Colonialism: Fact Behind it

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COLONIALISM

     Colonialism can be defined as political, economic and social subjugation, domination and annexation of territory of one country by another country. In other words, colonialism is the extreme form of imperialism which has gone beyond mere economic trade to direct annexation of colonies. According to Okereke and Ekpe (2002:102), “colonialism is the situation where one country exercises political domination over another by assuming control of the machinery of government and directing the affairs of society.’’
      The industrialization process in many European countries can be tagged as what caused colonization. It was due to the industrial revolution that happened in Europe that made European countries like Britain, Belgium, France, etc., to be involved in the following activities which led to colonization.
1.To search for excess raw materials for their industries.
2.To provide markets for the sale of their manufactured goods.
3.To create avenue for the investment of their surplus capital.
     These and others were the reasons for colonialism. It was not for civilization or development as they (colonizers) claimed. Even Lord Lugard who was synonymous with colonialism wholeheartedly acknowledged that colonialism was economically determined rather than the need for civilization. According to Lugard (as quoted in Okereke and Ekpe 2002:103), “the partition of Africa was, as we all recognize, due primarily to the economic necessity of increasing the supplies of raw materials and food to meet needs of the industrialized nations of Europe.”
     It is germane to note that African countries were partitioned among European countries, in order to prevent war among Europeans in their quest for territory acquisition in order to explore and satisfy their greed and inordinate ambitions.  This partition happened at the Berlin Conference in the years 1884-1885. Hence African countries were shared among seven (7) European countries, namely; Great Britain, France, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Spain and Portugal, in a bid to prevent war among themselves who were intensively struggling for the African entities. (See Imperialism).

Written by Eze Andrew Oforma

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