- All European countries were eager to get the maximum of African territory in the shortest possible time.
- Often their competition/rivalry was about to result in a war.
- But in every case, they avoided war and signed agreements as to who will get which part of Africa.
For example,
- Both British and German was competing for East Africa. But in 1890 they reached an agreement to divide the region:
- British gave Heligoland to Germans
- Germans They gave Uganda to British
In 1884-85, European States organized a Congress in Berlin to decide how to share out Africa among themselves. No African state was represented at this Congress. Treaties were signed between European powers to settle disputes over claims to African territories between themselves.
Bogus Treaties and Paper Partitions
- Most of treaties signed between African chiefs and Europeans =were fraudulent and bogus.
- The Europeans gave gifts to African chiefs and made them sign their thumbs on any treaties. (We’ll see the examples of how adventurers like De Brazza and Sir HM Stanley used this technique.)
- Even when treaties were genuine, the Europeans misinterpreted the provisions in their favor.
For example, suppose an African chief had signed a treaty with a European country “X” to seek her support against a local African rival. Later that European country “X” will claim the area to be their ‘protectorate’ state. And sometimes even exchange that territory with another European country “Y”, without consulting the local African chief.
- Other European powers would also accept such bogus interpretations. Thus African occupation was done without any hindrance.
- By the end of 19th Century, the partition of Africa was nearly completed in this manner.
- This is generally referred to as ‘paper partition’ because the actual partition took much longer time longer time (due to internal rebellions by Africans against the European powers).
- If you look @the African map: About thirty per cent of all boundaries in Africa are in straight lines. Why? Because the continent of Africa was partitioned on paper map, in the conference rooms of Europe.
Germany
- After 1880, Germany also starts adventures in Africa.
- First she occupied an area called Togoland on the west coast; then Cameroons, a little farther south.
- Still farther south, the Germans established themselves in South-West Africa. This led to local rebellion and German troops massacred more than half of the population.
- Still she was unsatisfied, and wanted the Portuguese colonies of Angola and Mozambique and Congo.
- But then defeat in First World War started (1914) shattered her dream.
- After the war, when the German colonies were given to the victorious powers.
German colony before WW1: Togoland, Cameroons, South-West Africa, German East Africa
After WW1 colony given to:
- Togoland, Cameroons-Divided between England and France
- Southwest Africa-Given to South Africa.
- German East Africa- England. This region was renamed Tanganyika. (Tanganyika and Zanzibar now ‘form the republic of Tanzania).
Southern Africa
Rhodesia
- Cecil Rhodes was a British adventurer. He made truckload of cash through in gold mines (Transvaal) and diamond mines (Kimberly).
- He was a partner in the famous “De Beers” diamond mining company. By his will, he established the Rhodes scholarships at Oxford.
- He played instrumental role in forming the British South Africa Company, under a royal charter.
- This company acquired territories in south-central Africa and named this area “Rhodesia” after Cecil Rhodes.
Rhodes became famous as a great philanthropist. He founded the ‘Rhodes scholarships’ in Oxford university. but first of all, he was a profiteer and empire-builder. He said
“Pure philanthropy is very well in its way, but philanthropy plus five per cent is a good deal better.’ Rhodes’ dream was to extend the British rule throughout the world, and he certainly succeeded in extending the British Empire in Africa. The British occupied Bechuanaland, Rhodesia, Swaziland and Basutoland.
Boer Wars -1899
- In South Africa, the Dutch had established the Cape Colony. (Later British took over Cape Colony to protect their trade routes to India).
- South Africa was the part of Africa where a large number of Europeans (mainly Dutch) were settled.
- These settlers were known as Boers. They owned large farms and plantations. (later Boers were called “Afrikaners”)
- British took over Cape Colony and abolished slavery. Boers did not like it, so they went north and set up two states, the Orange Free State and the Transvaal. (Together called “Afrikaner republics”).
- Transvaal was rich in gold, so the British plotted to overthrow Boer government.
- This led to the Boer War (1899)=>Boers were defeated but they continued to live here.
- Gandhi served from British side, as an assistant superintendent of the Indian volunteer stretcher-bearer corps. He was awarded Boer war medal for his services.
- Soon after this, the Union of South Africa was formed consisting of the Cape, Natal, Transvaal and Orange River Colony.
- The white minority —Boers, Englishmen, and a few settlers from other European countries, ruled this Union.
- Later South African government later declared itself a republic.
Gandhi also served in Boer Wars (from British Side). He wrote in his autobiography
When the war was declared, my personal sympathies were all with the Boers, but my loyalty to the British rule drove me to participation with the British in that war. I felt that, if I demanded rights as a British citizen, it was also my duty, as such to participate in the defence of the British Empire. so I collected together as many comrades as possible, and with very great difficulty got their services accepted as an ambulance corps.
Zulu War
- British were interested in Zululand. They wanted Zulu population to serve as labour in the diamond mines across Southern Africa.
- British troops initially suffered losses but ultimately won.
Zulu Rebellion(1906)
- In 1906, the Zulu Rebellion broke out in Natal province of South Africa
- This was actually a campaign against tax being imposed by the British on the Zulus, who were demanding their rights in their own land.
- However, the whites declared war against the Zulus.
- In this Zulu war/rebellion, Gandhi served from British side, as the officer in charge of the Indian volunteer ambulance corps. He was given Zulu War Medal for his services.