All European countries that were involved in the fight to establish colonies in Africa eventually lost their decency and sense of order in the process of trying to win a piece of the African continent. There was a high level of conflict and tension between these rivals. At that time, Otto Von Bismarck, the German chancellor, called a conference in Berlin (the Berlin Conference) with the aim of mediating disputes between rivals without resorting to force. In the early stages of the race for Africa, King Leopold of Belgium had claimed the Congo and established his colony there. Other countries agreed with this, and it was uncontested.
On November 15, 1884, the Berlin Conference did begin with representatives from various European countries seated. Otto Von Bismarck’s home served as the conference location. At the Berlin conference, it was decided that all European countries vying for control of West Africa would refrain from using force to settle differences or establish their superiority. It was also determined that the frantic nations would uphold morality and proper understanding in their interactions with one another on their various colonies. Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden-Norway (unified from 1814-1905), Turkey, and the United States of America were among the nations represented at the time.
European nations were able to have their claims in West Africa recognized as valid after a series of discussions and agreements, though in some cases with minor adjustments. For instance, the treaties that the Royal Niger Company of Sir George Taubman Dashwood Goldie (who represented Britain at the Berlin Conference) signed with the local chieftains and indigenous people were taken into account when approving Britain’s claim to Nigeria.
All necessary precautions to avert future conflicts between these countries were carefully considered and put into place. It was decided that all European traders would have access to the Congo and Niger rivers. On January 30, 1885, the Berlin conference came to an end.
The representatives of Portugal, Britain, France, Italy, Germany, and other countries signed the Berlin Act on February 26, 1885.
Divided into various regions was the entire continent of Africa. The history, geography, cultures, and traditions of Africa were not given much consideration by the masters of partition. Africa was divided based on the desires or needs of the competing nations. One such example is the Yoruba tribe, which was split in two and now has a portion in Dahomey.
Divvying up of Africa.
After the division, Portugal received Guinea and Cape Verde, while Germany received Togo and Cameroon. Nigeria, Ghana’s Gold Coast, the Gambia, and Sierra Leone were given to Britain as they were the most productive nations. The majority of France’s colonies in West Africa were in stony or arid regions like Senegal, Guinea, the Ivory Coast, and Dahomey, which made up more than four-quarters of the total. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (Belgian Congo) was under the control of Belgium and King Leopold II.
The scrambling nations went back to West Africa after the conference to resume their mad race for lands until the 1890 Brussel Conference gave way to nations that had some economic interest in West Africa. Although the Berlin Act had stated that each of the scrambling nations should work to improve the social, economic, and political conditions of the people of West Africa, their intentions were different from this. These countries were asked to help West Africans advance socially, politically, and economically. And that marked the start of European colonialism in West Africa.
