Stephen Biko

Stephen Biko

Chelsea Guay
The colonization of Africa came about because of a desire for Europeans to expand their territory and because of a lust for resources such as gold and diamonds that much of the southern countries had to offer. Much of Africa was divided and separated into cultural groupings between the major countries at the time including France, Belgium, and Germany. After this colonial period ended, and independence was given to the African countries, many of them feared that if they used the same structure of rule as the Europeans used they would become a replica of that civilization. They feared it would be just a “mere change of personnel—from white officers to black—without the necessary changes in political structures that would transform Africa” (Falola 38) This fear was known as neo-colonialism, or a society where resources are taken out of African countries by other world powers with the African population not benefitting at all. In neo-colonialism, the goods and resources of African countries would be exploited. Impoverished countries would remain impoverished while outside rich countries became richer because of it.
This concept of neo-colonialism still affects certain countries in Africa today. Nigeria, specifically, is affected by the Shell Oil plants that exist in their towns. Since Nigeria is so oil rich, pipelines are run through people’s neighborhoods to supply oil for many countries, with no benefit to the Nigerian peoples. This is a blatant example of neo-colonialism in Africa. Another example would be in the Congo where Patrice La Mumba was democratically elected by the people. He had a vision of using the countries resources to better the lives of the countries citizens, but within a year was assassinated by secret services of the United States and Belgium and replaced with a puppet president who served the interests of those countries and not the interests of the Congo. Although this happened in 1961, the resources of the Congo have...

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