Africa: Then and Now
Colonialism Through an Economic Scope: The Brutal Exploitation toward the Africans
Colonialism is a strategy in which a country seeks to exert control and authority over another region. (1) Unlike imperialism, colonialism is an attempt to maintain control through exploitation and by economic means, rather than through brute military force. In their pursuit of subjugating a new territory, the colonizers typically impose their own culture, language, economic standards, laws, and religion on the indigenous people of the land. The homeland’s natives often lack the political or military strength to defend themselves from colonizing forces, and therefore become subject to their rule.(2) The initial wave of colonization began in the 15th century, when several European countries sent its people west to establish trade routes and conquer new territories. Yet perhaps the most significant period of colonialism occurred roughly three hundred years later, in a conquest called the Scramble for Africa.(3) Europeans recognized the untapped potential of African strategic trade routes, extensive land, and abundant resources, and following the 1884 Berlin Conference, they set forth across the continent to claim it as their own. The nation of Africa was exploited for Europe’s economic and political gain, and thus, created a burden for the African people.(4) By 1900, this burden had only become heavier as Europe colonized nearly 90% of Africa. Europe’s grasp over Africa included its economy, people, and systems, and showed no signs of resistance.
This was a picture taken when a European first arrived in Africa and showing them bottles of medicines. Which were something the Africans were not familiar with at that time. (30)
Ironic cartoon that signify how Africa is already struggling a lot but the Europeans kept demanding more in order to fulfill their economic needs. Considering Africa's situation at that time, it was inhumane for the Europeans to keep taking advantage of them. (31)
Why did Europe decide to economically take advantage of Africa?
At nearly 12 million square miles in size, Africa is the world’s largest second continent.(5) In fact, Africa is hypothetically large enough to fit the United States, China, India, and much of Eastern Europe in it. This massive territory was ideal for Europe in the days of colonization, as they set out plans to build thousands of miles of railroad throughout the continent. This allowed Europe to strengthen their presence in the region, and it was an important building block for economic growth. The British quickly took control of the Africans and built up a core of Africans called the native administrators.(6) On top of that, due to the abundance of resources nations in Africa held, Europeans began excessively taking advantage and robbing their resources like coco, coffee, and some raw materials away.
Impose on Taxation
Economic expansion is at the heart of colonialism. Therefore, the Europeans quickly sought to transform Africa’s outdated currency system. Before the introduction of cash, cowrie shells, large iron, and copper ingots were widely used throughout Africa.(7) The Europeans claimed that introducing currency was justified because it assisted to civilize the Africans. As A.I Conklin stated in his work of A mission to civilize: The republican idea of empire in France and West Africa, “Europeans believed that taxation is seen rather as proof that Africa is beginning to rise on the ladder of humanity, that he (Africans) has entered upon the path of civilization.(8) To ask him to contribute to our common expenses is, so to speak, to elevate him in the social hierarchy.”(9) Indeed, currency would reshape Africa into a more modern country than before, however the Europeans used it as a tool for more control. On top of the monetization, they further imposed taxation. Ever since the arrival of the Europeans, colonial tax payments were seen as the first step of the colonial capitalist’s cruel exploitation toward the Africans. Though the government considered this a “fair policy”, colonials actually did not need the colonial currency from the Africans. In turn, they needed “the African population to need the currency, and that was the purpose of the direct tax”(10). Direct tax means that the European settlers and the government were recycling the money they gave to the Africans. As the Africans did not previously have any sources of currency, the taxation was a means to force the Africans to sell goods, especially labors, for the currency.
