HISTORY FORM 3 – ESTABLISHMENT OF COLONIALISM

EFFECT OF PARTITION OF EAST AFRICA

I. The conflicts erupted between the religious groups such as the CMS (the church missionary society) the Bangereza or British participants. The white fathers (French Roman Catholics) or Bafaranca and Swahili traders (coastal Arabs and Kiswahili traders) who were being supported by the Kabaka and the traditionalists. The CMS entered in Buganda in 1877.

The white fathers in 1879 both needed to spread Protestantism or Catholicism in Buganda. But they were opposed by the Muslims Arabs who had warned the Kabaka about the dangers of European missionaries, to respond Kabaka executed three believers of the CMS in 1885 including Bishop Hunnington.

II. In 1886 the government of the Kabaka killed about 30 converts at the court after refusing to drop their Christian faith as a result the CMS appealed to the British and white

fathers to the French government to penetrate and protect them hence the scramble for Africa.

III. An attempt to establish a Belgium empire from the coast of East Africa to the Congo basin from 1876 to 1889 by sending expeditions threatened the British and the Germans who were already in East Africa. In 1876 king Leopard formed the international Africa association trade, established Christianity civilization and control trade in the Congo region. Britain and Germany immediately pushed for East Africa to avoid it from falling under the control of king Leopold II of Belgium.

IV. The need for raw materials and markets by Germany and Britain made them scramble for colonies in East Africa. Both Germany and Britain were industrialized countries demanding for raw materials, markets, areas for investments and cheap labour of which could be obtained in Africa hence the struggle to scramble for.

V. Trade. Both powers needed to occupy Zanzibar and large parts of the interior for trading interests. Among the commercial companies were such as the Germany with the company and the British East African association of 1887 these companies competed with each other.

VI. British rule over Zanzibar began in 1890, while in Uganda and Kenya was in 1894 and was then refered as British East Africa).

VII. Germany took Tanganyika including Dar es Salaam and bought the Coastal 10 strips from Zanzibar.

VIII. Dar-es-Salaam and Mombasa became important main ports and were linked with railway to the interior.

IX. Two agreements (Anglo German of 1886 & 1890) eliminated in the prelude to colonialism.

STEPS WHICH WERE TAKEN IN THE PARTITION

The powers signed two agreements or treaties which included;

I. The Anglo – Germany agreement or delimitation treaty of 1886. In this agreement the two powers agreed on the following matters;

A. They defined the islands of Zanzibar, Pemba, Mafia, Kismay, Brava, Mogadishu and Warshekh as the dominions of the sultan of Zanzibar plus 10mile coastal trip to Witu.

B. The region between the river Tana and river Ruvuma was divided by boundary to the Umba River to Lake Victoria.

C. The Northern half of (modern Kenya) became a British sphere of influence while the southern half becomes the Germany sphere of influence.

D. Germany was given Witu the coastline of Kenya up to Kipini river in Kenya.

Anglo-Germany treaty of 1886.

The rivalry between the two powers continued because the western boundaries were not drawn between Tanganyika and Kenya. The competition for the control of Uganda began due to its fertility, high population and being the source of river Nile. Britain feared that if Germany controlled Uganda her stay there would be in danger.

At the same time Karl Peter’s of Germany trade treaties with KabakaMwanga and the chief NabongoSekwangaMumia in western Kenya, therefore the rivalry between them led to another agreement.

The Anglo-Germany agreement or the Helgoland treaty of 1890.

1. Germany recognized Uganda and Kenya as British spheres of influence.
   
2. Germany recognized Zanzibar as the British protectorate and the rest of the sultan’s dominions.
   
3. Germany lost the Witu which became under British possession in Kenya. In compensation for Witu Germany was given Helgoland an island off the coast of Germany in the north sea to use it as a military base.
   
4. Germany continued to control Tanganyika and she acquired ten miles coastal strip from the sultan of Zanzibar by buying the area as compensation to the sultan for the possession, then the German controlled ports of Tanga, Bagamoyo, Dar essalaam, Kilwa and Mikindani and other parts of Tanganyika.
   
5. The western boundaries between Tanganyika, Uganda and Kenya were defined. Uganda became a British protectorate.
   

 

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The Anglo-Belgian treaty of 1891 defined the south western Uganda. Therefore Germany controlled Rwanda and Burundi.

Anglo-Germany treaty of 1890

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF COLONIALISM

COLONIAL CONTROL AND AFRICAN REACTION

INTRODUCTION

COLONIALISM

Colonialism is the situation where by one country dominates or rule another country socially, politically, economically and culturally.

Most African countries were colonized by European countries after the Berlin conference except Ethiopia and Liberia.

African countries lost their independence, sovereignty and control over their own matters after being colonized.

