Does History Contribute to Underdevelopment in Africa?
INTRODUCTION.
I agree that history has a place in explaining underdevelopment in Africa. First and foremost the history of Africa is the history of colonialism and underdevelopment. It is the history of slavery, of wars, conflicts and hunger. It is also the history of the beginnings of man and civilization. However, while underdevelopment was as old as Africa itself, colonialism came about between 1885 and 1906. For most of Africa according to Akintoye (1976), colonialism lasted between six to eight years. At elementary level, colonialism is said to rule. This doctrine ' manifested in Africa after the Berlin conference, during which African countries were balkanized and shared into areas of influence among European states in 1884. These areas of influence were tagged colonies and protectorates. Arguments have been generated as per whether colonialism was beneficial to Africa. But we are not into such argument since each side has its own merits. However, since we are constrained to examine the circumstances which led to formation of the Organization of African Unity, it becomes imperative to look at this phenomenon even though briefly since again it features prominently at any attempt to explain efforts at the birth of the continental organization. Briefly on the other side, colonialism was not completely a bad event because whether one likes it or not, it brought with it western civilization with all its attractions. However, the critics of colonialism started with its method and ended up with its consequences. Africa was shared and conquered in most cases under force of arms. The method of governance was strange. It alienated African culture and tradition and ostracized both traditional and political elite. It was what many Africans perceived as a total loss of freedom. The culture of French territories were completely destroyed and lost in French tradition. SLAVERY.
For more than 2,000 years, people in many different parts of the world have forced their fellow
I agree that history has a place in explaining underdevelopment in Africa. First and foremost the history of Africa is the history of colonialism and underdevelopment. It is the history of slavery, of wars, conflicts and hunger. It is also the history of the beginnings of man and civilization. However, while underdevelopment was as old as Africa itself, colonialism came about between 1885 and 1906. For most of Africa according to Akintoye (1976), colonialism lasted between six to eight years. At elementary level, colonialism is said to rule. This doctrine ' manifested in Africa after the Berlin conference, during which African countries were balkanized and shared into areas of influence among European states in 1884. These areas of influence were tagged colonies and protectorates. Arguments have been generated as per whether colonialism was beneficial to Africa. But we are not into such argument since each side has its own merits. However, since we are constrained to examine the circumstances which led to formation of the Organization of African Unity, it becomes imperative to look at this phenomenon even though briefly since again it features prominently at any attempt to explain efforts at the birth of the continental organization. Briefly on the other side, colonialism was not completely a bad event because whether one likes it or not, it brought with it western civilization with all its attractions. However, the critics of colonialism started with its method and ended up with its consequences. Africa was shared and conquered in most cases under force of arms. The method of governance was strange. It alienated African culture and tradition and ostracized both traditional and political elite. It was what many Africans perceived as a total loss of freedom. The culture of French territories were completely destroyed and lost in French tradition. SLAVERY.
For more than 2,000 years, people in many different parts of the world have forced their fellow
References: Rodney, W., (1989). How Europe Underdeveloped Africa.Nairobi;Heineman Kenya Limited. Meredith M.,(2005). The state of Africa ( A History of fifty years of independence; The Free Press. Brown B.M,( 1995). Africa 's Choices. London; Penguin Books Limited. Cheru, F., ( 2002). Africa Renaissance. New York; St Martin 's Press. World Bank ( 1989). Sub-Saharan Africa from crisis to sustainable growth. Washington,D.C. Office of the publisher world bank. Clapham C.,( 1996). African international system: The politics of state survival. London; Cambridge University Press.