These were the cowrie shells Africans were using as a form of currency before they were introduced to cash. The cowrie shells were mainly used for trading and selling goods (32)
These are the modern day currencies using by countries in Africa. It was first introduced by the Europeans (33)
Dr. Gareth Austin, a historian at the London School of Economics, pointed out that British’s rule was that each colony should be fiscally self-supporting.(11) Thus, any growth in government expenditure was supposed to be financed from higher revenues.(12) This also applied in Ghana in 1920, a British colony at that time. The colonial government used the taxes they received from the Africans to build brand new schools and hospitals but the schools and the hospitals’ majority population, ironically, were dominated by the white settlers.(13) It was a similar situation with the French as well. In French colonies in West Africa, Patrick Manning’s model revealed that the French government continued to receive more taxes in African than it spent in Africa. Paying taxes was considered to be a vital step into assimilating into French citizenship and culture. (14)
Forced Labor to Achieve Economic Needs
However, violently imposing taxes was not the only way Europeans took control of the Africans. During the colonial period in West Africa, European officials faced a shortage of labor; instead of finding more normal waged workers, they decided to impose forced laborers on Africans to fulfill their economic needs.(15) If the Africans didn’t want to work for the Europeans, they would coerce Africans into finishing their work while being paid minimally. Particularly in areas with a high population of European settlers, the demand for cheap African laborers was relatively high. Not only were the wages extremely low, the Africans were also forced to work in severe conditions.(16) One of the most striking examples of that was working on the railroad. All early roads and railways were built by forced laborers. Although much of the railroad was achieved by the diligent workers, the detrimental effect brought to health and life would not disappear. A railway in French equatorial Africa was built by 125,000 Africans in order to link the coast between Brazil and inland. Despite the fact that it was a significant project, nearly 14,000 Africans had died during the process of construction, before the rail was put into use. Travel in comfort came at a price.(17) The colonial government claimed that they brought advanced technology and railways to make the lives of the Africans more convenient. But when the colonial railway map was completed in 1920, these railways had one central purpose: to ensure the export of resources like minerals.(18) The purpose of risking millions of Africans’ lives was merely to increase their export production with other nations and made the Europeans’ lives easier. Which reveals how the Europeans disregarded the African’s sacrifice and just wanted to achieve their goal of maximizing economic profits. (19)
This was a picture taken when the Africans were constructing the railway, the trains were mostly for the white Europeans. It was consider a privilege for the African Americans to even walk on the railway because it was dominated by white Europeans who did not take any part in building the railroad. (34)
Exploitation of Natural Resources
The Europeans understood that Africa was a ‘gold mine’ of natural resources. Therefore, they took advantage of the Africans and its distinctive resources in order to maintain their economic development needs. “The colonial powers swamped Africa with European-made commodities, causing many African industries to fail because they could not compete.”(20) The Ivory Coast, for example, had a rich amount of coffee and palm oil, which by the 1880s, had been captured by the French.(21) The French’s primary focus of the colonization was to stimulate the production of those resources. As a result, the French ended up owning one third of the plantation and adopted the local forced-labor system. (22)
In addition, raw materials like rubber, timber, diamonds, and gold were found in Africa.(23)Those were resources that also intrigued the Europeans and made them all want to take a slice of the African cake. New industries in Europe were in need of materials like copper and tin, and subsequently, looked south to Africa to meet the growing industry needs.(24) Africa became a free market that served the colonizer’s home economy, and even developed into an open market for buying the manufactured goods.(25) Despite many rebellions from the Africans, their natural resources were still owned and controlled by European investors, even a large portion of African land.
