The British occupied parts of the continent from the 1880’s to the beginning of the 20th century. They did this mainly to ensure their dominance in trade and maintain their geopolitical influence. Their African colonies included Nigeria, Sudan, Ghana, Kenya and Rhodesia – now Zimbabwe. The British took the most fertile lands in these countries, as they needed coffee, tea, cotton, and more to develop their industry. They did all this using the ‘divide and conquer’ principle, so the Africans wouldn’t rise up. They didn’t hesitate to use the English language, English traditions, and religion to reach their goals either. This cultural dominance still remains in some African countries.
