EUROPEAN TAKE OVER AFRICA

Being dominant and the thought of bring peace to the Africans was one thing whiles governing and transmuting them to the Europeans liking was another. Prior to 1884, the European colonies had limited themselves in the involvement in the traditional land of Africa. They took cautious steps in securing the power to rule. The colonies as a whole believed Africa was a “no man land” therefore they took measures in building new sates and implementing their own laws and regulations through which the Africans were going to have to follow. Their idea and goal was to take over the economy of the African continent going through their political leaders.

            The Britain started off with their official policy formulated by Lord Fredrick Lugard, a Nigeria High commissioner; this was they referred to as “indirect rule”. With the tradition of the of the African culture being incompatible to the Britain’s, they planned to change the political system to gain power over the people but they couldn’t wipe out the leaders right away; they therefore decided unless they partially maintain Africans political structure and other institutions and instead act as their advisors, their intention to rule the continent will be unsuccessful. For example, they kept traditional kings and chiefs in power as well as the ethnic loyalties and traditions governing marriage and land. In addition, they allowed the continuation of the African languages to be spoken in couple of western schools in the colonies which in return they believe “would guarantee their success of the colonial experiment, ensure everlasting peace, and require the use of fewer financial resources” (Azevedo, 116); in other words, if the Britain’s shared political power with the African leaders (kings, chiefs, etc.), they will feel as important and that could possibly prevent them from rebellion against the Britain’s. In addition, the Britain will also get cheap labor by recruiting or better yet forcing the Africans, which will evidently fairly less cost.

With the colonies main target being power and wealth, the African economy was definitely going to suffer as a consequence. The European began disturbing the peace of Africa’s economy when they forced African authorities and gave them additional power through which their main responsibility was to collect taxes, conscript manpower for involuntary labor and the military; as well as controlling the harvest of certain cash crops in their region—these mistreatment led to African authorities susceptibility because they were seen as tools of colonialism. Note, the taxes that were impose on the African continent weren’t beneficiary to them in any kind of way and “the cash crops made the newly carved territories dependent on one or two commodities that, following independence, became a source of problem when Africans made an attempt to diversify the economy. Furthermore, international fluctuation of consumer needs and resulting prices made Africans economies vulnerable to external forces, and the emphasis on exports overlooked the real needs of the Africans” (Azevedo, 118). Also, from the movie The History of Racism, King Leopold II; who was full of greed sent somebody to Congo to secure that country for him; on that part of the continent, he created a scene as though he was willing to educate what he called the “savage people”. He formed ninety-thousand strong army some of which were Africans to go to village after village; there they seized women from their husbands and forced men to go to the farms to collect a monthly quota of wild robber. This continued for 20 years therefore there weren’t people in the village to do what a normal community will do to feed itself such as fishing, harvesting, farming, etc.—Congo as a result died from over labor and starvation.   African’s primarily relying on one or two agricultural goods were pretty disturbing with the simple fact that they basically didn’t have anybody to sell these goods internationally.

As it has been briefly elaborated above, the exports were strictly in favor of the processing of products overseas, consequently divesting the Africans of industrial plants. Everything and anything the colonies touched on the continent politically, economically, (taxes, railways, harbors), and other amenities that were built to sternly expedite the exports of merchandises from industrious areas to European markets and plants. Africans as being told through history remained the major tank of economical labor for the European government, companies, and enterprises until they gained individuality.  

Quilombo

There are many parts to the history of slavery. Slavery has been in an existence since the 15^th century; and as slavery went on, slaves became more and more rebellious like those in Jamaica. They acquired this attitude not because they were fans of violence but because they were rather tired of the cruelty and brutality they endured daily.

            Slaves were taken from Africa to what they called the “New World” with Jamaica being one of them. It has been told that the African Slaves that were taken to Jamaica were very rebellious. Most slaves in Jamaica were runaway slaves and they as the Maroons—they fought masters until both sides came to an agreement; they could often negotiate with the colonial authorities and use that as a means of making their condition better (Oxford Journals, 376). They always had a different way of resisting their masters—sometimes violently and other times explicably. Sometimes the authorities would also negotiate with the Maroon leader by making a freedom treaty—this treaty didn’t not give them all freedom they needed; meaning there were restrictions of what when they can and cannot do. In addition, another treaty was concluded in 1749. This was called the peace treaty; it was mainly because the maroon group and their violent attitudes destroyed the Dutch settlers. This particular group was very influential on the slave rebellions and resistance in many different ways; the maroons were looked up to for hope by those who were still in bondage. Their existence was a challenge to those in bondage—it strengthened their weakness and sort of assured they could also fight and succeed in becoming free.

            Another predominant group was the Akan’s. The Akans during the time they were forced to come into the new world brought with them their traditional religious practices from back home( Gold Coast) in which they believed in. interestingly enough, the planters didn’t consider that as threat; this wasn’t close to their worries. Their concern was concentrated more on how equipped the slaves were in working on the plantation fields. There were times where the slaves used their traditional practices (Voodoo) to magically dodge gun bullets; this was done by having powder all over their body and so on and so forth. “Once African religious ceremonies were proscribed, magic still persisted and it was so well adapted to going underground” (Oxford Journals 383). This group also had its influential part to part to play. Their traditional religious practice did not only unify them but it also sort of a suitable reason that paved the way for the slaves to gather and communicate amongst themselves. There

      

There are many parts to the history of slavery. Slavery has been in an existence since the 15^th century; and as slavery went on, slaves became more and more rebellious like those in Jamaica. They acquired this attitude not because they were fans of violence but because they were rather tired of the cruelty and brutality they endured daily.

