This document discusses colonialism in Africa and its lasting impacts. It summarizes that colonialism involved domination of African countries by European powers to access resources cheaply and create export markets. Politically, it established systems that maintained foreign control and created dependency. Education produced people to fill colonial roles, not meet African needs. The economies exclusively extracted resources for export. Post-colonial systems largely maintained colonial structures, prioritizing loyalty over merit. Politically, presidents wield outsized power. Economically, countries still export raw materials and import manufactured goods. Education serves foreign interests more than domestic development. Overall, colonialism established systems that persist in prioritizing foreign interests over self-sufficiency.

1. COLONIALISM
REAPPRAISED
SAMASI ANDERSON
4th Annual Lagos Studies Association Conference
June, 2019.

2. WHAT IS COLONIALISM AND
DECOLONIZATION

3. Colonialism is the practice of
domination of a country by another or
a set of countries with a common
interest.
And decolonization is the process of
dismantling domination structures and
systems on a country.

4. WHY WAS AFRICA COLONIZED

5. 1. To have an unlimited access to
Minerals resources cheaply.
2. To have ready market for finished
products.
3. Exercise political and military might.

6. COLONIAL AFRICA

7. POLITICAL SYSTEM
The system ensured Africa remain a state
of conquest.
The system built governance institutions
that maintained the above.
The system created a culture of
dependence on colonial authorities.

8. The system only favored people loyal to the
colonial authorities, e.g. appointment of
Chiefs based on loyalty and not merit.
The system disregarded local means of
accreditation of community officials.

9. EDUCATION SYSTEM
The system produced people to fill the
colonial gaps, e.g. artisans, teachers
The system mostly absorbed Africans
to the colonial agenda, e.g. their
employees, their chiefs family and
relatives, see Table A. (notes of Nigeria,
Cameroon, Tanzania).

10. The system did not allow the
establishment of a professional or
technical education institution in
Africa; no university was built.

11. ECONOMY
The infrastructure built was solely for
the facilitation of colonial interest, e.g.
rail lines were from point of extraction
to point of export.
No factory was licensed for operation
in Africa.

12. All companies were for extraction of
minerals; imports, finished goods.
Agriculture was for export purposes.
Africans were only permitted to farm
what is exportable, except selected
cases, e.g. East Africa
The economy was solely for the
extraction and export of minerals.

13. POST COLONIAL AFRICA

14. POLITICAL SYSTEM
The colonial authorities supervised the
drafting of independence constitutions
that maintained colonial institutions, and
their interests, which is the foundation of
all succeeding constitutions today.

15. Colonial military, civil service structures were
handed over to Africans with little or no
restructuring, which still runs today.
The criteria of loyalty not merit was vogue
in the first African governments. And every
succeeding governments replicated it till
today, see table A.

16. The system makes the president to be
more like a god of the country, he is
responsible for almost everything in
the country.
The system maintains the culture of
dependency; citizens on political
leaders and leaders to the west or
colonial powers.

17. The system allows appointment of
government officials based on loyalty
in guise of political party affiliation and
not merit.
The system allows African leaders to
be loyal to the west in order to remain
in power, see table A. (DRC, Ghana,
Cameroon, Kenya).

18. Country Names of first
Leaders after
Independence
Educational Institutions
Attended
Positions occupied in
colonial era
Note
Ghana
Kwame Nkrumah
(Prime Minister 1957-
1960, President 1960-
1966) Ghana was
known as Gold Coast
before 1957
Lincoln University,
University of
Pennsylvania,
London School of
Economics,
University College
London
Prime Minister (1952-
1957),
School Teacher and
Headmaster
He first served as Prime Minister
under Governor-General Charles
Arden-Clarke.
Independence date was chosen
by colonial authorities and the
ceremony was attended by high
ranking colonial officials.
Before Ghanaian independence
was approved, MI5 gave an
intelligence report to the British
government ensuring Kwame is
no threat to their interest. He
was ousted in a coup.
Joseph Arthur Ankrah
President (1966-1969)
Commander of Ghana
Army (1957-1961)
Chief of Defense Staff
(1961-1965)
Marshfield Officer
Cadets Training Unit
Warrant Officer,
Lieutenant Gold Coast
Army,
Camp Commandant
Army Headquarters,
Chief Instructor
Education Unit,
Was made a Major in
1956
He became president as result of
a coup against Kwame Nkrumah
in 1966 by the National
Liberation Council (NLC) which
he was the chairman. The coup
was approved by the British and
United States governments. It
was a blueprint by UK and US
that he implemented.
He was forced to resign and
elections held.
TABLE A. SOME AFRICAN COUNTRIES FIRST LEADERS AFTER INDEPENDENCE

