THE STRUGGLE AGAINST
COLONIALISM AND NEO- COLONIALISM
This topic refers to various actions of
Nigerian indigenes against colonial rules and imperialism.
WHAT
IS COLONIZATION?
The term is derived from the Latin word ‘colere’,
which means "to inhabit.
Therefore, colonization refers to the action or process of settling among and establishing
control over the indigenous people of an area. Colonization is a process by
which a central system of power dominates the surrounding land and its
components.Colonialism
means settler ruling the existing indigenous peoples of styled "new
territories".
After the Berlin
Conference of 1884–85, at which the most powerful European countries agreed
upon rules for laying claim to particular African territories, the British,
French, Germans, Italians, Spanish, Belgians, and Portuguese set about formally
implementing strategies for the long-term occupation and control of Africa. The
conquest had begun decades earlier—and in the case of Angola and South Africa,
centuries earlier. But after the Berlin Conference it became more systematic
and overt.Scholars consider this incidence as the early phase of nationalist
struggle in the country.
The
success of the European conquest and the nature of African resistance must be
seen in light of Western Europe's long history of colonial rule and economic exploitation
around the world. In fact, by 1885 Western Europeans had mastered the art of
divide, conquer, and rule, honing their skills over four hundred years of
imperialism and exploitation in the Americas, Asia, and the Pacific
What is
Nationalism?
Nationalism
is a term generally used to describe two phenomena: first, the attitude which
members of a nation have when they care about their national identity; and
second, the actions that the members of a nation take when seeking to sustain
self-determination. The term has therefore been defined as: loyalty and
devotion to a nation, especially a sense of national consciousness exalting one
nation above all others and placing primary emphasis on the promotion of its
culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations or supranational
group
Different
factors were responsible for the growth of nationalist struggles
They can be
grouped as internal and external factors.
1.
The internal factors therefore
include
a. the early resistance
struggles,
b. the activities of
the press,
c. the colonial
policies and elite discontent, and
d. the economic
depression during this period.
A. The early resistance struggles consist of the various
oppositions put up by the indigenous peoples against the British penetration.
There were equally various thoughts on nationalism expressed during this
period. An example of these thoughts was captured from the expression of Edward
Wilmot Blyden where “he emphasized that Africans should pay attention to the
original contributions of the continent and should not emulate other races”
(Falola et al 1991:56). Other acts of resistance experienced during this period
were the secessionist movements within the church when Africans were urged (by
Pan-Africanists like Edward Wilmot Blyden) to establish their own churches.
These early activities inspired the nationalists. The activities of the press
during this period assisted in stimulating national consciousness.
B. The activities of the press during
this period assisted in stimulating national consciousness. These activities
brought about increase in the number of newspapers. The press during this
International Journal of History and Philosophical Research Vol.2, No.1,
pp54-67, March 2014 Published by European Centre for research Training Speriod
was guarding the rights and liberties of the people, and at the same time tried
to interpret the people’s ideals and aspirations. It was interested on policies
and national issues. John Payne was a great influence during this period.
Through his paper- The Lagos Weekly Record- known for its anti-imperialist
stands, he advised Africans to unite and fight their common heritage. He did
not only champion the cause of Africa, but also popularized and encouraged the
activities of protest movements. Other newspapers whose activities contributed
to the awakening of political consciousness in Nigeria by this period include
The Nigerian Times, and The Nigerian Chronicles.
c. Colonial policies equally contributed
in stimulating national consciousness as traditional rulers and educated elites
were dissatisfied with these policies. There was racial discrimination in the
colonial system, as Africans were not considered eligible for top civil service
positions. They were equally “excluded from the well-kept quarters of towns
known as European Reservations” (Omolewa, 1986:184), as well as“…treated as
second-rate citizens in their own land” (Omolewa, 1986:184). In most cases,
most qualified Africans were denied good jobs, and even if they were appointed,
they did not have equal status and salary with their European colleagues. These
colonial activities contributed in spurring nationalist feelings among the
educated elites. Economic depression experienced during this period equally
encouraged the growth of nationalist struggle.
d. The depression brought about retrenchment, unemployment,
and economic hardship. There was a drastic fall of wages. Consequently, the
nationalists for poor financial management criticized the government. They
therefore began to make demands for reforms.
