Boston University
African Studies Center
270 Bay State Road
Boston, Massachusetts 02215
(617) 353-3673
email: africa@bu.edu
www.bu.edu/africa

 

Colonialism:  key concepts

  1. Colonialism was a new stage in a relationship between many African and European nations that had been going on for 1000 years.

  1. Conquest was precisely that:  by force; sometimes by trickery; sometimes by “agreement” so that the African nation could bargain for some rights

  1. Racism played a role in conquest and in colonial rule.

  1. The colonial period was short, roughly 1870-1960—but had a heavy and lasting impact on economic, social and political affairs.       

    1. Colonialism fostered economic dependency, with long-term effects

    2. Colonialism was authoritarian and fostered indigenous authoritarian rule, with long-term effect

  1. Colonial rule led to resistance and, ultimately, to independence
  1. African voices (not just restatement by others of African views) are necessary for understanding this period of history.

A very fine book of short reading, with a focus on African voices and perspectives, is Leon Clark’s Through African Eyes, v. 1  

Barbara B. Brown
African Studies Center
Boston University
617-353-7303
Africa@bu.edu
www.bu.edu/africa/outreach