1. The colonial rule in West Africa has been successful partly because the colonialist were able to obtain the support of the indigenous elites. The article Circle of Irons showed that colonial employees were able to gain the favor of the indigenous elites. Through their efforts, the colonial employees were able to bridge the communication and knowledge barrier between the colonialist and the indigenous people as exemplified in the Circle of Irons. For example, while it was suggested that Makassouba and Uolare complicated colonial rule (Osborn, 41), they were nevertheless instrumental in laying the French influence and supremacy in the colonial regions.
2. The African women prior to the colonial period were generally marginalized by the patriarchal society. One evidence of such status was when a news about taxing the women circulated in one community, and the women expressed that they depended upon their husbands about almost everything, so there is really nothing to tax. Despite their status, women during that time have the right to fight against men oppressors, an example of which was when Nwanyeurwa got into trouble with Okugo, upon which the women combined forces to fight against the man (Perham, n.p).
3. One of the main reason why the West African leaders’ resistances failed against the power of the colonialist is that the leaders were not united in their struggle. They were too disintegrated that each leader has his own decision for his tribe. There were those who fight against the Europeans, while there were leaders who easily gave in to colonization. The lack of unity among them was an advantage to the colonialist to easily get into the region.
Works Cited
Osborn, Emily Lynn. Circle of Iron: African Colonial Employees and the Interpretations of colonial Rule in French West Africa
Perham, Margery. The Aba Women’s Riot in Nigeria, 1929. Native Administration in Nigeria. 1937