19. NOTE: The National Liberation Council (NLC) led by Joseph Arthur Ankrah urgently
implemented all recommendations of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World
Bank; privatized National enterprises, properties, and capital; devalued the Ghanaian
(cedi) by 30%; foreign debt increases. See recommendation 1.
He allowed foreign Conglomerates to operate at the detriment of Ghanaians.
Kwame Nkrumah turned out be a total different person from what MI5 reported to the
government, he was against their colonial interest, hence he was removed through the
by NLC.
Ghana was the first African Country to finalize independence negotiations and Colonial
powers used it as a template for other African countries except Mozambique, South Africa,
and Angola. The independence of Angola, and Mozambique was largely influenced by the
overthrow of the “Estado Novo” regime in Lisbon, Portugal.

20. Country Names of first
Leaders after
Independence
Educational Institutions
Attended
Positions Occupied in
Colonial era
Note
Democratic
Republic of the
Congo (DRC)
Joseph Kasa-Vubu
President (1960-1965)
Missionary Basic Schools Mayor of Dandale
District,
Chief accountant in
colonial administration,
Clerk in financial
department,
Teacher
He was elected President in an
election conducted by colonial
authorities in 1960. Shortly
after resuming office, his Prime
Minister Patrice Lumumba,
absolutely opposed him because
he was conservative; absorbing
the colonial status quo. He was
removed from office by Mobutu
Sese Seko through the 1965
coup.
Mobutu Sese Seko
President (1965-1997)
He changed the
country’s name to
Zaire during his term
and it was renamed to
DRC by his successor
Laurent Desire
Kabila.
He was taught how to read
and write by a Belgian
judge where his guardians
were working as maids.
He proceeded to attended
missionary schools.
Served in the colonial
army,
He spied Patrice
Lumumba for colonial
governments.
He implemented the execution
of Patrice Lumumba, ordered
by Belgium and United States
of America governments in
1961.
Patrice Lumumba barely served
three months as Prime Minister.
Sese Seko was removed from
office in a coup led by Laurent
Desire Kabila in 1997.
TABLE A. SOME AFRICAN COUNTRIES FIRST LEADERS AFTER INDEPENDENCE

21. Country Names of first
Leaders of
Independence
Educational
Institutions Attended
Positions occupied in
Colonial era
Note
Tanzania
Julius Kambarage
Nyerere
President (1962-1985)
Edinburgh University,
Makerere College
Member of Legislative
Council,
Prime Minister,
Chief Minister
His father was the Chief of
Zanaki under colonial authorities.
Tanzania was known as
Tangianyika before 1964.
He retired from Politics in 1985.
Rashid Kawawa Missionary schools. Prime Minister Her served as Prime Minister
under Julius Nyerere (1972-
1977), and Defense Minister
(1977-1980).
He retired from politics.
Cameroon
Ahmadou Ahidjo
President (1960-1982)
French primary and
secondary schools
Radio Operator for postal
services,
Member of French
Union,
Prime Minister
His father was a chief under
colonial authorities. After he
resumed office after
independence, French nationals
remained as advisers to his
Ministers and himself. He
resigned from office. Paul Biya
succeeded him till now.
John Ngu Foncha
Vice President (1960-
1970)
Bamenda govt. School,
St. Michel School
Buguma,
St. Charles Training
College, Onitsha
Nigeria
Teacher
Headmaster
He had a secrete deal with
Ahmadou on unification which
was for personal benefits. He was
from British Cameroon. He was
outsmarted in 1970.
TABLE A. SOME AFRICAN COUNTRIES FIRST LEADERS AFTER INDEPENDENCE

