What was the legacy of European colonialism in Africa?

Answer 1

Colonialism as practiced through the 19th century had three major impacts on African societies:

• It disrupted the traditional tribal cultures and religions and brought in European Christianity.
• It replaced the tribal boundaries with artificial areas of control.
• It subjugated the African majority populations to rule by white Europeans.

The introduction of Christianity led to suppression of many ancient practices, although some survived and adapted. Some had already been transplanted to the Caribbean islands by African slaves taken there.

Tribes often found themselves competing for the resources being produced by the colonial industries. In some cases, tribes still warred among each other as before colonialism.

An aristocratic class of European managers and directors sprang up to operate the colonies. As had occurred with the American Indians, many African tribes lost their lands, were mistreated, or became second-class citizens in a segregated society. It was not until the late 20th century that black Africans regained some political control over their native lands. The transition to self-rule has been marked in many cases by dictatorships, armed factions, wars, and public corruption.

Answer 2

Over-sized 'nations' created by the Europeans for their own reasons, which lumped together tribes of people who hated each other. There won't be peace in Africa until they divide their countries up into something like tribal units.

Answer 3

Colonialism interrupted African polities and reformed boundaries based upon European claims to the continent. These boundaries made little geographic, ethnic, social or political sense and sometimes split similar people into different regions.

Colonialism was the final blow, after slavery, that lead to the impoverishment of Africa. The traditional African systems were replaced, language was replaced and religion was replaced with Eurocentric concepts.

The systems of polygamy and the kingship were also disrupted. Countries and roads were given European names, and people were expected to be loyal subjects to European colonial powers.

Answer 4

Most of the impacts of the Europeans were negative since West Africa suffered a population decrease. Europeans drived many to struggle for living since the schools and roads made many to give up their farms.

Answer 5

Europeans benefited from it the most through trade of precious metals and the slave trade. Most African countries today are in civil wars due to those precious metals

Answer 6

it created cash crop agriculture dependant on imported food. when withdrawn colonialism left an unstable political vaccuum