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The scramble for Africa (part one)

Unlike the Americas, Europeans and others had known about Africa for centuries prior to the 1800s. Yet unlike the Americas there had been few attempts to colonize and none to explore the interior of the continent.

Unlike the Americas, Europeans and others had known about Africa for centuries prior to the 1800s. Yet unlike the Americas there had been few attempts to colonize and none to explore the interior of the continent. The northern coastline was known -the wonders of Egypt, the remains of Carthage, the base of the Moors who conquered Spain, the ports of the Barbary Pirates, and more.

But Africa south of the Sahara remained dark and mysterious. When European explorers wanted a sea route to China, some Dutch settlement took place in what would later be South Africa and later pirates would find a base for their operations on the east coast. The French established a presence in Senegal; the Portuguese traded for spices close to Zanzibar. None ventured more than a short distance inland.

It was not that Africa lacked resources for trade. Gold, ivory, salt (worth almost as much as gold), exotic animal fur and more tempted traders. Save Ethiopia and Prester John, Christianity had not penetrated the jungles and while Islam ruled the northern coastline, south of the Sahara remained with diverse forms of animism amongst the tribes. With a vastly different climate than Europe, Africans built castles, fortresses, and homes to suit their environment and available materials.

Like the Americas, tribes had spheres of influence around their territories for trade and war. Kings and Queens, princes and princesses, and nobility stratified the tribes just like everywhere else in the world. In many tribes the concept of personal property was vague save for the nobility. Tribal territories grew and shrank just as nations did in Europe.

As trade expanded, those tribes located along the coastlines reached inland to serve as middlemen between the unknown tribes of the interior and the European traders. Legends, myths, and imagination made tales of the interior vivid and often horrific.

That is how matters remained until the 1850s. The Dutch and then the British clustered in small colonies near the southern tip. The Portuguese stayed along the Mozambique and Angola seaboards and the French in Senegal and later, Gabon - all close to the sea.

Some historians suggest that the change in European interest in Africa came with the advent of the steamship. Unlike the sailing ships that had no need to refuel, the steam engines required coal and lots of it. Those ships that plied the trade routes to India and and China could not do so without refueling. A refueling station led to permanent settlements of Europeans. Gradually, these outposts of empire expanded, increasing the interaction between Europeans and Africans.

The Americas prospered on the rich trade in sugar and cotton, both of which gave rise to a need for plentiful and cheap labour. The Native Americans had been worked to death or died in one of the endless plagues that the Columbus Exchange had brought across the ocean. A new source of cheap labour had to be found.

While slavery was certainly not unknown in earlier times, now black slaves became a commodity and principle export from West Africa. That trade brought all the associated evils and cruelty. Arabs and Blacks captured natives from the interior, transported them to ports that sprang up especially along the south coast of West Africa and sold them to the waiting "slavers". Those who survived the journeys westward provided the labour needed to pick the crops of the New World. Spanish, French, English, and other ships carried their human cargos to all of the Americas.

In time, the black populations where plantation agriculture flourished vastly outnumbered the native and European populations.

In Europe, there was no thought of colonizing any more of Africa. No religious zeal or commercial avarice could persuade any normal man to venture into the African interior. But then, few would accuse Dr. John Livingstone of being normal. He and three or four others thrust their way across the continent. Livingstone came north from the Cape into the heart of Africa and became a legend and a saint to many.

His letters to the outside world opened the minds of others to the wonders of Africa. A news reporter, Henry Stanley, was given the opportunity to locate Livingstone. His adventures, culminating with the famous line, "Dr. Livingstone, I presume" would lead the start of what is now called the Scramble for Africa, changing his life and the lives of millions forever.

Meanwhile back in Europe the second king of a new country, Leopold II, King of the Belgiums, was looking about to enhance his country and his own wallet by finding a colony. England had many, so too did France, Spain, Portugal - even Denmark and Holland had colonies. It was intolerable that Belgium should not have even one especially as Leopold was prepared to spend a vast amount of his own money to buy one. Most of the world was "taken" by the early voyages of national explorers claiming vast territories while never venturing far from the sandy beaches.

Belgium was ill equipped to send ships to sea to seek out new and unclaimed lands, assuming any remained unclaimed. Well, Leopold was not deterred. He would buy a colony from a country that had some. He turned to Spain hoping to buy the Philippines. Rebuffed, Mozambique or Angola would serve but Portugal was not interested. Timor, perhaps? No. His next choice was New Guinea, then a colony of England and well off any beaten track. His offer was turned down.

Just at that moment another African explorer had emerged on the west coast of Africa having travelled across the continent from the east. The journey took him three years. For the English newspapers, this was just the hero they wanted. Bells ringing and banners flying, the weary (and nearly dead but recovering) traveller was feted and honoured as he loudly proclaimed the land to be of "unspeakable richness". In Brussels, one could almost hear a royal voice muttering "Africa?"

Leopold was aware that if he tried to claim a large portion of unknown Africa as a colony other countries would object and object loudly. He had no navy to transport an army to take possession and his army was certainly not large enough to protect a colony even if they were able to get there. His government did not support his quest for a colony. The climate was known to be brutal, the jungle a challenge, the rivers dangerous, and the riches unknown. In short, there were many reasons why Belgium would be foolish to lay claim to a piece of Africa and few to go forward.

Unless, that is, it was not Belgium claiming the colony. What if Leopold, in some manner, claimed it not as a colony but for some laudable Christian purpose, some noble venture? Europe had promoted perhaps the vilest degradation of a people for years by endorsing slavery of the blacks. The guilt of the slave years could not be erased but it might be lessened by now doing good works - God's work - in raising Africans up to join the civilized and Christian nations of the world.

Now, this was pure poppycock but it sounded virtuous. It would play well in the press and amongst the public. Leopold would lead the powerful nations in bringing Christianity and civilization to the Dark Continent.

Leopold pondered how he might do this and developed a plan.

He would spearhead a Christian mission to Africa, imbibed with the purpose of educating, civilizing, and baptizing Africa. A truly noble purpose that would stir the major European powers to join a new crusade. What a wonderful idea! But it would have to be played out very carefully with no hint of crass capitalism or profits. Afterwards? Well, who knows what might happen?

To be continued....