Europeans matched into the continent with the holy book on one hand and gun on the other, ready to disrupt, control, and exploit Africa. Imperialists’ unquenchable thirst for Africa’s land, labor, and minerals had an unmeasurable impact on destroying and disrupting Africa’s way of life. In the words of Walter Rodney in his Book, How Europe Underdeveloped Africa, colonialism entailed complete and direct domination of one country by another through state power, with ultimate control being in the hand of the foreign state. The main objectives of European colonialism in Africa were total political domination and limitless exploitation.

One cannot talk about Europe conquest of Africa without taking into account the Industrial revolution. It was the industrial revolution that propelled European’s thirst to invade, conquer, and manipulate the rich and blossoming continent of Africa. The industrial revolution came with new production processes that replaced the earlier slave-based economy. It required vast amounts of African raw materials and labor to sustain the new socioeconomic technology and transformation. Increased growth of industries led to increased production, which Europe’s agricultural produce could not sustain.

Therefore, the urge for much under individualistic and capitalistic values put the Europeans on a mission to exploit Africa. They matched into the continent with the holy book on one hand and gun on the other, ready to disrupt, control, and exploit it. The holy book brought good news and an aspect of subordination that was based on European’s interpretation to the scriptures upon conversion to a foreign religion. A large number of Africans wholeheartedly took to the new religion. As such, the African social fabric became torn and the spirit of togetherness became lost in the loud voice of the new capitalistic hegemony. Furthermore, the desire for surplus and materialistic power pushed them to destroy the environment to create room for industries including areas considered to be sacred.

Furthermore, the desire for surplus and materialistic power pushed them to destroy the environment to create room for industries including areas considered to be sacred.

In a political language that is mainly shaped by European scholars, man is usually defined as someone who is inherently evil and in search of limitless power. The actions of the imperialists completely captured this rhetoric. The industrial revolution pushed European imperialists to dig out African riches, pioneer industrial capitalism, and establish a world order. An order that would make and retain Europe as a global power by any means possible. It was through imperialist trickery and thuggery that was characterized by religion, divide and conquer, slavery, and bloodshed that the imperialist managed to exercise direct and total control of African political and economic structures.

Consequently, Imperialism brought with it the underdevelopment of African states. There are those who are likely to oppose this by arguing they introduced western education and thus western civilization, which so far is spearheading African development. Such an argument can appear to be true on the surface. However, a critical analysis of it reveals colonial education’s empty and hollow impact on the African continent. Western education was not anchored on African culture and values; thus, it could not foster any progressive development on the continent. Its lack of organic linkage translated to an empty impact on advancing African indigenous education patterns, technology, education, urbanization, and development. This form of education disarticulated and distorted African’s authentic form of education. It capitalized on creating white-collar literacy, such as training interpreters, clerks, artisans, and produce inspectors for furthering European’s capitalistic and exploitative agenda on the continent.

Those who were not acquainted with European education and the way of life were deemed as retards and illiterates. This phenomenon, which is still quite observant on the continent, was key to undermining the intellectual view of Africans. It undermined how they wished to organize their society, customs, values, and belief systems. More so, it gave Europeans an opportunity to enforce capitalistic and individualist values in the emerging African states. It brought the harsh element of everybody for himself and God for all on the continent.

Those who were not acquainted with European education and the way of life were deemed as retards and illiterates.

We can all attest that the African economy is dominantly shaped by European powers. The imperialist empires and kingdoms of countries such as Britain and France were built on the exploitation of Africa. More so, they are alive and still kicking hard because of the continued exploitation of Africa. For example, under the banner of ‘civilizing mission,’ France spearheaded a brutal occupation that was characterized by colonization, coercion, murder, extortion, and slavery on West African countries such as Benin, Togo, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. The independence was supposed to be a dawn for a brighter future. However, things worsened under a more calculated and concealed tactic that lured the colonies into signing the so-called ‘cooperation agreement’ with France.

The main aim of the ‘cooperation agreement’ was to keep the former colonies in a position that was maximumly advantageous to the interests of France. It required the colonies to give France special rights, such as having unlimited access to their natural resources, maintaining French troops in the colonies, and continued usage of French currency in exchange for foreign debts. Up to date colonies that use the Franc do not have monetary sovereignty because their currency is printed and regulated by the central bank of France. Their economy continues to controlled by the government of France through aspects such as fiscal disciplines and inflation.

The main aim of the ‘cooperation agreement’ was to keep the former colonies in a position that was maximumly advantageous to the interests of France.

After independence and introduction of democracy, Africans were unable to freely elect their leaders through the ballot.  Their leaders were selectively installed by the colonizers. This was after having a marvelous pass in the assimilation test of speaking the colonial language, spending time in Europe, and having social connections with European elites. Covert and corrupt operations were used by the colonizers to make the leaders their loyal subordinates. For instance, a tiny share of money from the looted resources was pumped into their individual pockets, whereas the entire country remained poor. In case the existing political order was threatened, the colonizers did not shy away from destabilizing the affected countries or assassinating those championing destabilizing the existing order. For example, In Burkina Faso, Thomas Sankara was assassinated when he weaned the country its dependence on foreign aid.

Those who are not acquainted with European education and the way of life are deemed as retards and illiterates.

Imperialism has thus made white man become the yardstick for measuring evolution. It has enforced western influence on African philosophy, arts, religion, Roman law, and science. Western languages have now become the medium of knowledge acquisition among African schools. Therefore, any progress that Africa makes towards modernization is now considered to be a form of westernization or rather modernization. For example, excelling in foreign languages such as English and French have become a qualifier for pursuing top courses such as engineering, medicine, and law

Since he who controls your language controls your thinking, western nations have continued to ensure that they are dominant over their colonies by shaping their education, economies and way of thinking. For example, in education, Africans must first struggle to learn the foreign language to become suitable for acquiring western education. Such a system works against those unable to excel in the colonialist language. It denies them a medium to acquire knowledge that is necessary to advance their natural skills. Sadly, a significant number young generations of upcoming Africans cannot inherit the precious knowledge and wisdoms of their ancestors because of their inability to read, speak, or comprehend their native languages. Such a phenomenon continues to render them to the influence of western domination.