Rise of Imperialism or Colonialism in Africa

Rise of Imperialism or Colonialism

Colonialism in Africa

The term colonialism simply implies the forced occupation and absolute control of one country by another. The colonizing country imposes the rules and the policies from its government and ensures that the colonized country follows the policies and decisions of the colonizing country.

The focus of the paper will be on African since it is the continents that had all but two of its countries colonized namely Ethiopia and Liberia (Ehiedu E.G. Iweriebor, 2011). In the 19 Century, there was a high industrialization race in the European world. This led to the exhaustion of the natural resources and the raw materials that would run the industries and keep the continent supplied with essential materials for building the infrastructure. This led to a hunt for alternative sources of raw materials and Africa proved to be lucrative source. This was the primary reason behind the colonization of Africa (Exploring Africa, 2012).

There were other reasons however behind the colonization of Africa for instance the politics of the time led to the colonization of Africa and expansion of the already existing colonies. The idea of Nation-State formation in Europe led to the strong identification with the nationalism ideology among the European countries hence the race to have the largest empires in Africa.

The ideology of racial hierarchy also perpetuated to a wide extent the colonization of the African continent. A greater section of the European nation felt that the European race is the superior and that it was the most civilized of all the races. This then was a noble calling upon them to go to the rest of the world and civilize them. This civilization that was directed to Africa through education and religion led to colonization and creating comfortable environment for colonization.

Reaction of the people of Africa to colonialism

Africa is probable the place where the revolt against colonialism was most experienced and was carried out in most diverse means, starting from serene dialogue to independence to other varied means like violent revolts till independence.

Most of the African countries revolted using firearms made from the rudimentary home materials, arms stolen from the colonialists to crude weapons like wood planks and machetes. There were deaths of many colonialists as ambushes were organized from the forests and directed to the detention camps where blacks were held and the homes of the white settlers.

Some of the most violent revolts that saw large number of white colonialists as well as African fighters for freedom are Mau Mau uprising in Kenya, the Boer Revolt in South Africa, Chimurenga in Zimbabwe, Bambatha rebellion in South Africa, Maji rebellion in Tanganyika and many others across the continent (African Holocaust, 2012).