            Slaves were taken from Africa to what they called the “New World” with Jamaica being one of them. It has been told that the African Slaves that were taken to Jamaica were very rebellious. Most slaves in Jamaica were runaway slaves and they as the Maroons—they fought masters until both sides came to an agreement; they could often negotiate with the colonial authorities and use that as a means of making their condition better (Oxford Journals, 376). They always had a different way of resisting their masters—sometimes violently and other times explicably. Sometimes the authorities would also negotiate with the Maroon leader by making a freedom treaty—this treaty didn’t not give them all freedom they needed; meaning there were restrictions of what when they can and cannot do. In addition, another treaty was concluded in 1749. This was called the peace treaty; it was mainly because the maroon group and their violent attitudes destroyed the Dutch settlers. This particular group was very influential on the slave rebellions and resistance in many different ways; the maroons were looked up to for hope by those who were still in bondage. Their existence was a challenge to those in bondage—it strengthened their weakness and sort of assured they could also fight and succeed in becoming free.

            Another predominant group was the Akan’s. The Akans during the time they were forced to come into the new world brought with them their traditional religious practices from back home( Gold Coast) in which they believed in. interestingly enough, the planters didn’t consider that as threat; this wasn’t close to their worries. Their concern was concentrated more on how equipped the slaves were in working on the plantation fields. There were times where the slaves used their traditional practices (Voodoo) to magically dodge gun bullets; this was done by having powder all over their body and so on and so forth. “Once African religious ceremonies were proscribed, magic still persisted and it was so well adapted to going underground” (Oxford Journals 383). This group also had its influential part to part to play. Their traditional religious practice did not only unify them but it also sort of a suitable reason that paved the way for the slaves to gather and communicate amongst themselves. 

      

Wonders of The African World

The Trans-Atlantic slave trade took place around the mid-fifteenth century when the Portuguese grew interest in the African continent. The lack of work force in their country might have pushed them to Africa; but who knows? The slave trade continued till the nineteenth century. The immense majority of slaves who were brought to the new world were known to be from West and Central part of Africa (Ghana, Benin, Dahume and etc.). In addition to the Portuguese, British, Dutch, French, American and surprisingly, Africans themselves played a role in the slave trade—scholars argue that the countries from the New world forced themselves in the African continent to recruit slaves whiles others argue that Africans ( Chiefs, Kings, etc.) or the Middleman initiated slavery first. Slaves in Africa were habitually criminal individuals who had unpaid debts and had to work till their debt were paid off and as Paul Lovejoy noted, “[…] slaves in African societies were absolute property or chattel of their owners […] (Azevedo, 74)”; whereas in the Americas, slaves were not personal ownership of other human lives; they are actually able to buy their freedom and obtain societal elevation. Although all either side of the scholars’ allegation may be true, it doesn’t permit any human being on this earth to sell or exchange another human’s life for money or goods. That is true “greed”!

            Many countries were involved in the slave trade including the African continent itself. Before the arrival of the Europeans, slavery existed in Africa (Ghana)—there were people in the palace who serves the chiefs, kings and their generation. Let’s take my homeland, Ghana for example “it appears that the large numbers of Africans were enslaved and forced to work in the Gold coast mines prior to European contact” ( Azevedo, 75). When the foreigners from the new world arrived in Ghana, they realized that they had well established political systems in an inhumane manner; in other words, they had Kings, Chiefs and others whom the people respected, followed, and worshiped. Also, the foreigners discovered well established economic systems in terms of trade, wealth and so on as teacher Akosua Apaabi referred to in the video. This underlines the argument of some scholars that, slavery were in existence before the Europeans arrived indoors and also being born in Ghana, I witnessed rich families who had maids and servants who did house chores, ran errands, and did so many other things that the rich themselves will not do. Also, traders also ask permission from kings to build forts and castles (Elmina) where they will keep the slaves that weren’t able to fit the first boat trip; surprisingly, their permissions were granted by the Ghanaian leaders and rent was paid to keep their fellow African in the castles—what I call “The Cage”.

            In addition, the Ashanti tribe was known to have sold and exchange lots of their own people. For example, “The Akan gold miners and African authorities paid the Portuguese traders in gold in exchange for the slaves provided. Likewise, other Europeans, including the English, the Dutch, the Danes, entered the trade and provided slaves in exchange for gold with the Akan people” (Azevedo, 75). Africans in general—Ghanaians to be precise believed they were getting what they needed (force labor) from the Europeans and that was what mattered at that time. They didn’t think far to consider the effects they were dragging upon themselves in the later future; as in the video, Wonders of the African World, Dr. Louis visited Quidah and learned a bit about Don Francisco who had over 90 children with all African women. Dr. Louis discovered how Don Francisco ruled Quidah by directing a road straight to the beach where the Europeans had their boats and ships waiting for their chained slaves. When Dr. Louis arrived on the beach, he found broken glasses of wine sitting on the sand—left over of the exchange goods; he then said that Africans today are suffering from its own curse from selling its own people. Africans at the time they were building what they might have referred to as “partners”, didn’t think that these same partners will force and make their own way of recruiting slaves. Its effects are being suffered today.

            The African perspectives provide a context to better understand the slave trade because it goes into detail about the truth of where, when, and how it began. It also provided specific examples noted in the above paragraphs about the role the African continent played in recruiting slavery; the context has made it clear that the Europeans weren’t the full initiators even though they went along with it after they discovered the wealth in Africa—especially Ghana ( Gold Coast). Even though the context has given some clarification  about this part of the African history, the arguments circulating about it still hangs; scholars and some Africans from the video Wonders of the African World  believe that if Africans themselves hadn’t sold their people, there was no way the Europeans would’ve had the right to enlarge and recruit slavery. Opponents argue that the Europeans were and are responsible for slavery on the African continent.