African Response to European Colonisation
Colonial History · Resistance and Collaboration
Syllabus tag: KCSE | History and Government | Form 3 | Topic 18 African Response
Lesson objectives
By the end of this topic, you should be able to:
- Explain why some African societies resisted and others collaborated.
- Describe the Mandinka resistance under Samouri Toure and the Nandi resistance.
- Describe Lozi collaboration under Lewanika.
- Explain mixed reaction, using the Akamba, and assess the results of each response.
Summary
Africans responded to European invasion by resistance, collaboration or mixed reaction. The Mandinka under Samouri Toure and the Nandi under Koitalel resisted; the Lozi under Lewanika collaborated. The choice depended on circumstances, not on courage, and almost all African societies lost their independence in the end whichever course they took.