22. Country Names of first
Leaders after
independence
Educational Institutions
Attended
Positions occupied
in colonial era
Note
Kenya
Jomo Kenyatta
President (1964-
1978)
He died in office.
University College
London,
London School of
Economics,
Communist University of
the Tailors of the East,
Missionary basic schools
Prime Minister,
School Principal
He was a member of the
“Kapenguria Six” arrested in
1952. His colleague and friend
in the Kapenguria Six, Bildad
Kaggia never reconciled with
him because Jomo was a
conservative, maintaining the
colonial status quo, while the
rest of the group except Paul
Ngei wanted an absolute
service to the poor
disregarding colonial rules.
Daniel Toroitich arap
Moi
President (1978-
2002)
Retired from politics
Tambach Teachers Training
College
Minister of
Education,
Member of
Legislative Council,
Teacher
He was chosen to Legislative
Council as a replacement of
Dr. John Ole.
Dr. John Ole was accused of
having connections with the
Mau Mau movement.
The ‘Mau Mau’ activities led
to the independence of Kenya.
Mau Mau was led by the
members of Kapenguria Six
except Jomo Kenyatta.
TABLE A. SOME AFRICAN COUNTRIES FIRST LEADERS AFTER INDEPENDENCE

23. Country Names of first
Leaders after
Independence
Educational Institutions
Attended
Positions occupied in
colonial era
Note
Nigeria
Nnamdi Azikiwe
President (1963-1966)
Governor-General
(1960-1963)
Howard University,
Lincoln University,
University of Pennsylvania,
Columbia University,
Storer College
Member of Legislative
Council,
Premier of Eastern
Nigeria,
Member of the Privy
Council
His father was a Clerk in the
colonial administration.
Azikiwe was ousted from
office by the bloody coup of
1966.
Abubaka Tafawa
Belewa
Prime Minister (1960-
1966)
Barewa College,
University College London
Chief Minister,
Min. of Works &
Transportation,
Member of Legislative
Council,
Northern House of
Assembly,
Inspector of Schools,
Teacher and
Headmaster
His father worked as maid for
a District Head in the colonial
administration.
He was ousted and killed
from office during the bloody
1966 coup.
TABLE A. SOME AFRICAN COUNTRIES FIRST LEADERS AFTER INDEPENDENCE

24. EDUCATION SYSTEM
The system is for the west because the
foundational leaders are all trained and oriented
western society institutions, e.g. establishments of
TTCs across the continent with colonial blueprint
after indep. see table A.
The system produces graduates for western
societies and not African societies, e.g. medical
doctors.

25. The system rarely produces people
that can solve our problems but mostly
western problems.
The system establishes many
institutions that are poorly funded and
managed.
Some products are not absorbable in
Africa, e.g. advanced physics.

26. ECONOMY
Some factories built, import of finished
goods still flourishes as colonial times. See
Table C.
We still don’t farm what we eat but mostly
for export purposes.
The export of minerals the mainstay, same
colonial economy. See Table B.

27. TABLE B. SOME AFRICAN COUNTRIES WITH MASSIVE NATURAL RESOURCES
Country Dominant Export
Commodities in Value
(2017)
Percentage to total
annual exports in value
(2017)
Major export destinations (2017)
South Africa Gold 15% China, United States of America, India,
United Kingdom, Germany
Diamonds 9%
Platinum 8.7%
Nigeria Crude Petroleum 76% India, United States of America, Spain,
France, the Netherlands
Petroleum Gas 13.8%
Zambia Raw Copper 47.3% Switzerland, China, India, South Africa
Refined Copper 27.2%
Cameroon Crude Petroleum 31.4% France, China, Italy, the Netherlands,
Belgium-Luxembourg
Sawn Wood 14.4%
Niger Radioactive Chemicals 54.7% France, Mali, China, South Korea
Refined Petroleum 16%
Mozambique Coke 23% India, South Africa, China, Italy
Raw Aluminum 25.1%
Coal Briquette 21.9%
Tanzania Gold 29.3% India, South Africa, China, Vietnam
Coconuts, Brazil Nuts,
and Cashews
11.6%

28. Country Dominant Export
Commodities in Value
(2017)
Percentage to total
annual exports in value
(2017)
Major Export Destinations (2017)
Angola Crude Petroleum 88.5% China, India, United States of
America, South Africa, Spain
Petroleum Gas 4.4%
Diamonds 4%
Ghana Gold 48.7% India, China, South Africa, the
Netherlands
Crude Petroleum 17.3%
Ivory Coast Cocoa Beans 36.6% The Netherlands, United States of
America, France, Germany, Belgium-
Luxembourg
Rubber 10.7%
Ethiopia Coffee 32.5% China, United States of America,
Switzerland, the Netherlands
Oily Seeds 15.9%
Democratic Republic
of the Congo
Refined Copper 26.2% China, United States of America,
India, United Kingdom, Germany
Cobalt 24.8%
Kenya Tea 22.3% United States of America, Pakistan,
Uganda, the Netherlands, United
Kingdom
Cut Flower 11.2%
Coffee and Spices 4.4%
Namibia Diamonds 25% South Africa, United Kingdom,
United States of America, Angola, the
Netherlands
Copper 17.3%
TABLE B. SOME AFRICAN COUNTRIES WITH MASSIVE NATURAL RESOURCES

