Imperial Powers over Africa Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Imperial Powers over Africa - Essay Example According to Du Plessis (2010), Europe was undergoing several socioeconomic and political transformations which compelled the major European powers to explore overseas territories to supplement to their resources towards the turn of the 17th century. One of the most potent challenges that such control was to tackle was the resistance that Africans had against occupation of their territory by the white man. According to Oliver and Roberts (1986), the first important control that would facilitate realization of the entire colonial project was to place local political administration under the imperial power. There were different responses from the native communities with regard to the welcome that the European powers got. Whereas some communities readily collaborated and assisted the imperial powers to take charge of their administration, there were others that heavily resisted and contested any foreign takeover of their political control. It is therefore correct to state that the division among the African communities regarding the response they ought to have collectively staged played a part in the thriving of colonial administration across Africa. The clan elders and the kings ruled according to old traditions which did not allow easy interaction with foreigners lest they lost their authority (Achebe, 1996). Economic control over Africa was possible soon after the political resistance had been contained.