How much do you really know about colonisation and about the influential European figures who denied African people their human rights during that era?
Here are highlights on some of the deplorables who have been written into history books (used to educate Africans) as heroes.
Otto von Bismarck was the Chancellor of Germany who organised the Berlin Conference in 1884-1885. His role was to mediate between European powers to avoid conflict over African territories and to establish rules for the colonisation of Africa.
King Leopold II of Belgium played a significant role in the colonization of Africa by establishing the Congo Free State as his personal possession. His administration became notorious for its brutal exploitation of the Congolese people and resources, leading to a humanitarian crisis.
Cecil Rhodes was a British imperialist and businessman who played a pivotal role in the colonization of Southern Africa. He envisioned a British-controlled Africa stretching “from Cape to Cairo,” and he founded the British South Africa Company, which colonized parts of modern-day Zimbabwe and Zambia.
Jules Ferry was a French statesman who strongly advocated for French colonial expansion in Africa. As Prime Minister, he promoted the idea of France’s “civilizing mission” and supported the colonization of territories in West and Central Africa.
General Horatio Herbert Kitchener was a British military leader who played a key role in expanding British control in Africa. He is most famous for leading British forces during the Mahdist War, culminating in the Battle of Omdurman in 1898, which solidified British dominance in Sudan.
Carl Peters was a German colonial ruler and explorer who played a key role in establishing German East Africa (modern-day Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi). He founded the Society for German Colonization and was instrumental in acquiring territories for Germany in Africa.
Sir Henry Morton Stanley was a Welsh-American journalist and explorer who played a crucial role in the exploration of Central Africa. He worked for King Leopold II of Belgium, helping to establish the Congo Free State by signing treaties with local chiefs.
Lord Frederick Lugard was a British colonial administrator known for developing the policy of indirect rule, which involved governing through local leaders. He implemented this policy in Nigeria, and it became a model for British colonial administration in Africa.
David Livingstone was a Scottish missionary, explorer, and abolitionist who played a significant role in the European exploration of Africa. His expeditions across the continent helped map uncharted territories and brought attention to the horrors of the slave trade, influencing European involvement in Africa.
King João VI of Portugal played a key role in consolidating Portuguese colonial interests in Africa, particularly in Angola and Mozambique. Under his reign, Portugal reinforced its control over these territories and expanded its colonial presence through treaties and military actions.
General Thomas Robert Bugeaud was a French military leader who played a pivotal role in the conquest and colonization of Algeria. As the Governor-General of Algeria, he implemented brutal military tactics to suppress resistance and establish French control over the region.
Léon Gambetta was a French politician who supported and promoted French colonial expansion, particularly in Africa. As a leader of the French Third Republic, he advocated for colonialism as a means of national prestige and economic gain, influencing France’s aggressive policies in Africa.
Queen Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom during the height of British imperial expansion, including the colonization of Africa. Although she did not directly involve herself in colonial administration, her reign saw the expansion of British territories in Africa, including the annexation of Egypt and the establishment of protectorates in East and Southern Africa.
Léopold Louis-Duke of Orléans was a French nobleman and military leader involved in the early French campaigns in Algeria. He played a key role in the military conquest of the region, which paved the way for French colonization and settlement in North Africa.
António de Oliveira Salazar was the Portuguese Prime Minister and dictator who staunchly defended Portugal’s colonial empire in Africa, particularly in Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, and Cape Verde. He resisted decolonization movements well into the mid-20th century.
Leopoldo Franchetti was an Italian politician and explorer who played a role in Italy’s colonial ambitions in Africa. He advocated for and supported the Italian colonization of Eritrea and Somalia, contributing to Italy’s imperial presence in the Horn of Africa.
Hubert Lyautey was a French general and colonial administrator who served as the first Resident-General in French Morocco. He implemented policies that combined military control with efforts to preserve local culture, which became known as the “Lyautey Doctrine.”
King Charles X of France initiated the French conquest of Algeria in 1830, marking the beginning of French colonization in North Africa. The occupation of Algeria laid the foundation for further French expansion across the continent.
Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza was an Italian-born French explorer and colonial administrator who played a key role in establishing French control over parts of Central Africa, particularly in what is now the Republic of Congo. He founded the city of Brazzaville.
