Trans Saharan Trade and Colonization in Africa, Essay Example

Between the 1870s and 1900s, Africa experienced European imperialist diplomatic pressures, aggression, military invasions, as well as eventual conquest and colonization. The European imperialist push into the African continent was inspired by three primary factors, political, economic and social. The major impact of colonialism in African is that it resulted in economic challenges that resulted in the underdevelopment of African territories in different ways. Normally, it is argued for colonialism that it brought Western education, which subsequently brought Western civilization to Africa, which demonstrates a positive contribution to the continent of Africa. However, this is not true because colonization has resulted in more problems that have made Africa under-developed economically. The Western education system is partially responsible for the economic woes Africa faces because the education system was not rooted in African culture, which mean it had no organic linkage and could not foster economic development (Ekechi 10).

The colonial education did not boost industrialization, which was key to economic development of the African continent. In addition, colonialism brought about disarticulation of the economy because it distorted African pattern of economic development in many ways. For instance, there was disarticulation of goods, traders, transport, markets, provision of social services, as well as the pattern of urbanization (Iweriebor 31). In addition, the colonialists brought about pattern international division of labor, which did not favor Africans as they assigned Africa the production of raw materials and primary products in which they used in their industries in Europe. During the time of colonization, Africans were not permitted or encouraged to venture into manufacturing. The only industries that the Africans were permitted to venture were those that processed raw materials for export purposes. Furthermore, colonizers at a low price purchased the African raw materials while manufactured products from overseas were sold at high prices. This contributed to the impoverishment of the majority of Africans. Additionally, the colonizers created new marketing centers and routes, which distorted what the Africans owned before the colonizers arrived. They ensured that the African trade was primarily export-import oriented so that they could have a ready market in Africa for their processed products from Europe (Ekechi 12).

The other impact of European colonization of Africa was that it resulted in different societal institutions and classes. Colonialism aided an apparent emergence and development of classes in Africa for their political gain. The classes included comprador bourgeoisie, petty bourgeoisie, the proletariat, as well as the peasant. There is a great harmony of interest among the African petty bourgeoisie and the European comprador bourgeoisies. This is why in the ear of political independence; it was the African petty bourgeois that were given the mantle of leadership. The African petty bourgeois sustained similar association with the erstwhile colonial masters, and this is the reason they run the political administration of their countries in a similar way the colonists did (Stilwell 17). The majority of the African leaders maintain the link with their colonial masters because of the influence the colonizers left in Africa countries after colonization. The political instability witnessed in most African nations has recourse to the nature and character of the classes that was introduced by the Europeans. Furthermore, the nature of political power struggle along with the distribution of wealth and economic resources in Africa strongly reflects the interest and harmony of the Africans through their leaders and their colonial masters.

Works Cited

Ekechi, Felix. The Consolidation of Colonial Rule, 1885–1914. In Colonial Africa, 1885–1939, vol. 3 of Africa, ed. Toyin Falola. Durham: Carolina Academic Press, 2002.

Iweriebor, Ehiedu E. G. The Psychology of Colonialism. In The End of Colonial Rule: Nationalism and Decolonization, vol. 4 of Africa, ed. Toyin Falola. Durham: Carolina Academic Press, 2002.

Oyebade, Adebayo. Colonial Political Systems. In Colonial Africa, 1885–1939, vol. 3 of Africa, ed. Toyin Falola. Durham: Carolina Academic Press, 2002.

Stilwell, Sean. The Imposition of Colonial Rule. In Colonial Africa, 1885–1939, vol. 3 of Africa, ed. Toyin Falola. Durham: Carolina Academic Press, 2002.