Question

Write the information about the British Colonies in Africa.

Answer 1

European travellers reached Africa also. However, the African territory with its dense forests, widespread lakes, swamps, and deserts was unfamiliar to them. Leopold II, the king of Belgium had Congo under his dominance. He convened a Geographical Conference in Brussels in 1876. European geographers and researchers had gathered in this assembly. It was decided there to establish an institution called ‘International Association for the Exploration and Civilisation of Central Africa’, for the purpose of dissemination of knowledge in Africa. In 1884 a conference of European nations was organized in Berlin to explore the opportunities in Africa available to them. The true purpose of this conference was to discuss the possibilities of dividing the African territory amongst themselves.

In the Berlin Conference, Belgian supremacy in Congo was acknowledged by all, and Congo was renamed as ‘Congo Free State’. It was also decided in this conference that if any of the European nations fail in utilizing the natural resource in the colonies under their charge, then that nation should give it up to another European nation.

George Taubman Goldie was a British citizen who founded ‘The National African Company’ in England. A charter was issued to him by the British Government permitting him to conduct trading operations in Nigeria. Later, the company was acquired by the British Government. Nigeria became a colony governed by the British Government.

Cape Colony and Natal in East Africa were held by England while Mozambique was under Spanish control. England, France, and Germany were interested in the regions of East Africa. These three nations made a pact to protect each other’s interests. Accordingly, the Sultan of Zanzibar was given Pemba island and the coastal region of East Africa, while Madagascar was given to France, the coastal region of North Africa to England, and the south region to Germany. In 1897, Germany took over the East African region from the ‘German East Africa Company’. England declared Zanzibar, Pemba island, and Nyasaland (Malawi) as their protectorates and it came to be known as ‘British East Africa’.

Cape Colony and Natal in the southern parts of Africa were under British control. Orange Free State and Transvaal were under Dutch control. Gold mines were discovered in Johannesburg and it attracted European nations to South Africa. This resulted in England’s decision to consolidate its colonies in the southern region and name it ‘Union of South Africa’.