Other
internal factors which induced nationalist struggle during this period include:
the imposition of capitation taxes; land expropriation for government purposes
which became a source of grievance for a people passionately attached to their
lands especially when such lands were used for purposes not originally stated
by the administration, and when inadequate compensation was paid to their
owners; intensification of economic exploitation which was detrimental to the economy
of the country; and high prices which were charged for imported goods and low
prices paid for primary products.
The external factor.
On the other
hand, the activities of Nigerian students abroad were one of the external
factors that contributed to the growth of nationalist struggle in Nigeria.
These students contributed their own quota to nationalism during this period
having organized themselves into organizations. One of these organizations was
the West African Students Union (W.A.S.U) founded in 1925 by Ladipo Solanke- an
indigene of Abeokuta, Ogun State. The organization served as a pivotal point
for young Nigerians who were politically aggressive to agitate for the freedom
of their countries from foreign domination. Fostering a spirit of unity,
cooperation, national consciousness and racial pride among members; acting as
information and research centre on African history and culture; presenting to
the world a true picture of African life and philosophy; and promoting good
will and understanding between Africans and other races, constitute the
objectives of the organization. Additionally, the organization called for many
reforms in West Africa. Through its various activities, however, the West
African Students Union provided these students, who subsequently emerged as
political leaders in their countries, with political experience.
Another
external factor was the Garvey movement. This movement was carried out by the
Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), founded by Marcus Garvey, a
Jamaican, in 1914. Commenting on its impact on Nigeria, Falola, et al (1991:62)
wrote; The Garvey movement had notable impact on nationalist activity in
Nigeria. His message on racial solidarity and cultural nationalism spread to
Nigeria. Garvey wanted political independence
for Africa. He believed that the Negro could only experience salvation via a
free and independent Africa. He founded a newspaper- Negro World- which was
widely circulated. His ideal, which was expressed via
his newspaper, influenced nationalists like Enerst Ikoli, and Nnamdi Azikiwe.
The influence of World War II also constitutes another
external factor that contributed to the growth of nationalism in Nigeria during
this period. Nationalist feelings and activities were strengthened by the
influence of the soldiers who had fought in the war. Most of them returned with
new skills but there were no means for practicing them. This embittered the
returned soldiers
Additionally,
these soldiers had witnessed that the whites were not superior to the Africans
following the defeats of the British by the Japanese in the Far East.
Furthermore, in India, these soldiers came in contact with Indian strong
nationalistic feeling. They saw people who were not better of about to be
granted their independence. There was equally Ceylon’s (Sri Lankan) nationalist
progress to inspire them. These factors prepared the minds of the returning
soldiers for a movement of reform (Eluwa et al, 1988)
In addition
to the above was the war propaganda of the allied forces which claimed to
champion freedom and equality of all people while the axis powers practiced
racial discrimination and oppression. Also, to encourage African support for
the allied interest, the allied powers promised the subject peoples the right
to choose the form of government under which they would want to live. This was
incorporated in the Atlantic Charter of 14 August, 1941, signed by Sir Winston
Churchill- former Prime Minister of Britain, and Franklin D. Roosevelt- former
President of the United States of America. These stimulated the nationalists to
fight energetically for the freedom of their people from colonial yoke.
THE
STRUGGLE AGAINST COLONIALISM
The resistance mounted against the British by the indigenes
and traditional rulers of the territories that were later merged together to
become Nigeria constitute the early phase of nationalist movement in Nigeria.
On knowing that the British rule would deprive them of their powers, these
people resisted the penetration of the British.
This resistance took many forms, armed
and unarmed resistance. There was non-cooperation with the British in trade,
and wars fought against the British. Examples of such wars include the
Aro-Anglo war of 1901-1902 which took place following the resistance the Aro
and their allies mounted against the increasing penetration of the British that
challenged their powers which had extended across Eastern Nigeria and beyond.