Therefore during the imposition of colonial rule it was not easy for colonialists to penetrate into the interior of Africa because;

1. Africans were not ready to be colonized.
   
2. Africans had their own systems of governance.
   
3. Africans had their own system of social, political, economic and culture.
   
4. Africans had a strong leadership and army which strongly protected their state etc.
   

 

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Therefore during the establishment of colonial rule colonialists used the following methods/ tactics.

METHODS/TACTICS/ WAYS OF ESTABLISHING/IMPOSING COLONIAL RULE.

There are various ways or methods/ tactics employed/ used by colonialist to impose/ establish colonial rule in Africa are as follows;

1. Diplomacy method [signing of treaties]
   
2. The use of force [military conquest] violence.
   
3. Alliance or collaboration
   
4. Administrative technique e.gDirect rule, indirect rule and Assimilation.
   
5. Ideological methods e.g Introduction of Western Education, Western civilization racism and introduction of Christianity.
   
6. The use of infrastructures and communication Media.
   
7. Economic technique e.g Destruction of Industries, this was done by importing ready manufactured goods from abroad e.g clothes, beards, wine.
   

 

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The techniques/tactics / methods or ways mentioned above were applied or used in imposing/establishing colonialism because; the colonialist find some difficulties since Africans were not ready to be colonized therefore they applied these tactics as follows;

i.THE DIPLOMACY METHOD [THE SIGNING OF TREATIES

This method was the method of signing bogus treaties done by colonialist with African local rulers which cheated Africans to accept colonial control.

African local leaders signed those treaties without understanding their meaning because they did not know how to read and write. After signing the treaties African local leaders would find their areas colonized. For example; Karl Peters signed many treaties with chief Mangungo of Msovero, Kilosa, Usangara and Uluguru. Stanley signed treaties with king Lobengula of Ndebele [Zimbabwe]

The treaties signed by colonialist with African rules were called bogus treaties because

ii. MILITARY CONQUEST/USE OF FORCE

Military conquest was a method/ way of imposing /establishing colonial rule where by colonialist used military force such as army, soldiers, police etc to force Africans to accept colonial rule when the diplomacy method/way failed.

For example Germany used force / violence/ military conquest to force Mkwawa of the Hehe to accept colonial control in his territory.

iii. ALLIANCE OR COLLABORATION

This was another technique/ way or method of imposing/establishing colonial rule where by colonialists united or cooperated with some societies which had enmity by supporting one side to defeat the other then colonize all together.

AFRICAN REACTION AGAINST IMPOSITION OF COLONIAL RULE

Despite of colonialists to use different rules/ methods/ tactics or techniques or ways to impose [establish] colonial rule; Still during imposition of colonial rule in Africa, Africans reacted or opposed colonialism because Africans were not ready to be under colonial control that is why Africans imposed different reactions against colonialists.

WAYS/ GROUP OF REACTIONS

There were two ways of reaction against imposition of colonial rule and these were;

1. Collaboration [ alliance]
   
2. Resistance
   

 

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These two groups of reaction against imposition of colonial rule depended on the following;

THE NATURE OF AFRICAN REACTION AGAINST COLONIAL RULE

1. The military structure and the strength of the society.
   
2. The nature of leader ship i.e. strong or weak.
   
3. The nature of the colonialists i.e. aggressive or friendly.
   
4. The nature of exploitation and oppression made Africans to use collaboration or resistance.
   
5. The level of interference in social, political and economic interest made Africans to react or not.
   
6. The nature of population [African societies] for example the size of the population, unity among the people etc.
   

 

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Due to the above factors, it caused African societies to impose strong resistance or weak resistance or collaboration.

COLLABORATION/ ALLIANCE

Collaboration was a way of reacting against imposition of colonial rule where by African societies cooperated with Europeans invaders. African societies used the method to oppose colonial rule by welcoming or making cooperation with the colonialists against indigenous [fellow] enemies and conducting treaties so as to get support and preserve their interests against their enemies.

Therefore collaboration simply means, Africans welcomed Europeans in order to get their support. For example Maasai, Buganda and Lozi collaborated with colonialists as the way to avoid their control.

THE REASONS WHY SOME AFRICAN SOCIETIES COLLABORATED WITH COLONIALISTS

      i. Poor/weak military power

Some societies had poor military power compared to the colonialists; therefore they decided to cooperate with them in the opposing manner.

ii.Poor leadership

Some societies in Africa decided to cooperate with colonialists because they had poor or weak leaders who were not militant confident to fight against colonial rule.

iii. To fight against their fellow Africans.

Some African societies collaborated with colonial rule invaders so as to get assistance to fight their fellow enemies who were strong militarily. For example Sangu, Bena and Yao collaborated with the Germany against Mkwawa of the Hehe.

iv. To get military/ weapon support.

African societies collaborated with colonialists because they wanted to get strong military weapons to defend their territories i.e. NambongoMumia of Wanga and KabakaMutesa collaborated with the British to get strong arms.

v. Fear and to promote peace and harmony.

