The Causes And Effects Of Colonialism In Africa

The ram pant and complex nature of political instability and socioeconomic malaise being experience in most African states today have recourse to the nature and character of classes introduced in Africa by colonialism. The economic and other resources of Africa are shared between the petty bourgeoisie and their colonial counterparts, even in this contemporary time. The nature of political power struggle and distribution of wealth, as well as economic resources in the contemporary African state, are a reflection of the understanding and harmony of interest between the African petty bourgeoisie and their colonial partners or friends. The severe impoverishment of most Africans by their petty bourgeois rulers and marginalisation as well as oppression

Colonialism pulls out of shape African form of economic development in many different ways. There was a separation in the production of goods, traders, markets, transport, provision of social amenities and form of urbanization etc. the colonialists present a form of international division of labour, which was to the disadvantage of Africans. They allocated to Africa the role of production of raw materials and primary products for use by their industries at

The only industries Africans were encouraged or allowed to build were those that would facilitate the processing of the raw materials for export. The African raw materials bought at a very cheap price and manufactured goods from abroad sold at an expensive price. This situation caused for the poverty of most Africans.

There was also classify in the type of goods produced by Africans. The colonialists subdued Africans to concentrate in the production of goods meant for export. Africans were not allowed to produce those goods required by the local population. This made to many Africans to leave the production of food items required to feed the teeming and growing population. The effect of this was a shortage of food and escalation in food prices. The present day situation where Africans now import their food is a carry-over from colonialism. The point has been stress in here is that colonialism twisted the satisfaction of local needs in terms of food production and other requirements in preference to production and they only give satisfaction for foreign needs especially the industries. Colonialism also separate African markets and trades. The traditional or original African marketing centres were destroyed by colonialism. Most of the traditional African marketing centres or routes characters based on local needs. When colonialism came and introduced a different need, this changed the original or traditional marketing