The document provides information about African reactions to European colonization. It discusses the terms of the Berlin Conference that divided Africa among European powers. It then describes how Africans resisted colonization through military rebellions led by figures like Samori Toure and Lobengula. Resistance failed due to factors like inferior weapons and lack of coordination. The document also discusses how some Africans collaborated with colonizers for reasons like protection or wanting Western education. It provides examples of the Baganda and Lozi peoples collaborating and notes both benefits and disadvantages of collaboration.

1. Year 8 History
African
reaction to
European
Colonisation.

2. • To list and describe the various ways in which Africans’
reacted to colonial rule.
• To write a diary entry as one of the African leaders or one
of the imperialists, explaining what you think of colonial rule
and the events that are taking place around you.
Learning Objectives:

3. African reaction to colonisation

4. Before we begin…let’s review the terms and
conditions of the Berlin Conference:
There were 3:
• Spheres of influence- Occupation of African colonies
was established on the basis of spheres of influence.
Any European power occupying any part of Africa had to
tell the others. The first power to inform others would be
the rightful occupant of that area.
• Effective Occupation- A claim was only valid if an
European power settled in the area and had authority.
They had to develop the area economically too.
• Protection of the whiteman- Europeans had an
obligation to protect all Europeans in their colonies
including missionaries, explorers and traders.

5. Going…going…GONE!
By 1914, Europe had successfully partitioned Africa.
Europeans used warfare and diplomacy to make
Africans accept their rule.
Stick in the European Possessions of Africa sheet to see
who got what areas.

6. What would you have done if you were one
of the natives?
Do you think they had any powers to resist?

7. African reaction to European colonisation:
How Europeans were welcomed to Africa depended on
their entry and rule of a colony. It also depended on the
social, economic and political organisation of the
colonies. Some African states had well organised
administration and reactions to Europeans differed on
whether:
• They came with Maxim guns and enforced their laws;
• Respected the existing Chiefs and recognised their
authority.
• Made agreements and partnerships with the African
leaders.

8. RESISTANCE:

9. Resistance:
Resistance was the use if millitary force to try and prevent
european colonisation.
The rebellions are many and it would be difficult to tackle
all of them. You can use this website to help you learn
more:
http://exploringafrica.matrix.msu.edu/students/curriculum/m7b
Here you will find the different types of rebellions between
1870-1914.

10. In summary, the rebellions included:
• The Maji maji uprising- Societies in Tanganyika
resisted the Germans (1905-1907)
• Samori Toure’s resistance in West Africa- Samouri
and his tribe the Mandinka resisted French occupation
(1882-1898)
• The Ndebele (Lobengula resistance 1893 and later
Chimurenga resistance1896-1897)- Resisted British
occupation in Southern Rhodesia (Modern day
Zimbabwe). It started with Lobengula and later after his
death tribes joined in the Chimurenga resistance.
Chimurenga is the Shona word for uprising.

11. Reasons for resisting:
• Oppression of the Africans- Africans were treated
harshly while working on plantations (huge settler farms).
The Germans for example imposed a hut tax which was
collected with lots of ruthlessness. Chiefs who resisted
this tax were humiliated by public flogging and
sometimes execution.
• Disrespect of African culture and customs- This in
the majimaji rebellion was specifially a lack of respect for
women, some europeans would misbehave with their
women and this was against African customs.
• Land alienation- Land had been taken by force from the
Africans

12. More reasons for resisting:
• Role of religion: Religion gave people morale. Some
believed in medicinal water that promised immunity
against European bullets.
• Empires and wealth: Successful leaders such as
Samouri Toure wanted to protect their empires from
interference. Such leaders were also wealthy and had
well equipped fighters.
• Forced labour- This was disliked by many Africans.
• A matter of Pride- Giving in to Europeans would have
caused a lack of respect among the African leaders by
their people. Some of these African leaders had acquired
many territories and were powerful Kings. They wanted
their land to be left alone, for them to control their trades
and for respect.

13. The majimaji rebellion- Maji means water in
Swahili. Remember the water they thought
would make then bullet proof?

14. Samouri Toure—leader of the Mandinka in
West Africa.

15. King Lobengula of the Ndebele people of
Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe)
A post humous
depiction of
Lobengula.

16. Resistance worked about this much…

17. Why resistance failed.
• Poor organisation by the Africans- Due to the boundaries
set during the Berlin Conference, certain African
communities had been split up and could not organise a
formidable unit against colonialists.
• Superior weapons by the Europeans- Guns against
Shields and spears.
• Lack of a millitary unit- Africans did not have one millitary
leader to help them with strategies. Instead, each tribe
had its own tribal leader. These leaders did not
coordinate their activities well.

18. Can you think of other reasons why the
resistance failed? Discuss with your partner.

19. Brain Check:
1. Name the 3 conditions of the Berlin Conference.
• Spheres of influence, effective occupations, protection of ALL
whitemen
2. Name 2 groups of resistance against colonialists.
• The Majimaji rebellion, Samouri Toure and the Ndebele (lobengula)
resistance.
3. Give 3 reasons why Africans resisted.
• Forced labour, alienation from their land, a matter of pride,
oppression of the Africans, lack of respect for African customs by
the Europeans and Strong empires.
4. What does the name majimaji have to do with the rebellion?
• They believed that the medicine men had water that could make
them bullet proof. This gave them morale.

20. COLLABORATION

21. Collaboration:
This was the process of accepting and accommodating
European occupation without resistance.
Leaders would collaborate to safeguard their positions
against internal power struggles or neighbouring
societies. Others wanted western education whereas
others were simply convinced by the missionaries to
collaborate.

22. Collaboration
Two groups in Africa are famous for collaboration with
Europeans:
• In East Africa the Baganda who were ruled by Kings
known as Kabakas. They collaborated because they
realised that their enemies the Banyoros were growing
and also there was internal strife among the Kabaka.
(1857-1894)
• In central Africa- The Lozi under Lewanika (1885-
1898)- they collaborated to reclaim their position of
authority in the emerging Ndebele dominance.

23. Benefits of collaborating:
• Boundaries and protection- The imperialist would make
sure that your land had boundaries and these boundaries
could even be doubled. Boundaries were a form of security
and collaborators would be offered security from tribes which
were causing conflict in form of land and cattle raids.
• Government- You could still rule only that your powers were
limited.
• Land- Your people could farm on land under a tenant system.
• Jobs- Upon completion if the western education, priority for
jobs in the administration, would go to Africans who had
cooperated.
• No bloodshed as it is peaceful.

24. With your partner, brainstorm on some other
reasons for collaborating.

25. Disadvantages of Collaborating:
• Limited power- As a leader, you were used as a puppet
to fulfill the purpose of the imperialists. You maintain your
position but your authority is stripped.
• Full exploitation of your land’s minerals by the
imperialists.
• Think of 2 more disadvantages and write them down in
your notebook.

26. BRAIN CHECK:
1. Why would some African leaders have wanted to
collaborate with the colonial powers?
• Protection from enemies, helplessness, some wanted
western education, some were convinced by
missionaries.
2. Which one is better? Collaboration or resistance?
Explain your choice in your notebook.

27. Task:
• You are going to write a letter advising the Kings and
rulers of Africa on which strategy is better: Resistance or
collaboration. Give them advise on how they will
eventually acquire independence.
OR
Write a diary entry as one of the collaborators or rebellious
resisters explaining your reasons for choosing to
collaborate or resist. Include how a typical day is for a
collaborator and for a resistor.

28. The end.
How did you do today? Have you
achieved the objectives at the
beginning of the lesson?