Top 6 Reasons for the Colonization of Africa

The major reasons for the colonization of Africa by the Europeans were the search for new markets, the need to obtain raw materials, the desire to invest surplus capital outside Europe, and the claim that Africans needed to be enlightened through Western education and religion.

You will find all the reasons for the European colonization of Africa shortly. But first, we must begin with a definition of colonialism.

Meaning of Colonialism

We will define colonialism and quickly identify the reasons for the colonization of Africa by European powers such as Britain, France, Portugal, Germany and Spain.

Now, if you’ve been searching for a clear definition of colonialism then you’re in the right place.

Do you want to get the points for an essay on the factors accounting for the colonization of the continent of West Africa? You will surely find, in this tutorial, why European powers colonized Africa and for that matter, West Africa.

Note that you can use the notes in this tutorial for a specific question about the colonization of the Gold Coast or Ghana. The same applies to the colonization of Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone or The Gambia.

Definition of “Colonialism”

Colonialism refers to a process by which a foreign power annexes and creates dependencies whose economic, political and cultural systems are restructured and made to serve the foreign power’s interests.

The Portuguese came to Elmina on the coast of Ghana in 1471. The Bond of 1844 between some Ghanaian Fante states and the British marked the beginning of colonial rule in Ghana. And by the year 1900, every territory in West Africa except for Liberia had become a colony of one European power or the other.

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Why Europeans Colonized Africa

There are many reasons why the European powers came and colonized the African continent. The major factors that motivated Europe to exert political control over Africa before World War I and thereafter are the following.

1. The Search for New Markets

Fast-industrializing countries in Europe such as Britain, Germany and France were searching for markets for their surplus manufactured goods. This situation was a direct result of the industrial revolution of the 18^th century.

The preceding nineteenth century witnessed a significant increase in the mass production of all manner of goods in Europe.

However, the European market was not large enough to absorb all that was being produced.

An answer to the problem of surplus goods was found in the acquisition of overseas territories.

2. The Need for Raw Materials

Secondly, the Europeans colonized Africa because they needed raw materials to feed the industries.

And Africa had such natural resources as timber, cocoa, cotton, tobacco and minerals in abundance.

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3. The Need to Invest Surplus Capital Elsewhere

Another consequence of the Industrial Revolution was rapid growth in capital accumulation.

The European powers saw the benefits of investing their surplus capital in less advanced regions of the world.

Thus, colonies provided room for the Europeans to invest their surplus capital.

4. A Desire to ‘Civilize’ African People

Europeans desired to spread their culture to other lands.

The colonizers claimed that they colonized Africa in order to bring to the people civilization through the introduction of Western formal education and the Christian religion.

To them, African culture was backward and needed to be reformed or at best replaced by the ‘superior’ culture of Europe.

The French colonial policies of Assimilation and Association were pointers to this fact.

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Colonialism was thus a civilizing tool that would bring Western education and culture to the people of the continent.

5. The Quest for National Glory

This was a period when colonies became a symbol of the greatness of a nation. Hence the desire to colonize as many territories in Africa as possible.

It was the problems resulting from the Scramble for Africa that led to the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885.

6. Desire to Export Surplus Labour

Further, the Industrial Revolution which led to an increase in mechanized production created surplus labour. As newly invented machines took away jobs, unemployment rates soared in Europe.

There was, therefore, the need to export surplus labour to places outside Europe.

Fortunately for the European powers, earlier exploration expeditions had already discovered many resource-rich but underdeveloped places including those in Africa.

The obvious next move was to extend political control over the African continent in order to bring in their surplus labour to manage their investments.

Wrapping it up

Now you know the definition of colonialism and the factors responsible for the colonization of Africa. You can now write a good essay on the reasons for the colonization of Africa.

What else would you like to know about colonial rule in Africa? Do you have some unanswered questions about African political history in general? Come on, leave your question in the comment box below.

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