Impacts of Colonization in Africa - Assignment Example

Introduction Africa is known to be a nation that is rich in so many natural resources. They include minerals like gold. The weather is so captivating with the sun being overhead throughout the year. Such attractive aspects about Africa made the western nations to be interested in this continent. This resulted in the colonization of most of the African countries. Many scholars have handled this issue that concerns the impacts of colonization in Africa. Some assert that colonization of Africa had positive impacts. On the other hand, there are some scholars who say that colonization of Africa was not beneficial to the continent in any way. Still others have mixed reactions on this topic. This paper is dealing with the impacts of colonization in Africa. This is according to the text; African studies a survey of Africa, third edition. (Tolbert, 2001) Chapter 1, 2, 3 Colonization can be described as a practice where indigenous people are oppressed by people from other nations though the ‘visitors’ stay in the land. The most common colonies of Africa include Portugal, Netherlands, Britain, Denmark and Spain. These colonies had remarkable impacts on the continent of Africa. Education According to the book, the impacts of colonization in Africa include the inception of education. Before colonization occurred in Africa, the natives never went to school. When the white man started settling in Africa, his children somehow had to continue with their education. This saw to it the start of schools in Africa. Initially, schools only belonged to white children since the blacks were slaves and had to work in the farms that the white men had taken from them. The blacks through interaction with the whites embraced education. This also included religion. Many colonies are known to have introduced religion in Africa. These impacts are still evident in the African continent to date. (Tolbert, 2001) Chapter 5 Technology Another effect of colonization in Africa is start of technology. By the time the whites were colonizing Africa, there was no technology whatsoever. This was in all sectors. Traditional means for instance were used to communicate in case there was any message. This included smoke that would come from a lit fire. This would show a specific message like death etc. (Tolbert, 2001) Chapter 2,3 In case a person had to communicate to another friend or relative, then messengers were used. They would run for long distances until they delivered the message. Unfortunately, many of them died before reaching their destination since they were devoured by world animals. The colonialists brought in information technology like telephones and post offices. This technological advancement is evident to date in South Africa and other African nations. This definitely was a positive impact. Dependency When colonization occurred in Africa, Africans generally got used to the white man doing most of the things for them. This included planning and the financial management of the entire economy. This had some negative effects on Africans. It resulted in what can be descried as a dependency syndrome. This has made Africans to depend on the western nations to date. This is in financial, political and economic issues among others. For instance their banks still have to adhere to the rules of the World Bank. They still rely on financial aid from western nations. (Tolbert, 2001) Chapter 4 Governance Colonization of Africa also had another impact. Analysis shows that Africans were undergoing so much oppression from the white man. Greed was evident in the way the whites run these African governments. When the whites were ruling, they had few Africans who used to work hand in hand with them. The blacks who had to be very loyal were appointed as headmen among other leaders. When these nations gained independence, the blacks still continued with the same type of governance. Those who were in power started being greedy and oppressive. They strive to amass wealth at the expense of the citizens therein. That is why most of the leaders in Africa just strive to benefit their families and next of kin. This explains why these nations still have a wide gap between the rich and the poor. One finds that the poor continue getting poor and poorer while the rich also progress in getting rich and richer. The leadership also shows some form of dictatorship. (Tolbert, 2001) Chapter 1, 2 Infrastructure This is also one of the impacts of colonization in Africa. When the western nations colonized Africa, the continent did not have any infrastructure. This included road and rail network. When the colonies came in, they brought with them remarkable changes. They started building railway lines and also roads. This was especially on the highways from one nation to another. They also constructed airways that would enable fast and efficient transport between nations. (Tolbert, 2001) Chapter 1 For instance the railway line from Uganda to Kenya was constructed by the whites. Surprisingly, the natives even after gaining independence have not added even a single inch onto the railway line. This shows that were it not of the colonies many African nations would still not be enjoying the services of railway line. This is one of the positive impacts that colonization had on Africa. International trade International trade can be described as the trade between two different nations. Analysis of African nations shows that before colonization, the continent never engaged in international trade. Furthermore there was no medium of exchange. Barter trade was carried out in this continent. It was very hard for trade to be carried out since there was no f measure of value of the goods. They simply exchanged goods for goods. As illustrated in the previous paragraph, the whites constructed good infrastructure that made it easy for the nations to trade with other nations. (Tolbert, 2001) Chapter 3 Africa had so many natural resources like oil, petroleum, gold, copper, diamond among other minerals. Cash