Brief history of colonization in Africa

Brief history of colonization in Africa

By Manuel Osornio

Open Ended

What do you know about colonization? / ¿Qué sabes sobre la colonización?

​Colonization: When a country takes control of another place, rules over the people there, and uses its land and resources.

Colonización: Cuando un país toma el control de otro lugar, gobierna a las personas que viven allí y usa su tierra y recursos.

Multiple Choice

When a country takes control of another place, rules over the people there, and uses its land and resources.

• Resources

• Ruler

• Control

• Colonization

1. European Colonization in Africa. / Colonización europea en África.

2. European Colonies in Africa. / Colonias europeas en África.

3. Languages in Africa Today. / Idiomas en África hoy.

4. Consequences of Colonization. / Consecuencias de la colonización.

​1. European Colonization in Africa

From the late 19th to mid-20th centuries, European powers colonized nearly all of Africa in a period known as the Scramble for Africa (1881–1914). The Berlin Conference (1884-1885) formalized the division of African territories among European nations.

​2. European Colonies in Africa

Here are the major colonial powers and their African territories:

• Britain 🇬🇧: Egypt, Sudan, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Botswana, Sierra Leone, Gambia, and others.

• France 🇫🇷: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Senegal, Mali, Ivory Coast, Chad, Madagascar, and more.

• Portugal 🇵🇹: Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, São Tomé and Príncipe.

• Spain 🇪🇸: Western Sahara, Equatorial Guinea.

• Belgium 🇧🇪: The Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo).

• Germany 🇩🇪 (until WWI): Namibia, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Togo, Cameroon.

• Italy 🇮🇹: Libya, Somalia, Eritrea.

After World War II, African nations gained independence through revolutions, negotiations, and decolonization movements (1950s–1970s).

Multiple Choice

Egypt, Sudan, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Botswana, Sierra Leone, Gambia, and others.

• Britain 🇬🇧

• France 🇫🇷

• Portugal 🇵🇹

• Spain 🇪🇸

• Belgium 🇧🇪

Multiple Choice

The Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo).

• Britain 🇬🇧

• France 🇫🇷

• Portugal 🇵🇹

• Spain 🇪🇸

• Belgium 🇧🇪

Multiple Choice

Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Senegal, Mali, Ivory Coast, Chad, Madagascar, and more.

• Britain 🇬🇧

• France 🇫🇷

• Portugal 🇵🇹

• Spain 🇪🇸

• Belgium 🇧🇪

Multiple Choice

Western Sahara, Equatorial Guinea.

• Britain 🇬🇧

• France 🇫🇷

• Portugal 🇵🇹

• Spain 🇪🇸

• Belgium 🇧🇪

Multiple Choice

Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, São Tomé and Príncipe.

• Britain 🇬🇧

• France 🇫🇷

• Portugal 🇵🇹

• Spain 🇪🇸

• Belgium 🇧🇪

​3. Languages in Africa Today

Colonial languages remain widely spoken:

• English: Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, Zambia, etc.

• French: Senegal, Ivory Coast, Chad, Madagascar, DR Congo, Mali, etc.

• Portuguese: Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, etc.

• Spanish: Equatorial Guinea, Western Sahara.

• Arabic (due to North African history and Islamic influence): Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Sudan.

Despite colonization, indigenous African languages like Swahili, Hausa, Yoruba, Zulu, and Amharic remain widely spoken.

Match

Match the following

• Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, Zambia, etc.

• Senegal, Ivory Coast, Chad, Madagascar, DR Congo, Mali, etc.

• Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, etc.

• Equatorial Guinea, Western Sahara.

• (due to North African history and Islamic influence): Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Sudan.

English

French

Portuguese

Spanish

Arabic

• English

• French

• Portuguese

• Spanish

• Arabic

​4. Consequences of Colonization

• Political Borders: Arbitrary borders caused ethnic conflicts and civil wars.

• Economic Exploitation: African resources were extracted for European benefit, leaving weak economies.

• Cultural Influence: European languages, religions, and education systems shaped societies.

• Social and Racial Divisions: Colonial rule reinforced social inequalities that persist today.

• Resistance and Nationalism: Colonization fueled independence movements and African unity efforts.

Multiple Choice

Colonization fueled independence movements and African unity efforts.

• Resistance and Nationalism:

• Social and Racial Divisions:

• Cultural Influence:

• Economic Exploitation:

• Political Borders:

Multiple Choice

Colonial rule reinforced social inequalities that persist today.

• Resistance and Nationalism:

• Social and Racial Divisions:

• Cultural Influence:

• Economic Exploitation:

• Political Borders:

Multiple Choice

European languages, religions, and education systems shaped societies.

• Resistance and Nationalism:

• Social and Racial Divisions:

• Cultural Influence:

• Economic Exploitation:

• Political Borders:

Multiple Choice

African resources were extracted for European benefit, leaving weak economies.

• Resistance and Nationalism:

• Social and Racial Divisions:

• Cultural Influence:

• Economic Exploitation:

• Political Borders:

Multiple Choice

Arbitrary borders caused ethnic conflicts and civil wars.

• Resistance and Nationalism:

• Social and Racial Divisions:

• Cultural Influence:

• Economic Exploitation:

• Political Borders: