Colonial+Response+to+Colonization

__**C﻿olonial Response to Colonization **__  [|www.google.com] [|www.discoverychannel.com], [|www.afp.com] Reaction to Colonization Early African reaction to European intrusion in Africa during the late 19th century was not uniform. Very few groups had suffered from long term warfare or slave trading, in the East parts of Africa, which gave uncertainty to welcome Europeans in their regions. Other groups strongly disliked the coming of European political power. However, most African people had no initial reaction to colonization. This is because in the early years colonization had little impact on the lives of the African people. During the 20th century their views would change when colonialism would become widespread and more intense. Throughout the period of the Race for Africa, many European countries would face resistance within their colonies. Some colonies put surprise attacks against the Europeans, while others tried to negotiate for their rights. Examples of resistance in British colonies would be the Battle of Isandhlawana, and the Battle of Adowa. By the end of World War I, almost all of Africa was effectively colonized. European colonists were able to crush the efforts of African resistance to colonization. Then next two decades would be know as the Inter-Year Wars. The years within these decades would be quiet, but that didn’t mean the African people were happy. During the Inter-Years Wars, colonial opposition was expressed in many ways. Some ways include demands for opportunities and inclusion, religious and economic opposition, and mass protests.


 * ** Demands for opportunities and inclusion: ** Many Africans at this time accepted the reality of colonial rule, but they did not accept the cruel discrimination and the lack of prospect that was a central part of the colonial experience. Opposition to these aspects of colonialism was strong amongst the educated Africans. They believed that every person was created equal. Discriminatory colonial policies and practices limited economic prospects and participation in the political process. During this time, educated Africans formed organizations to promote their interest to end discriminatory policies, and for an increase in opportunities. However, these organizations had limited membership, and they did not make vital demands for the end of colonial rule. Examples of British colonies that formed theses organizations are The South African Congress and the West African National Congress.


 * **Religious opposition: **A number of early anti-colonial up-risings groups were led by religious leaders. This tradition of religious opposition to colonialism continued throughout the 20th century. However, unlike the earlier acts of religious resistance, the new opposition was led by African Christians. African Christians took the Christian teachings on equality and fairness-values that were not practiced by colonial regimes seriously. By the 1920s, some African Christian leaders were forming their own churches. Some Christian leaders called their churches African Independent Churches. These churches that were formed in Southern, Eastern, Central and West Africa, provided a tough voice for justice.


 * **Economic opposition: ** During this time period economic opposition was not well organized. However, there were plenty of attempts in the 1920s and 1930s by mine workers in southern Africa, and by port workers in West and East Africa to organize unions. Theses unions were important, but had little impact on the majority of African peoples. Of greater impact were the less organized, but more widespread efforts of African farmers to resist colonial demands on their labor and their land.


 * ** Mass Protests: ** During the Inter-War Era, there were little attempts of mass protests against colonial policies. One of the most important and interesting attempts was the Aba Women's War that took place in southeastern Nigeria in 1929. Ibo market women were upset with a many of the colonial policies that endangered their economic and social positions. In 1929, the Aba women staged a series of protests. The largest protest of this time included more than 10,000 women, who had covered their faces with blue paint and carried fern-covered sticks. The women had destroyed a vast number of colonial buildings before soldiers had stopped the protest. More than fifty women were killed in the process.