Colonial Africa: A Scramble for Control

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The Berlin Conference

In the late 19th century, Europe had already set its sights on conquering the Americas, Asia, and beyond. But it wasn't until 1884 that European powers gathered to divide the landmass right under their noses—Africa.

• So, why was Africa the last major continent to be colonized?

In 1871, Germany became a unified state under the leadership of Otto Von Bismarck, who wanted to catch up with other European powers that had been expanding their empires for centuries.

In his quest for influence, Bismarck organized the Berlin Conference in 1884, at which European leaders established rules for claiming land in Africa.

• Why hadn't Europe taken control of Africa earlier?

Unlike the Americas, where diseases wiped out large numbers of indigenous people, Africa's population had built up resistance to European diseases. The African tribes were also organized and strongly resisted foreign colonization.

These factors and Africa's dense jungles made it difficult for Europeans to settle there. But by the 1880s, advances in medicine and technology made it possible for Europeans to conquer the continent.

Berlin Act

At the Berlin Conference, 14 European countries agreed on how to divide Africa. They laid out these guidelines, known as the Berlin Act.

1. The slave trade, once carried out by both African and Islamic powers, was officially outlawed.

2. The Congo and Niger rivers were declared open to all, with no one power having control over them.

3. New land claims had to be backed by actual occupation (known as the Principle of Effectivity).

4. European powers had to inform each other when claiming new territories to avoid conflict.

This might sound orderly, but the consequences were far from simple.

Look again at the maps showing Africa in the late 1800s and compare it to what it looked like in 1913.

• Do you see any patterns?
• Did the European borders follow the boundaries of African tribes, or were they drawn arbitrarily?

For example, notice the Lunda people, a tribe in the southern center of the continent.

• Were they placed under one European power or split among several?

The competition among European powers wasn't just about territory—it was about resources.

After the Industrial Revolution, Europe needed raw materials, and Africa seemed to offer them. Countries like England, Germany, and Italy fought to establish colonies to fuel their growing economies and global power.

These nations wanted control over key trade routes, such as the Suez Canal in Egypt, or sought to expand their military and political influence.

The division of Africa during the Berlin Conference set the stage for a new era of European domination. This wasn't just a political move; it set the tone for decades of struggle, as African nations were forced to adapt to borders and governments that ignored their history, cultures, and societies.

World War I and Beyond

By 1914, Africa had become a crucial part of the European colonial system. Many African colonies provided invaluable support during World War I, from supplying troops to serving as strategic locations for the fighting powers.

Millions of African soldiers fought for the European powers in the trenches of Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. Despite their crucial contributions, these soldiers rarely received recognition for their roles, and the impact of their service would ripple across the continent in the decades to come.

After World War I, the map of Africa continued to change. The post-war era saw the weakening of European empires, and the colonies—having provided massive resources and manpower—began to demand more from their colonizers.

However, true political independence would take decades to begin.

The League of Nations' failure to grant self-determination to African nations was a significant setback. Still, it paved the way for the creation of the United Nations in 1945, when the fight for independence gained international attention.

By the 1960s, African countries had begun to win their independence. It was a long and hard-fought process, but after centuries of European control, the continent slowly returned to self-rule.

This map shows when each country in Africa received its independence.

Watch the following video to explore the Scramble for Africa and its eventual independence further.

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