Europe’s colonization of Africa has shaped the continent and world today. By using trade routes, enforcing new systems, exploiting resources, and managing the economy, Europe was able to enrich themselves at the expense of Africa.(26) Of course, there were many attempts to resist the Europeans’ conquest. The Bailundo Revolt of 1902 occurred in Angola, where the indigenous people fought off and attacked the Portuguese tax collectors and traders.(27) Rebellions continued in the decades following, but Europe often proved to be a stronger force. Africans were becoming angrier and more violent against the Europeans because of their colonization and reshaping of their society. The European’s unfair treatment, minimal opportunities for education and jobs, and exploitation of cheap labor were only some of the dozens of reasons Africans began to resent the colonizers.(28) Colonization continued to occur throughout the world, but Europe’s taking over of Africa remains among the most transformative periods in world history.(29)
Africa's Resentment Toward Colonization
This is the map of Africa pre colonialism and post colonialism. As we can see, many European nations took advantage of Africa and brutally invade their territories. (35)
This is a map of Africa's natural resources, the abundance of resources spread across Africa both in terms of minerals and other raw materials (36)
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Footnote
1) Blakemore, E. (2019, June 14). What is colonialism? Retrieved November 20, 2020, from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/topics/reference/colonialism/
2) Blakemore, E. (2019, June 14). What is colonialism? Retrieved November 20, 2020, from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/topics/reference/colonialism/
3) The Scramble for Africa: StJohns. (n.d.). Retrieved November 20, 2020, from https://www.joh.cam.ac.uk/library/library_exhibitions/schoolresources/exploration/scramble_for_africa
4) Frost, Alan. "Economic Aspects of Empire." Empire Online, Marlborough: Adam Matthew, 2003. Web. Accessed November 15, 2020. <http://www.empire.amdigital.co.uk/Essays/AlanFrost>.
5) Desjardins, J. (2020, February 19). Mapped: Visualizing the True Size of Africa. Retrieved November 20, 2020, from https://www.visualcapitalist.com/map-true-size-of-africa/
6) Davidson, B. (Director). (n.d.). How the Europeans Divided Africa [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJ1uo5jvpe8&has_verified=1&ab_channel=AfricaBusinessPages
7) Wolff, Richard D. "Economic Aspects of British Colonialism in Kenya, 1895 to 1930." The Journal of Economic History 30, no. 1 (1970): 273-77. http://www.jstor.org/stable/2116744.
8) Conklin, A. L. (1997). A mission to civilize: The republican idea of empire in France and West Africa, 1895–1930. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.
9) Passportocean. (2019, July 31). The Meaning and Use of Cowrie Shells. Retrieved November 20, 2020, from https://passportocean.com/2019/07/31/cowrie-shell-meaning-use/
10) Frost, Alan. "Economic Aspects of Empire." Empire Online, Marlborough: Adam Matthew, 2003. Web. Accessed November 15, 2020. <http://www.empire.amdigital.co.uk/Essays/AlanFrost>.
11) Davies, C. (2010, August 12). Colonialism and the 'scramble for Africa'. Retrieved November 20, 2020, from https://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa/08/02/independence.africa.colonialism/index.html
12) Davies, C. (2010, August 12). Colonialism and the 'scramble for Africa'. Retrieved November 20, 2020, from https://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa/08/02/independence.africa.colonialism/index.html
13) Revealing Histories: Remembering Slavery. (n.d.). Retrieved November 20, 2020, from http://revealinghistories.org.uk/africa-the-arrival-of-europeans-and-the-transatlantic-slave-trade/articles/the-underdevelopment-of-africa-by-europe.html
14) PatrickManning. (n.d.). Retrieved November 20, 2020, from http://www.manning.pitt.edu/work.html
15) Davidson, B. (Director). (n.d.). How the Europeans Divided Africa [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJ1uo5jvpe8&has_verified=1&ab_channel=AfricaBusinessPages
16) Davidson, B. (Director). (n.d.). How the Europeans Divided Africa [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJ1uo5jvpe8&has_verified=1&ab_channel=AfricaBusinessPages
17)Davidson, B. (Director). (n.d.). How the Europeans Divided Africa [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJ1uo5jvpe8&has_verified=1&ab_channel=AfricaBusinessPages
18) Davidson, B. (Director). (n.d.). How the Europeans Divided Africa [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJ1uo5jvpe8&has_verified=1&ab_channel=AfricaBusinessPages
19) Frost, Alan. "Economic Aspects of Empire." Empire Online, Marlborough: Adam Matthew, 2003. Web. Accessed November 15, 2020. <http://www.empire.amdigital.co.uk/Essays/AlanFrost>.
