What Was the Scramble for Africa?

In just a handful of decades, European colonizers carved up almost the entire African continent. Stephen: “Europeans had been involved in and with Africa for a very long time prior to the late 19th century. The specific moment we refer to as the Scramble for Africa really relates to an acceleration and intensification of European activity in and with Africa.” Every present-day country except Ethiopia and Liberia was affected. These territories were then governed—and exploited—by foreigners. Why? A lot of reasons. Nineteenth-century exploration of Africa had made Europeans more aware of the continent. African economies—and their vast resources—caught the eye of European parties. And then there was the Suez Canal. Stephen: “The Suez Canal was only about 10 years old when the Scramble started.”

“And one of the British in particular were interested in protecting the Suez Canal, a vital trade connection between South Asia, East Asia, and Europe.” But it wasn’t just foreign nations seeking to expand or protect their empires that motivated the Scramble. One group of schemers hatched a plan to illegally build empires in Borneo. These tactics inspired other Europeans to do the same in places like Africa. Stephen: “These people purported to acquire vast amounts of control and even sort of the rights of sovereignty, particularly on the island of Borneo. They promoted their supposed rights in a variety of locations, and in some cases they tried to sell them to European leaders and companies.” Many of the many claims, treaties, and takeovers during the Scramble were contested by Africans. Stephen: “There are examples from Cameroon, for instance, in which we know that African leaders who are allegedly involved in treaties transferring sovereignty make appeals to European heads of state.”

“And these appeals are essentially saying, I did not sign this. You will out of honor, or out of nobility, grant my appeal to be independent.” Other resistance by citizens involved noncompliance, in both nonviolent and armed responses.
The Scramble for Africa resulted in huge losses of life there. In the Congo alone, colonization claimed 10 million lives. The Scramble reshaped the continent’s economy and the way resources and wealth were divided. It changed the course of history—and the map. Stephen: “This event continues to be contested to this day. We are still learning a great deal about the Scramble for Africa.”

“And perhaps surprisingly, the final words really haven't been written yet.”