29. Country Dominant annual import
commodities in value (2017)
Origins of dominant annual imports in
value (2017)
Tanzania Refined Petroleum, Packaged
Medicaments, Palm Oil, Wheat
China, India, United Arab Emirate
Angola Refined Petroleum, Poultry Meat,
Machinery, Passenger and Cargo
Ships
China, Portugal, Brazil, South Africa, the
Republic of the Congo
Ghana Cars, Delivery Trucks, Refined
Petroleum, Rice, Fish
China, United States of America, India,
Belgium-Luxembourg, United Kingdom
Democratic Republic of
the Congo
Packaged Medicaments, Animal
or Human Blood, Refined
Petroleum, Poultry Meat
South Africa, China, Zambia, Belgium-
Luxembourg, India
South Africa Crude Petroleum, Refined
Petroleum, Cars, Gold
China, Germany, United States of America,
India
Nigeria Refined Petroleum, Cargo and
Passenger Ships, Wheat, Cars
China, South Korea, Belgium-Luxembourg,
the Netherlands, United States of America
Zambia Copper Ore, Cobalt Oxides and
Hydroxides, Refined Petroleum
South Africa, China, Democratic Republic
of the Congo, Kuwait
Niger Packaged Medicaments, Rice,
Palm oil, Pesticides, Cements
France, India, Ghana, China, Belgium-
Luxembourg
Mozambique Refined Petroleum, Raw
Aluminum, Aluminum oxide
South Africa, China, India, Australia, the
Netherlands
Botswana Refined Petroleum, Cars,
Beverages, Machinery, Food
South Africa, China, Israel, Namibia
TABLE C. IMPORTS OF SOME AFRICAN COUNTRIES

30. Country Dominant annual import
commodity in value (2017)
Origins of dominant annual imports in
value (2017)
Cameroon Refined Petroleum, Crude
Petroleum, Rice, Special Purpose
Ships
China, France, Republic of Congo,
Thailand, Nigeria
Ethiopia Planes, Helicopters, Gas Turbines China, France, India, Germany, Turkey
Ivory Coast Crude Petroleum, Rice, Packaged
Medicaments, Frozen Fish
China, France, Nigeria, India, Belgium-
Luxembourg
Kenya Refined Petroleum, Palm Oil, Cars,
Packaged Medicaments
China, India, United Arab Emirate, Saudi
Arabia
TABLE C. IMPORTS OF SOME AFRICAN COUNTRIES
NOTE: Zambia, Mozambique, Tanzania, Ghana, and Angola has South Africa as one of its
major export destination, largely as a result of extraction companies having South Africa
as its African base while their subsidiaries operate in other African countries. Hence, it’s
the transfer of mineral resources.

31. CONCLUSION
Reasons for colonizing Africa
1. Unlimited access to mineral resources
cheaply is still very much implemented.
Table D. below in the appendix, shows the
major companies extracting resources for
export in Africa

32. 2. Ready market for finished goods, still
very much implemented, e.g. the signed
EU Economic Partnership Agreement with
Sub Saharan Africa. China exports to
Africa, e.g. textiles. The US proposed free
trade agreement with Mauritius, Kenya,
Lesotho, Namibia, Ghana, Mozambique,
and Botswana.

33. 3. Exercise of political and military might
still very much implemented, e.g. the
competition for Africa between China
and the West. Both militaries are
present in Africa.
My conclusion is Africa is still under
colonialism and we need to start
working to have our true independence.

34. RECOMMENDATIONS
1. We must work our own financial
system. A system that can
independently finance our
development. Some guidelines are
stated in the book Africa, A First

35. 2. Education, we as scholars are to
research and develop curricula that
can produce people to fill the gaps in
our society. And not just educating
people for other climes.
Some few steps are stated in the book,
Africa, A First World.

36. 3. We must research continent wide to
develop a political system that permits
all Africans to be free. A system that is
African and returns daily decision
making power to the African citizens. A
system that makes African government
to solely depend on the masses for
decisions.