crops like cocoa, cotton and coffee are normally exported to countries like United States, Japan and the European Union. Petroleum is mostly found in Libya and Nigeria. Rwanda and Burundi have been known to export coffee while Egypt exports cotton to the western nations. All this was initiated by colonies. There are also various crops like tea and coffee. This could be exported to other developed nations. Therefore the impact of colonization in Africa was the start of international trade that is still being carried out to date. Socio-economic disparity This is also one of the negative impacts that colonization had on Africa. It is quite prevalent in South Africa. During the years when the colonies were still in this nation, there was so much difference among the affluent and the poor population. There were estates that were set aside only for the rich. (Tolbert, 2001) Chapter 4 Segregation was to a high level such that the rich and the poor could not even share streets. This was generally coupled with racism. This was where the colonies could not share essential social amenities with the natives or the people of color. There were also other facilities like hospitals that could not be shared among the poor and the rich. Surprisingly, this aspect did not go with the white man. Research carried out in South Africa in the year two thousand and six still shows that there are still socio-economic differences among the citizen. The people who are in power and are rich have their own estates to stay. The poor are segregated to stay in other areas. (Tolbert, 2001) Chapter 4 The issue of racism also affected some of the people in African nations. This is especially to the people who witnessed the white people torture and even misuse the blacks. Approximately twenty percent of the citizens of South Africa confess the total dislike of whites. This was part of the impacts of colonization of Africa. In relation to this topic, colonization of Africa also brought about an aspect of pigmentocracy. Many people from colony nations had children with African women and men. This led to population where there were some white children. Analysis shows that these children were taken to the western nations depending on the color of their skin. This was quite evident in the nations that were colonized by Portuguese. These nations include Cape Verde and Brazil among others. This definition of people by color is still being carried out in these nations to date. This is in relation to the degree of melanin in one’s skin. These values were definitely instilled by the colony nations. (Tolbert, 2001) Chapter 4 International relations International relations have been enhanced by colonization in Africa. Before African nations were colonized there was no or minimal international relations. During the years when colonization occurred, international relations were enhanced. Africans started interacting with the western nations and these relations have been enhanced to date. Through these relations, African nations have benefited through various aid programs that western nations give to them. (Tolbert, 2001) Chapter 3 Language diversity Language is very important in the process of communication. Without two parties understanding the same language, it becomes very hard to pass across a message. Colonization brought in language diversity in Africa. Research carried out in the year two thousand and six shows that Africans speak approximately two thousand languages. This research revealed that Africa is one of the continents that have a high diversity in linguistics. (Tolbert, 2001) Chapter I, 4, 6 These languages were initiated by the colonial powers that ruled the developing nations. This was necessitated by the fact that the colonies somehow had to communicate with the blacks. Through colonization, many Africans were able to learn other languages like English, Spanish and French. Africans are still using these languages to date. Industrialization Colonization brought with it some positive impacts in Africa. As illustrated earlier on, the continent did not have any processing firms. Though it had so many raw materials, there were no firms that could process the raw materials like coffee and tea. The colonies started up various industries that would process the raw materials to better finished products. (Tolbert, 2001) Chapter 5 There were also other industries that dealt with preservation of the finished products. After the African nations gained independence, they have still emulated what the western nations did during the colonial years. Further analysis however shows that the rate at which the nation is being industrialized is quite slow as compared to the period between early sixties and forties. (Tolbert, 2001) Chapter 5 Equipment and machinery According to the text; African studies a survey of Africa and the Diaspora, this is also one of the impacts that colonization had on Africa. Before this continent was colonized, the natives used very crude equipment. The white man brought in tremendous evolution. The colonies started bringing in good quality equipment. This was in many sectors like agriculture and health. Machineries were also imported and this so to it the onset of economic development in Africa. (Tolbert, 2001) Chapter 4 Conclusion The book on African studies a survey of Africa has got very valuable information. This is in relation to the impacts of colonization on this continent. They are both positive and negative effects. The positive effects include the start of education that has helped very many Africans to date. Through colonization many African nations came to know of religion. Another positive aspect includes the start of international trade. This has allowed Africa to export its raw materials to the western world. Development of infrastructures in Africa was first initiated by colonies. The negative impacts include over-dependency of the continent on western world. Nevertheless it seems like colonization of the African continent was a blessing in disguise to the continent itself. Read More