ARMED RESISTANCE
The Benin expedition of 1897 which occurred
following the refusal of King Ovonranmen to sign a British treaty which tend to
make Benin a British Colony, and his subsequent placement of trade embargo on
the Benin River which affected the trading activities of the British traders.
The Ijebu war of 1892 which broke out
following the refusal of the Awujah- Chief of Ijebu Ode (the capital of Ijebu
Kingdom)- to lift the blockade of the trade route from the interior into Lagos
(a crown colony by this period)
The Aniocha war fought as part of Ekumeku
movement of 1883-1914 which was directed towards the rising power of the Royal
Niger Company of the British Empire.
There were equally some roles played by King
Jaja of Opobo in opposing the desire of the British traders to have a direct
access into his hinterland knowing fully that the basis for his power rested on
his control over the hinterland palm oil markets. This brought about a quarrel
between Jaja and the British leading to his banning of all trade with the
British.
B.
UNARMED STRUGGLE
Cultural
and Religious Resistance
Not all resistance during the early years of European
colonial rule took the form of pragmatic violence. Most was more subtle and
directed toward local issues of political and economic autonomy. Resistance struggle during this
period was equally gathered from the activities of individuals (repatriates)
who stood against the very western culture that had nourished them having been
denied respectable place within their ancestors’ culture. This made them to
ravenously turn towards their ancestors’ culture for pride restitution, as well
as for the strength to face the new situation. These individuals were products
of mission schools. By educating them and subsequently denying them equality
with the visitors (Europeans).
The Christian missions helped to contribute
their own quota to the emergence of nationalist movement in Nigeria. This group
of Nigerians were led by men such as Edward Wilmot Blyden (1832-1912)- a
foremost Pan-Africanist and an advocate of West African culture.
Bishop James
Johnson (1871-1938)- an author and diplomat whose writings and activities
demonstrated his deep concern of black life and subsequently became the first
black man to assume the position of the field secretary of the National
Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP); Mojola Agbebi
(1860-1917)- a Nigerian Yoruba Baptist Minister.
John Payne Jackson- the editor of Lagos Weekly
Record (a newspaper founded in 1890) who was equally an immigrant from Liberia;
William Bright Davies, and Tejumade Osholake Johnson. These people did not only
strongly oppose the attempts of European Christian Missions to deprive Africans
of their rights, but also they were never weary of advocating a consciousness
of those aspects of European or Western culture which to them seemed to be of
no value to Africans.
Additionally, they were equally
advocates and founders of the indigenous African churches, which were the first
manifestations of cultural nationalism. An example of these churches was the
United Native African Church founded in 1891. This church emerged when a group
seceded from the Anglican Church as a result of the domination of the whites
(the Europeans).
Furthermore, some of these advocates
pragmatically rebuffed western culture by giving up their western names and
dresses. For instance, David Brown Vincent (1860-1917) who was named at Baptism
following his Saro father’s Christian religious identity as Catechist of the
Anglican Church in Nigeria, did not only change his name to Mojola Agbebi in
the late 1880s, he also gave up the wearing of English dresses even when in
Europe. In a similar vein, Reverend Jacob Henryson Samuel (1860-c.1925) of the
Methodist Church, who was named at birth, also assumed the ancestral name of
Adegboyega Edun in 1904 following his appointment as the first Secretary of the
Egba United Government (E.U.G) in 1902. There were no effective organizations
by this period to channel the various grievances of these people. The People’s
Union formed by Dr. Obasa and Dr. Randle in 1908 to agitate against the water
rate, and the Lagos Ancillary of the Aborigines Rights Protection Society (LAARPS)
formed in 1910 which on coming into existence took up the agitation over land
question were ineffective in championing the cause of the people. In fact,
effective organizations did not emerge until after 1914 when it became apparent
that there would not be an effective opposition if an opposition movement was
not properly managed and organized. It equally dawned on these people that it
is with this feature that nationalist movement will be able to challenge
colonial administration more effectively.
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