Imperialism in Africa

Imperialism in Africa

Imperialism is defined as one country's domination of the political, economic, and social life of another country. In Africa in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, imperialism was present and growing. The main countries involved in the imperialism in Africa were the French, German, and Great Britain. The French's empire was mainly in North and West Africa while Britain's colonies were scattered throughout the continent. Germany ruled over such countries as Tanganyika, Togoland, and Cameroon, until their defeat in World War I.

There were many reasons for the European countries to be competing against each other to gain colonies in Africa. One of the main reasons may be that Europeans believed that the more territory a country was able to control, the more powerful and important they were believed to be. Other reasons for countries to be competing include the many natural resources that could only be found in Africa and a need for markets in surrounding places so that manufactured goods could be sold for a large profit.

When the European manufacturing plants were built, the raw materials from Africa were extracted and the company owners developed and indigenous labor force, which was managed by foreigners. This all lead to the Africans being taken over by the foreigners. A poem by David Diop explains what it was like once the foreigners had taken over Africa.

"The White Man killed my father,

My father was proud.

The White Man seduced my mother,

My mother was beautiful.

The White Man burnt my brother

Beneath the noonday sun,

My brother was strong.

His hands red with black blood

The White Man turned to me;

And in the Conqueror's voice said,

"Boy! A chair, a napkin, a drink."

In Southern Africa, there were mineral discoveries in the 1860, 70, and 80's. These discoveries had an enormous impact on Southern Africa. These discoveries lead to a "rush" of many fortune hunters and the establishment of the town of Kimberly, which grew quickly and soon became the largest urban society in the interior of Southern Africa. Soon the diamond industry was controlled by one monopolistic company. This was one negative effect of imperialism in Africa.

While the foreigners were diamond hunting, the African people continued to mine for gold. Soon, though, the diamond industry lost its popularity which an enormous amount of gold was found near present day Johannesburg. Many of the businessmen that had made fortunes in the diamond industry left and established a series of gold-mining companies. Once again the native African people were being taken over by the foreigners.

Europeans viewed Africa as a place where there were more jobs as well as investment opportunities doe the middle class, and a place where the lower class was offered higher status, better job opportunities, and a chance to leave life behind and start again fresh. They also believed that the African people were people who needed to be helped so the Europeans went over on various church missions. Rudyard Kipling's poem, "White Man's Burden," captures the mentality of the Europeans:

"Take up the White Man's burdenÐ'--

Send out the best ye breedÐ'--

Go bind your sons to exile,

To serve your captive's need;

To wait in heavy harness,

On fluttered folk and wildÐ'--