20) Conklin, A. L. (1997). A mission to civilize: The republican idea of empire in France and West Africa, 1895–1930. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.
21) Conklin, A. L. (1997). A mission to civilize: The republican idea of empire in France and West Africa, 1895–1930. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.
22) Khan, Z. (2016, May 22). Colonialism in Africa: Bondage, exploitation and developments. Retrieved November 20, 2020, from https://foreignpolicynews.org/2016/05/22/colonialism-africa-bondage-exploitation-developments/
23) BBC World Service | The Story of Africa. (n.d.). Retrieved November 20, 2020, from https://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/specials/1624_story_of_africa/page40.shtml
24) Rodet, Marie. “Forced Labor, Resistance, and Masculinities in Kayes, French Sudan, 1919-1946.” International Labor and Working-Class History, no. 86, 2014, pp. 107–123. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/43302768. Accessed 20 Nov. 2020.
25) Chidester, David. "Colonialism and Postcolonialism." In Encyclopedia of Religion, 2nd ed., edited by Lindsay Jones, 1853-60. Vol. 3. Detroit, MI: Macmillan Reference USA, 2005. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX3424500621/WHIC?u=lawr21149&sid=WHIC&xid=9d68f68.
26) BBC World Service | The Story of Africa. (n.d.). Retrieved November 20, 2020, from https://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/specials/1624_story_of_africa/page40.shtml
27) Wolff, Richard D. "Economic Aspects of British Colonialism in Kenya, 1895 to 1930." The Journal of Economic History 30, no. 1 (1970): 273-77. http://www.jstor.org/stable/2116744.
28) Davidson, B. (Director). (n.d.). How the Europeans Divided Africa [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJ1uo5jvpe8&has_verified=1&ab_channel=AfricaBusinessPages
29) Davidson, B. (Director). (n.d.). How the Europeans Divided Africa [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJ1uo5jvpe8&has_verified=1&ab_channel=AfricaBusinessPages
30)Exeter, C. (2014, October 01). Exchanging Notes: Colonialism and Medicine in India and South Africa. Retrieved November 20, 2020, from https://imperialglobalexeter.com/2014/10/01/exchanging-notes-colonialism-and-medicine-in-india-and-south-africa/
31)Jecmaus. (2014, January 30). France/Afrique : 14 African Countries Forced by France to Pay Colonial Tax For the Benefits of Slavery and Colonization. Retrieved November 20, 2020, from https://blogs.mediapart.fr/jecmaus/blog/300114/franceafrique-14-african-countries-forced-france-pay-colonial-tax-benefits-slavery-and-colonization
32)Dhwty. (n.d.). Paying With Shells: Cowrie Shell Money Is One of the Oldest Currencies Still Collected Today. Retrieved November 20, 2020, from https://www.ancient-origins.net/history-ancient-traditions/shell-money-0011793
33)Macdonald, J. (n.d.). A Guide to Currencies and Money in Africa. Retrieved November 20, 2020, from https://www.tripsavvy.com/currencies-in-africa-1454129
34)Ekitibwakyabuganda, Ekitibwakyabuganda, 29, E., 24, A., 12, J., 13, T., . . . P, H. (2013, February 12). The construction of the railway in the 1890s from Kenya to Uganda was hindered by several factors including hostile natives, marauding lions, rough terrain and diseases. Retrieved November 20, 2020, from https://ekitibwakyabuganda.wordpress.com/2013/02/12/the-construction-of-the-railway-in-the-1890s-from-kenya-to-uganda-was-hindered-by-several-factors-including-hostile-natives-marauding-lions-rough-terrain-and-diseases/
35)The Scramble for Africa. (n.d.). Retrieved November 20, 2020, from https://studylib.net/doc/5225579/the-scramble-for-africa
36)Al Jazeera. (2018, February 20). Mapping Africa's natural resources. Retrieved November 20, 2020, from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/02/20/mapping-africas-natural-resources/?ref=hvper.com