9781422280676

A Concise History of Africa

15, 1884 that the Berlin West Africa Conference began. Formally dressed, diplomats from 14 European nations and the United States of America came to the table, the purpose of the meeting ostensibly being humanitarian concerns for Africa. Hitherto, the Europeans had confined themselves to coastal Africa, and had avoided venturing inland for fear of yellow fever, malaria, and the nameless hazards associated with the “Dark Continent.” Now, the “Scramble for Africa,” that had begun slowly in the 1870s, would be accelerated, and

the race to obtain “spheres of influence” within the continent’s interior would be continued in earnest. This would reach its peak towards the end of the 19th century, and only begin to diminish during the first decade of the next. Many believe the European nations divided African land between themselves as they sat at the table in Berlin, but in fact this had already been happening for some years. The Berlin Conference only served to recognize the status quo and was largely meaningless, yet it emphasized Europe’s

unquestioned attitude of superiority, indicating they were poised to take over the continent, which they would accomplish over the next 25 years; lines would be cut across traditional borders, ignoring ethnic, linguistic, and cultural groups to create nations of disparate people who would not necessarily have much in common. Beginning in the 1950s, the colonies regained their independence over the next 40 years, but the rapidity of the process was to bring unrest and instability that continues to this day.

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