Once again you can
test your knowledge on Mama's previous article. Click here
if you would like to take a short quiz based on the first part of this article entitled: Africa During the Colonial Period
Just as each country had their own motivation
for wanting their “piece of the pie”; the way they ruled
differed as well. One can though, break the colonists’ leadership
styles into two major categories: direct rule and indirect rule.
Let’s first address the case
of the French who saw colonization not just as a means of having
more resources; but also as a way to increase their cultural influence.
They ruled their colonies with the intention of assimilating Africans
into French culture and creating “African Frenchman”,
so to speak. It is therefore easier to understand why they invested
more in the way of infrastructure. After all, in order to teach
Africans to become Frenchmen, some education would be needed. It
also explains why in addition to the military they sent members
of the French administration personnel to the colonies. African
colonies were treated as extensions of territorial France. Consequently,
they controlled the regions directly and had the people of their
choosing in power. We will see next week what results this type
of leadership had on the colonies after independence.
Do not misunderstand this to mean that
the French treated the average “African Frenchman” as
they treated their white French counterpart! Africans were viewed
as one views children: people with potential; but in need of being
raised to adulthood. They were certainly not seen as equals. Yet,
some Africans in the colonies were able to attain French citizenship
and some even attended French universities. Algeria was even made
one of France’s “departments”, which is the equivalent
to an American county. The island of Reunion (a small island off
the coast of Madagascar) remains a French “department”
even today.
One must though be honest in saying
that Africans who lived in French ruled regions of Africa had more
opportunity to hold positions of power and to receive education
as well as have access to more infrastructure and improvements such
as roads, railways, phone lines, etc. Additionally, Africans also
had to deal with the larger numbers of white settlers who came to
live in this new “region” of France (These included
both administrative persons who were stationed there; and French
citizens who simply decided to come and take advantage of business
opportunities and start new in a region with a great climate and
opportunity to have power.) But the French did not necessarily choose
those who had held power in traditional Africa societies either.
Often leaders were chosen who fell inline with the French view of
life and those same men would never have attained important positions
in the traditional systems of governance.
The second category is that of indirect rule. Two prime examples
of European powers which ran their colonies in this fashion are
the English and the Dutch. African colonies in this case are seen
strictly as a means to an end. Neither the English, nor the Dutch
had any intention of having Africans as citizens of their nations.
Africans were simply the current inhabitants of their new lands.
Since the colonies were either seen as a place to extract raw materials
or to allow European businesses to prosper thanks to the raw materials
which were abundant in certain regions; there was no point in their
view to invest in much infrastructure. Railways or roads for example
were run directly from the location of the resources to be transported
to the nearest port. Schools were not built, nor were any other
communication or transportation networks unless they would directly
serve to export goods from Africa to Europe.
As for the manner of governing they
were not interested in bringing too many officials to run their
colonies. It would have been too costly; thus, they gave orders
through the current leadership structure. In many cases, they removed
or killed those who refused to cooperate and replaced them with more
“cooperative” members of African societies.
There were numerous effects of colonization
Africans. For one, it highlighted urban/rural differences since
most of investment was made in urban areas. This caused vast gaps
between urban and rural peoples in the way of education, etc.
One of the other major consequences
which still haunts Africa today is that power was completely removed
from women in African society. Colonists imposed the male-dominated
structures which were commonplace in Europe.
Many African societies treated women
and men as equals and women held positions of power. Ga women for
example dominated trade in the open markets and in Nairobi during
the 1940’s more than 60 percent of all homes were owned by
women. But under European rule, the vast majority of women lost
their leadership positions which were given to men because the Europeans
women did not accept women as equals. Those who were actually accepted
for leadership roles were not paid. The colonists also strongly
encouraged African men to take control of sectors which women previously
controlled, teaching that men should be dominant in Africa as they
were in Europe.
Independent, successful African women
threatened the roles of both European and African men, so the two
worked together to rob women of their power in government, society
and the home.
Women gradually lost the right of
property ownership where they had had the right before; through
reorganization of land ownership For example in Southern Zambia,
men used polygamy to gain more help on the farm and women were treated
as farmhands, no longer as partners. Women accepted this type of
marriage because it was the sole remaining means of having property.
Power was taken in a variety of ways.
Professional training, for example was given to males when provided.
There were fewer facilities for girls than boys. Women could gain
entry into professions such as law, civil service, medicine, and
academia in general. Very few women were appointed to any European
posts, and there was never a female governor of a colony. The only
part women played in the colonial government was as petty traders
and farmers. This has, to this day, maintained women in Africa in
a very subservient position.
Next time we will take a look at
the challenges of reconstruction
after the African colonies finally attained their independence.
Thanks for your interest. See you
again soon!! |
