Africa was subjected to some of the most horrendous types of cruelty. They were torn apart family by family tribe by tribe and worst of all denuded from their humanity. Peter Schwab discusses this theory of a “Crippling Trilogy” that goes into detail on how Africa was negatively impacted. The three main points are slave trade, this was the start of the destruction, we then move onto colonialism, where European countries made Africa their puppet state, and lastly, he goes on to discuss the effects the Cold War had on the African people turning them against each other. Each one of the specific topics: Slave trade, Colonialism, and the Cold War affected Africa in their own negative ways but put together, they stamped Africa with effects that lasted for generations and are still visual to this day.
Slave trade dominated Africa and ruined African culture from 1441 until 1870 (Schwab, 2001). Around 15 million Africans were stripped of their humanity and transported to the New World, otherwise known as the Americas. As farming and agriculture economy flourished, more and more slaves were required to fulfill the needs of the New World. Especially the farming / toiling of sugar because it is one of the most labor-intensive crops. The slaves who were captured became introduced to what is known as the Triangular System. The system was organized in a way where goods were brought to Africa to trade for slaves or sell to purchase slaves, slaves than were sold in the Americas, material and crops were sold for more money to go back to Africa and start the cycle over again. Slave trade destroyed and diminished Africa. One-way slave trade destroyed and changed Africa, was that it made Africans kingdoms weak with the loss of people. This lead for kingdoms to be overturned by leaders trying to control sects of the slave trade (Schwab, 2001). With the growth of slavery many religious groups “approved” and accepted the actions, saying this was “spiritually positive” or there were “no objections to masters trading in slaves”. The growth also allowed for other parts of the world to accept this trade as a morally right social institution, turning the human life of Africans into items on shelves in stores with price tags. They were treated like we would today use a disposable camera, use it until the film was exhausted, then get rid of it after the memories were received. In this case get rid of the slave after the profit was collected for their work. Not only was the African country in shambles, so were the people living there. They had to watch their lives get traded for tobacco and guns making it seem as if they were worthless and at the time that’s how the world viewed them. Not only was it this that tore them apart, but they were also physically torn from their families never to see them again. To make matters worse for these people who saw themselves as worthless already, they were subjected to the animal like holding cells to be transported, sickness and death prevailed on their journey, and they had to watch sick, weak and dead people be thrown overboard. Slave trade severely damaged Africa and left lasting effects. The men and women in Africa who had the most to offer were the ones who were targeted the most. These people were the source of profit and advancement in Africa and were taken away at European disposal. This caused Africa to obviously loose profit and should be considered one of the causes that led to impoverished Africa we see today. Europeans manipulated the minds of Tribal leaders, turning them against their own people to make a pretty penny. Social communication and respect between tribes disappeared as they began to invade each other to round up Africans to sell. Africans had to turn away from the life they once knew. Families and communities, only the strong and able, would have to relocate far from the slave trading paths and stay in the shadows. Social and technological advances of any kind were halted as people had to leave the comfort of their homes and fear for their lives, setting Africa back hundreds of years in world improvement. Amore rigid hierarchical structure was formed to try and govern the runaways but for the most part, failed. Europeans took Africa, an area in the world, rich with tradition, love, respect, and support and stomped it to the ground making it a bottomless piggy bank for the rest of the world. Europeans were able to subdue the lives of the African people and Africa as a whole making them a puppet state and leading them into the wraths of colonialism.
Slave trade was a horrendous time for Africa and to follow was not a break for Africa at all. European countries saw the diminished Africa as an opportunity to easily extend its authority over Africa and the people. Countries such as France, Germany, Italy, and many more put their interests in carving up Africa. This was done at the Berlin Conference and carving up Africa was a priority over severe problems in Africa. The main topic was how to divide the large land of Africa allowing for stability between countries and have no conflict. The eyes of Africa had to sit back and watch as European savages put their foot down and colonized large sects of their country. The geographical lines put in place to divide Africa separated ethnic groups and it forced people of different ethnicities to coexist without choice. The people who became colonized had to experience being erased from history because the colonizer would deny they very existence of them. This is why today studying Africa may lead to dead ends and unanswered questions.
The colonies that were created by different countries were ruled in a very intelligent way. The countries such as Great Britain and France would appoint a traditional chief to govern the colony under the rule of the country in charge. Great Britain and France were clever enough to do this, because it helped to gain the trust of the people and show them European rule was not so bad. This way of doing things guaranteed Europeans law and order in their colonized areas (Schwab, 2001). Once again not giving Africans a choice or vote on how they felt about it. Unfortunately, this act of civilizing did not go as planned all the time and the greater powers had to use force to control the people. In the end of the day control was the main objective for them.
Colonization resulted in the creation of a new Africa because it erased Africa of its original societies and individuals. Africa had to start all over, as mentioned before this led them to be behind in the advanced world. There was a very small amount of schools built and this did not help Africa progress in the world. People wanted to learn and get ahead but did not have the means to do so. Colonialism allowed Africans to be labeled as backwards and incompetent and Africa as being corrupt. Europeans had their fun, destroying social fabrics that existed and extracting all they could, in other worlds taking what they can take. Today people look and see Africa as people killing their own people because that is how the media portrays it. People seem to miss the defragmentation the European countries placed on Africa until they study the topic more. Europeans and their colonization turned the African peoples against each other; leading to killing and focus on power. Although colonies started to gain their independence was it actually independence. Most were considered independent in the 1960’s and at that time the super powers were supporting actions against the will of the people. Now the powers blame the African colonies for not being democratic and not knowing how to be when they were the ones that came in and destroyed the way of life they had in the beginning. Africa would be a totally different place in the world maybe even more advanced that other parts if it were not for colonization and the effects that led up to that. No one understands how bad colonialism was, so it is never explored, and the truth is very much hidden.
Africa’s turmoil did not end after colonialism but contained into the cold war. The two big players in this war was the United States and the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union was promoting communism through parts of Africa and the United States wanted to cease the continuation of this process while protecting their own interests in the African states. The goal of the United States was to bring intervention and aid to Africa while the Soviet Union saw it as an opportunity to expand interests of their own through Africa (Schwab, 2001) The clash of the United States and the Soviet Union created ethnic diversity, bringing to power and supporting a leader in Africa, turning them against each other. Effects of the Cold War kept hammering Africa into the ground. The Cold War lead to the major wars in Africa killing millions of people. For example, a group that attained great power in Africa was the Democratic Republic of Congo. They annihilated thousands, making martyrs out of them and lead themselves into a collapsed state. This is one of many examples that the Cold War left Africa to deal with making them look like they are nothing more than killing machines that work on each other.
Africa was stamped by the European countries throughout their history and it was not just one event that sealed it for them it was three combined. Slave trade, colonialism, and the Cold War working together put Africa through some of the most violence known to man. Unfortunately, the extent to which is taught and known to the public is hidden and people only hear and listen to what they want to believe. Slave trade led into colonialism and colonialism led into the Cold War and this was like a Blitzkrieg for the Africans, nonstop violence and demolition until the Europeans achieved their goal. People today have become so oblivious to what their countries were doing in Africa, instilling in their heads that Africa was and still is hell on earth and the people are savages.