Some societies in Africa decided to cooperate with colonialists due to the desire of maintenance of peace and harmony and avoiding warfare.

vi. Ignorance.

Ignorance of some Africans especially rulers [leaders] who did not understand the mission [intention] of colonialists through given gifts, fooled and persuaded them to sign bogus treaties. For example chief Mangungo of MsoveroKisola signed a bogus treaty with Karl peters. King Lobengula of shone and Ndebele signed bogus treaties with John Moffat

      vii. Natural problems such as calamities/ disaster.
Some societies in Africa suffered a lot with natural calamities such as drought, floods hunger etc which made them weak politically hence collaborating with the colonialists to get relief or assistance. For example the Maasai, the Chagga, the Kikuyu etc.

viii. The role of missionaries:- They played a great role to soften the African mind by preaching them to be humble and obidient to their masters, this lowered the African temper against colonial rule.

 RESISTANCE

Resistance is the situation where by Africans fought in order to oppose European invasion or colonial rule.

Or is the opposition against colonial rule or control.

FORMS OF RESISTANCE

There are two forms of resistance or reaction against colonial rule employed/ applied by Africans and these are:

1. Active resistance
   
2. Passive resistance
   

 

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ACTIVE RESISTANCE

is the form of resistance where by Africans took arms to fight against colonial rule, or active resistance is the one which Africans wage war to oppose colonial rule by destructing European properties like farms, killing Europeans and so on. Eg of African societies which applied active resistance against colonial systems were: Nyamwezi, under Isike, Hehe under Mkwawa and Yao under Machemba.

WHY SOME SOCIETIES OF AFRICA SUCCEEDED/WERE ABLE TO APPLY ACTIVE RESISTANCE?

BECAUSE;

1. Presence of strong/ good leadership e.g. SamoriToure and Mkwawa.
   
2. Strong army.
   
3. Strong unity among the people.
   
4. Good war techniques.
   
5. Strong organizations/political systems.
   
6. Powerful socially and economically.
   

 

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PASSIVE RESISTANCE

Is the form of resistance where by Africans did not take arms in opposing colonial rule or cooperating with colonialists.

Or

Passive resistance is unarmed or nonviolence opposition against colonial control by refusing to pay taxes, production of cash crops, denied to work etc. an example of a society which applied passive resistance was Pogoro who refused to involve in colonial activities like cotton picking in southern Tanganyika.

WHY SOME AFRICAN SOCIETIES APPLIED PASSIVE RESISTANCE NOT ACTIVE RESISTANCE?

1. Poor weapons
   
2. Absence of strong army; presence of weak army made some African societies to afraid to fight.
   
3. Weak leadership.
   
4. Poor unity among the people.
   
5. Presence of natural calamities for example floods, droughts.
   
6. Weak social and political organizations.
   

 

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REASONS WHY AFRICAN SOCIETIES FOUGHT AGAINST IMPOSITION OF COLONIAL RULE

Almost many African societies resisted against imposition of colonial rule due to the following reasons:

1. To defend social and political sovereignty;
   

   Many societies in Africa decided to resist colonial rule because colonialist wanted to interfere their social and political power. So African chiefs or leaders such as Mkwawa, SamoraToure and Kaberegeetc took army to fight against it.
   

2. Interference of trade
   

 

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Africans resisted against imposition of colonial rule because colonialists interfered with African trade monopolies which made Africans harsh towards colonialists hence resistance.

3. Interference of cultures

African resisted against imposition of colonial rule since colonialists wanted to interfere African culture such as religion, language etc.

4. Land alienation.

Africans resisted against imposition of colonial rule because colonialists took African’s land as a result Africans took arms to fight against this.

5. Forced labour

Many African societies imposed to resist once against colonial rule since colonialists forced them to work by force without payment in colonial activities like farms, construction of BOMAS etc. Examples of resistances were Majimaji, Nandi resistance, Chimulenga etc.

6. Introduction of taxation

Colonialists introduced different heavy taxes such as head tax, cattle tax, hut taxandmatiti tax where Africans were forced to pay them as a result they resisted against the imposition of colonial rule.

7. Harsh rule

      8. Africans were not ready to be colonized.

Africans resisted against the imposition of colonial rule because they were not ready to be colonized since they had their own system of governance and administration.

9. Beliefs of political and military strengths.

African societies were believed that they were powerful and strong in political and military as a result when colonialists came they opposed against them for example chief Machemba of Yao disobeyed Germany governor WISSMAN because he believed in his military power.

10. Colonial social segregation and discrimination.

Africans resisted against colonialist because Africans were segregated, oppressed and discriminated by them and treated as inferior in social, political and economic issues as a result Africans resisted them harshly

11. Alliance / collaboration between traditional enemies with the colonialists.