,APC2602 Assignment 1 (ALL 3 ESSAYS COMPLETE
ANSWERS) Semester 1 2025 - DUE March
Coloniality had a severe impact on Africa’s economic and political
development. Write an essay in which you discuss how and why the
1884-5 Berlin consensus and scramble and conquest of Africa resulted
in the dismemberment and fragmentation of Africa. In your essay select
an African state and explain its consequential political-economic
development trajectory caused by coloniality.
The Impact of Coloniality on Africa’s Economic and
Political Development
Introduction
Coloniality, the enduring legacy of colonialism, has
profoundly shaped Africa’s economic and political
trajectory. The 1884-1885 Berlin Conference, often
referred to as the "Scramble for Africa," was a
pivotal moment that led to the artificial division and
conquest of the continent by European powers. The
arbitrary boundaries drawn during this period
fragmented ethnic, linguistic, and cultural groups,
leading to long-term political instability and
economic underdevelopment. This essay explores
how the Berlin Conference dismembered and
fragmented Africa and examines the case of the
, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to illustrate
the long-lasting economic and political
consequences of coloniality.
The Berlin Conference and the Scramble for Africa
The Berlin Conference was convened by Otto von
Bismarck of Germany and attended by European
powers such as Britain, France, Belgium, Portugal,
and Spain. The primary purpose was to establish
rules for the colonization of Africa and prevent
conflicts between European nations over African
territories. However, no African representatives
were present, and the decisions made were solely
based on European interests.
The artificial borders drawn during this conference
disregarded Africa’s ethnic and cultural diversity.
This led to several consequences:
1. Ethnic Fragmentation – Traditional ethnic
groups were split across multiple states,
creating internal tensions. For example, the
Yoruba were divided between Nigeria and
Benin, while the Somali people were spread
across Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Djibouti.
ANSWERS) Semester 1 2025 - DUE March
Coloniality had a severe impact on Africa’s economic and political
development. Write an essay in which you discuss how and why the
1884-5 Berlin consensus and scramble and conquest of Africa resulted
in the dismemberment and fragmentation of Africa. In your essay select
an African state and explain its consequential political-economic
development trajectory caused by coloniality.
The Impact of Coloniality on Africa’s Economic and
Political Development
Introduction
Coloniality, the enduring legacy of colonialism, has
profoundly shaped Africa’s economic and political
trajectory. The 1884-1885 Berlin Conference, often
referred to as the "Scramble for Africa," was a
pivotal moment that led to the artificial division and
conquest of the continent by European powers. The
arbitrary boundaries drawn during this period
fragmented ethnic, linguistic, and cultural groups,
leading to long-term political instability and
economic underdevelopment. This essay explores
how the Berlin Conference dismembered and
fragmented Africa and examines the case of the
, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to illustrate
the long-lasting economic and political
consequences of coloniality.
The Berlin Conference and the Scramble for Africa
The Berlin Conference was convened by Otto von
Bismarck of Germany and attended by European
powers such as Britain, France, Belgium, Portugal,
and Spain. The primary purpose was to establish
rules for the colonization of Africa and prevent
conflicts between European nations over African
territories. However, no African representatives
were present, and the decisions made were solely
based on European interests.
The artificial borders drawn during this conference
disregarded Africa’s ethnic and cultural diversity.
This led to several consequences:
1. Ethnic Fragmentation – Traditional ethnic
groups were split across multiple states,
creating internal tensions. For example, the
Yoruba were divided between Nigeria and
Benin, while the Somali people were spread
across Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Djibouti.
