Introduction
The scramble for Africa came as a result of Europeans desire to control resources found in Africa, by coming to Africa and colonizing them. Most Europeans used skewed ways in obtaining the resources as they wanted to be superior amongst themselves and in the event harm those they colonized. In attribution to the Scramble for Africa by the European, Africans reacted differently either diplomatically, by retaliation or using religious practices to retaliate against the European. They mostly depend on their leader's instructions into tackling the Europeans who by far had better ammunition and tactics in fighting the Africans.
The urge to colonize Africa came as a result of the Berlin conference that promised European of greater resources should they explore Africa. It saw a lot of European nations setting camp in Africa and were determined to obtain resources that would make them superpowers, this lead them into tricking African leaders into signing treaties with them and those that declined the offer were colonized unwillingly and oppressed. By signing treaties, it would declare those lands out of bounds for other Europeans, and thus, they started competing to see who would obtain bigger regions thus they would use any means necessary to outdo and beat the competition. Moreover, in the process, they began using their weapons against the Africans, raping their women and kidnapping their children. Many fought back as they did not want this lifestyle and were not ready to be subjected to this oppressive regime.
Some of the African communities reacted by agreeing to sign the treaties and get colonized. In document one, we see the Royal Niger Company getting into agreement with British and even working for them at the Delta Company. The treaty oversaw the appointment of chiefs to become laymen for the British and work as supervisors. Their work was to supervise other workers in the delta and the returns would be paid remunerations. The African veteran in document 4, says they surrendered to the British when they took over their land and were left to work as slaves for the Whiteman. Document 7, is also proof that Africans voluntarily gave in to the Europeans when they conquered their lands, as the Herero were obedient to the German rule. Others resorted to violence in an attempt to retain their lands as in document 2, where the Ashanti people refused to accept the policies of the majesty, the Queen of England and were ready to fight for their land. Also, in the Maji Maji rebellion in document 8, details how the Africans here opposed the German rule and were willing to die protecting their land.
According to the Ashanti queen in document 6, document 4 by an African veteran and document 7 by Samuel Maherero, they depict the use of force by the Europeans and how they were subjected to oppression that made them rebel the European rule, as they reject contracts offered by the British. Document 6, written in 1900, talks about how outraged the Ashanti Queen, Yaa Ashantewe, is after the king is taken by the white men and threatens to mobilize he women to fight the colonists as the men are lagging behind in this battle. She is dismayed by how the British governor was rude to the king and want her countrymen to fight the British. Samuel Maharero of Herero people, in document 7, mobilize his people to fight the Germans due to mistreatment and killings they are faced with always. He urges them to get ready and die on the battlefield rather than wait for their deaths while working for the colonizers.
Menelik II, the emperor of Ethiopia, is seen in document 3 believing in Jesus Christ to fight for them. It is an indication of the people in this side of Africa to have faith and rely on their religious beliefs when dealing with the Europeans. He claims that Ethiopia for a long time has been an island for Christians in a sea of pagans and should be spared if not should, at least, be given a few ports and recover Ethiopia from the Muslims. Document 8 also tells of how the East African people believed in a snake that would come and give them bumper harvest so they would no longer work in the colonists farms to get wages to support their livelihoods. The chief told his people during the majimaji rebellion that a spirit was given in the form of a snake to the medicine man, and that it would protect them from bullets of the enemy and protect their women and children during wartime.
Other groups resorted to use of traditional methods to retaliate the Whiteman as in document 4; it reveals how the Ndebele people fought back after being pushed to the wall by their colonizers who were mistreating their wives and children and also used to kill them most often. Ndansi Kamalo, their veteran is unable to explain how the fight between the African and Europeans started as it started so fast and it was unplanned. He claims it may be due to Africans being fed up and had to retaliate. Along the Congo River in document 9, a German Catholic missionary narrates of the fight that ensued between the Africans and the white men over land. The Congo was full of resource the Congolese could not let go thus ended up engaging in a fight that left many of them dead due to the inferior weapons they used against the white men. Also in document 5, an Ethiopian painting of the battle of Adowa, shows Ethiopians claiming victory over war with the Italians and they used traditional weapons to win the war which was considered encouraging.
The collapse of the scramble could be attributed to European states going behind each other back and thereby sign new treaties, which made them at loggerhead with each other. Moreover, as Africans were retaliating the war, a major war broke in Europe was known as world war I and the same time African retaliating, it made the Europeans weak and thus gave up on the African war, and thereby the era of colonization ended.
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