37. Reference
Isaac Mazonde ‘ Culture and Development of Africa’
Colonialism, Nationalism, Neocolonialism, presentation by Sarah Bishop, Cicily David, Kay Kastner,
Faridah Nassali
Dele Olowu ‘Nature and Character of the African State’ presentation at Gambia for AAPAM,1994
Nwanosike F. Oba, Onyije E. Liverpool ‘Colonialism and Education’ International Association for
Teaching and Learning, 2011
http://www.angola.org.uk/oil-companies
https://en.m.Wikipedia.org/wiki/French_West_Africa
https://en.m.Wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonial_Nigeria
Several articles on https://atlas.media.mit.edu/en and https://tradingeconomics.com
Several articles http://www.worldstopexports.com and https://em.m.Wikipedia.org
European Commission, Economic Partnership Agreements, 2019

38. For further discussions and questions:
Phone: +2349037487967
Email: anderson.samasi@yahoo.com
or buy the book
AFRICA, A FIRST WORLD by Samasi Anderson

39. APPENDIX

40. Country Company Parent Company Country of Origin
(Corporation
Headquarters)
Zambia
Barrick Lumwana Copper Mines Barrick Gold Corporation Canada
FQM Kansanshi Mining Plc First Quantum Minerals Ltd. Canada
Mopani Copper Mines Plc Glencore Plc Switzerland, & United
Kingdom
Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) Vendanta Resources Limited United Kingdom, India
Lubambe Copper Mines Africa Rainbow minerals &
Vale
South Africa & Brazil
Nigeria
Shell Nigeria Royal Dutch Shell The Netherlands
Chevron Nigeria Chevron Corporation United States of America
Total Nigeria Total S. A. Italy
ExxonMobil Nigeria ExxonMobil Corporation United States of America
Eni Nigeria (Agip Nigeria) Eni S.P.A. Italy
Democratic
Republic of the
Congo
Avil Mining Trafigura Group Pte. Ltd. Switzerland & Canada
Mutanda Mining Sarl Glencore Plc Switzerland & United
Kingdom
Katanga Mining Ltd Glencore Plc Switzerland & United
Kingdom
Miniere de Masoshi et Kinsenda
(MMG)
Metorex South Africa
TABLE D. SOME MAJOR MINERALS EXTRACTION COMPANIES OPERATING IN AFRICA

41. Country Company Parent Company Country of Origin
(Corporation
Headquarters)
South Africa
BHP Billiton BHP Group Plc United Kingdom & Australia
Anglo American Plc United Kingdom & South
Africa
Goldfields Limited Goldfields Corporation South Africa
Glencore Plc United Kingdom &
Switzerland
Ghana
AngloGold Ashanti Ltd Anglo American & Goldfields
Corporation
United Kingdom & South
Africa
Adamus Reseources Ltd Endeavour Mining
Corporation
United Kingdom
Newmont Ghana Ltd Newmont Mining
Corporation
United States of America
Total Petroleum Ghana Ltd Total S. A. Italy
Tanzania Acacia Mining Plc Barrick Gold Corporation &
Goldfields Corporation
United Kingdom & South
Africa
Resolute Mining Limited Australia
Shanta Gold Limited United Kingdom
Edenville Energy Plc United Kingdom
TABLE D. SOME MAJOR MINERALS EXTRACTION COMPANIES OPERATING IN AFRICA

42. Country Company Parent Company Country of Origin
(Corporation
Headquarters)
Angola
ChevronTexaco United States of America
Halliburton United States of America
ExxonMobil United States of America
BP Amoco United States of America &
United Kingdom
Niger Compagnie Miniere d’
Akokan (COMINAK)
Areva S. A. France
Societe des Mines de
I’Air (SOMAIR)
Areva S. A. France
Cameroon
ExxonMobil United States of America
Royal Dutch Shell The Netherlands
Total S. A. Italy
Namibia Weatherly Mininig
Namibia Ltd
Weatherly International Plc United Kingdom
B2Gold Namibia (pty)
Ltd
B2Gold Corporation Canada
Namibia Diamond
Trading Company Ltd
50% owned by Namibian govt.
50% owned by De Beers
Group, which is owned by
Anglo American Plc.
United Kingdom & Namibia
TABLE D. SOME MAJOR MINERALS EXTRACTION COMPANIES OPERATING IN AFRICA