African country. The African population, but also the Belgian farmers, had no
voice. Also the elite had no power The transport system was only developed for
outward of resources.
France
Had the biggest colonial empire in Africa: large part of West Africa and Somalia
and Madagascar. Despite the diversity in nations and peoples, there was a
uniform colonial policy. Colonial administration needed to be self-supporting, raw
materials were exported to France and Africans needed to pay tax and needed to
provide labor for the French.
France wanted to assimilate the Africans into to French culture language and
education system.
In contrast to Belgium, an elite was important to spread the French culture and
the support the colonial powers ‘direct rule’
New policies give more and more powers to the colonies in the 1960’s all the
countries are independent. Algeria was special because of the resources and the
large ‘colon’ population French living in the colonies. They stimulated the
economic growth, but they also caused social tensions (for example jobs).
United Kingdom
Had also a big empire but colonial policies were adapted to local conditions
and regions ‘indirect rule’ (indigenious cultures needed to be protected). There
was no radical change of culture.
Disadvantage: segregation and separation between the British and the Africans
existed.
Ultimate goal: independence of colonial powers under the British flag.
British policy also differed between the political status of the dependencies
some became colonies (=more self-governance), other became protectorates (=
more protection by the motherland).
Portugal
Exploited her colonies for resources (Mozambique, Guinea, Angola). Most of the
production and agriculture started by settlers remained in European hands.
Assimilation is important, just as an elite to spread the Christian culture. Only a
few became Portuguese citizens, the rest needed to work in the mines. The
provinces were subdivided in districts. There was no good communication and
the countries were not ready for independence.
Italy
Had Libia, parts of Somalia and Ethiopia militaristic and fascistic oppression.
Good communication and infrastructure development
Spain
Had little land and population West-Sahara, Ceuta and Melilla, part of Guinea.
Authority was centralized and Guinea was used for exports, the rest was useless.
The ‘Wind of Change’
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