The Rhodes Colossus
published in the British magazine Punch, 1892
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Was Colonialism really that bad?
Some people would argue that colonialism in Africa benefited Africa in many ways. In our text book for example, on page 125, it states that colonialism brought modern medecine to Africa, developed agricultural exports and built the foundation for economic growth in Africa. Was colonialism really all that bad for Africa??
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I think that colonialism was good in some ways because it brought in formal education, built foundations for growth of the economy, and developed natural exports and introduced new idustries, but most of all it ended slavery.
ReplyDeleteColonization in Africa would have been good for the land if the Europeans appoached Africans piecefully instead of coming in there with force and taking over the land. They took over the land and did whatever they could to brake there spirit
ReplyDeleteI think that colonialism wasn't that bad for Africa because it created growth as in buisness wise. They have something to work with now because they got colonialized. They probably also got recognition and a little respect from other countries now being under a European country. Education was probably being taught which was new for the people living there. It provided them more knowledge on things they didn't know about and made them somewhat stable economy wise. Basically it opened up the doors for the better. But I do not agree with the Europeans barging in by force and taking over a country. I'm sure some African countries didn't want to be powered by them.
ReplyDeleteYes, because colonialism is the reason why African people are dying. Colonialism brought a new way of living that African people went ready for and as a result a lot of people in Africa have no food or shelter.
ReplyDeleteyou guys are killikg me africa was in no need of colonization we had everything we needed to survive and exceed to whatever level of technology. talkin bout medicine we had medicine we cured the sick even made surgeries. worst of all we useed natural remedies to cure the sick the colonizers took that away from us and brought in drug made medecines that are unatural to the body.
ReplyDeleteLet me start by defining colonialism: "Exploitation by a stronger country of a weaker one; the use of the weaker country's resources to strengthen and enrich the stronger country."
ReplyDeleteThe definition itself doesn't even sound right; I feel that colonialism is a very selfish ideology for the stronger country. One may argue that colonialism helped Africa become a stronger continent however one can only imagine how successful the African's could have been without the Europeans "help", African's are very strong and smart people!
Colonialism helped Africa? Colonialism helped Europeans gain but not Africa. Let’s take Nigeria for an example, a beautiful country with many tribes that have different cultures, beliefs, languages etc. The British took over and the only affirmative aspect that some of the Africans were able to say after that was "I can speak and write English" Big woop…
Colonialism caused violence…how many battles broke out because of this?
I believe that the stronger country that is colonising is not cooperating with the weaker country...It was all hate.
That was my two cents
-Peace & Blessings
I think it was bad because Africa to this day is not in a good state, it is still a third world country. If the Europeans would have been peace full to the europeans instead of being so agressive, Africans probably wouldnt be in the state they are in to this day.
ReplyDeleteI think that colonialism had a negative effect on Africa because there countries were taken advantage of and invaded by European colonist. The Europeans came in and sold Arms to tribes to start war with other tribes and that stopped them from ever unifying against the Europeans.
ReplyDeleteI believe that colonialism in Africa wasn't completely beneficial to the land. The cons outway the pros in this situation, because the land was raped of their natural resources even today Africa hasn't fully regained from what they loss.
ReplyDeleteI agree because the European shouldn't take the land over as a result the Khoisan people loses everyhing they have, they gained and they worked hard to own their land.Is not fair for them, they stayed without their land so, they are going to have any food to eat.
ReplyDeleteOkay from what I’ve read,it says it had its benefits with the Europeans more advanced and to their terms “more modern” ways of life as they would say, with their discoveries and educations with the outside worlds they encountered which we know education is what shapes you around the world right? However it did split Africa into various countries and new powers without the full agreement of the Africans. This couldn’t have been good for them.
ReplyDeleteBelow is a comment from another forum discussing this:
"As far as imbibing western education, Colonization, although it had its sinister ramifications, ensured that much of us were educated faster. At least, that is how I see it. Nigeria's best intellectuals of the colonial period were very much influenced by their surroundings at the time. Africa's great novel Things Fall Apart was all about that theme."
Some excellent posts!
ReplyDeleteNadia: can you elaborate on some specific economic benefits for Africa? I think you have raised a unique point here.
Nafesa: Well done, looking up the definition for colonialism, bravo. Can you explain why you think it just doesn't "sound right"? What do you mean by that?
Odas: What do you think were the particular events that caused Africans to still be dying today?
Philip: You chose a very interesting quote, can you explin what it means and why you chose it?
More from me later...
To everyone: feel free to also pose questions for clarification to your classmates!
Personally I feel that even if there were benefits to colonialism they were just side effects much like a pill. Except this pill isn’t to heal but instead it weakens the body (civilization) allowing others to take and exploit from it in its weary state.
ReplyDeleteWhen I said the definition of colonialism doesn't even sound right I was referring to when Europeans came into Africa they didn't come in with right intentions. It was to oppress the Africans, degrade them...
ReplyDeleteThe definition of colonialism clearly states an act that is unfair, A stronger country having power over a weaker country and taking its resources, that is not right.
I hope I made it more clear...
I still can't get the "black is the darkness" reason out of my mind. It sounds innocent enough and a naive interpretation assisted by arrogance which the africans were not prepared for. In no way do I say this was right but if that's the reason then I can see it a little differently, like the witch hunts of the middle ages. It was all about being uneducated with the "unkown unkown" I believe it was only the 20th century that allowed people to stop and think instead of destroying what they don't understand.
ReplyDeleteWant to estimate the effect of colonialism in Africa? Go back in time to set up two completely identical African countries and allow only one of them to be colonized. If the colonized country ends up better off, it would strongly suggest that colonialism has done more good than harm, and vice versa.
ReplyDeleteAside from all of what happened, it has a very big affect on everyones lives, whether you were black, white, yellow, green, silver, see through, the Colonialism in Africa had brought us to a point that showed us, if you are stronger physically you are able to take over, which brought a negative side to everyones mindset, to an extent.
However, we can't go back in time, the correct answer is that we'll never know whether or not colonialism was good for Africa! Even if we debate the issue forever and there will be no reliable conclusion. The fact of life is that before the UN was established, it was normal for superior countries to take over weaker ones.
Yes colonialism really was that bad! They come to a country that had many people living peaceful and destroyed it! How is that not bad!? Colonialism ruined Africa; they took away their cultures and religions. They made them fight one another, for example in Rwanda light vs. dark skin, and give us guns to kill each other. I feel like before Europeans, Africa was fain but after it was damage. The damage they have causes is show till this day.
ReplyDelete