What are the positives of colonialism in Africa?

[mohammdov]

Everyone talks about the negatives. Yes, they did terrible things, but that does not make us ignore that there are many positives and development, whether for African countries or people.
1. Infrastructure Development:Some colonial powers constructed infrastructure such as railways and roads in certain regions, facilitating communication and the movement of goods.

2. Technology Transfer:Certain colonial powers introduced modern technology to Africa, contributing to improvements in some economic sectors.

3.Expansion of Education: Some areas experienced an expansion of education under colonial rule, with the establishment of educational systems.

4. Agricultural Development: Certain colonial administrations improved agricultural techniques and introduced new crops, leading to economic advancements.

5.Establishment of Governmental Institutions: During the colonial period, some governmental institutions were established, providing basic services to the population.


-The thing that people complain about most is the borders they have drawn. Africa is full of nationalities and tribes that hate each other. This is what it would have looked like if the borders had not been demarcated.

 

[mohammdov]

Also for Somalis, colonization was a blessing as the country flourished and tribal wars and raids stopped because killers were arrested even if they fled to the farthest place
Before colonialism, if a traveler went out, he did not know whether he would be exposed to a raid or be killed by a lion, because people’s weapons were spears. But no one was afraid anymore when the colonial police came
. Schools were built for the first time
The most important thing is the army, the first army built by colonialism. When independence was gained in 1960, the number of the army was only 5 thousand, 1،500 from Somaliland and 3,500 from Italian Somalia and they were able to defeat Ethiopia in 1964 because of the good training they received.

 

[mohammdov]

@AbdiFreedom @Geeljire lotus

 

[Chaseyourdreamzz]

Colonialism was one of the worst things to happen to Somalis it gave our land to other countries and colonialists also played divide and conquer with the different Somali tribes

 

[NOT-ACTIVE]

It depends. If you were a hunter gatherer before colonization, than colonization may have had its benefits

But if you are someone like us Somalis, then it was definitely a net negative. We could’ve united Somaliweyne eventually without loosing our land to our neighbors

The skirmishes between neighboring clans would’ve been eliminated over time. Every country went through similar struggles during their nation building stages

 

[attash]

Also for Somalis, colonization was a blessing as the country flourished and tribal wars and raids stopped because killers were arrested even if they fled to the farthest place
Before colonialism, if a traveler went out, he did not know whether he would be exposed to a raid or be killed by a lion, because people’s weapons were spears. But no one was afraid anymore when the colonial police came

No, tribal wars were still a thing even during colonial times. The colonial authorities didn't have much power in the hinterlands and most people lived as they did before colonization. A British officer lived amongst the Somalis for a time during the colonial period, and he wrote about tribal wars happening. The book is called Warriors: Life and Death Amongst the Somalis.

Colonialism actually increased the amount of wars happening in Somaliweyn. The arrival of colonial authorities triggered the Dervish War, the Italian campaigns against the Hobyo and Majeerteen Sultanates, the Biimaal Revolt, Sheikh Bashir's revolt, Sheikh Hasan Barsane's revolt, and much more.

Colonialism arguably increased tribalism amongst Somalis since colonial authorities instigated tribal division as a way to divide and conquer Somalis.

. Schools were built for the first time

Traditional Islamic schools already existed before colonials arrived.

The most important thing is the army, the first army built by colonialism. When independence was gained in 1960, the number of the army was only 5 thousand, 1،500 from Somaliland and 3,500 from Italian Somalia and they were able to defeat Ethiopia in 1964 because of the good training they received.

The only reason we had to have a strong army and go to war against the Ethiopians in the first place was because of the colonizers. They were the ones who gave away our land to Ethiopia.

 

[Chaseyourdreamzz]

It depends. If you were a hunter gatherer before colonization, than colonization may have had its benefits

But if you are someone like us Somalis, then it was definitely a net negative. We could’ve united Somaliweyne eventually without loosing our land to our neighbors

The skirmishes between neighboring clans would’ve been eliminated over time. Every country went through similar struggles during their nation building stages

Colonialists definitely engulfed the flames of tribalism that’s for sure

 

[mohammdov]

Colonialism was one of the worst things to happen to Somalis it gave our land to other countries and colonialists also played divide and conquer with the different Somali tribes

Even if colonialism had not come, the situation of the Somalis would have been the same as the scattered tribes, each with a flag. Colonialism is one of the reasons for the unification of the Somalis.

 

[Al Adnani]

It depends. If you were a hunter gatherer before colonization, than colonization may have had its benefits

But if you are someone like us Somalis, then it was definitely a net negative. We could’ve united Somaliweyne eventually without loosing our land to our neighbors

The skirmishes between neighboring clans would’ve been eliminated over time. Every country went through similar struggles during their nation building stages

This is a common misconception among Somalis. Colonialists united us if anything rather than dividing us, before colonialism we were basically divided into micro states ruled by different clans. And no we would have never united somaliweyne or even thought of uniting it because it itself is a colonial ideology. Ernest Bevin is the godfather of the “Somaliweyne” ideology

 

[Kane]

You must hail from a clan that were colonial puppets and who benefited from their masters technology and firepower.

where as prestigious clans where killed in the hundreds of thousands, for going against the will of the white man.

 

[mohammdov]

It depends. If you were a hunter gatherer before colonization, than colonization may have had its benefits

But if you are someone like us Somalis, then it was definitely a net negative. We could’ve united Somaliweyne eventually without loosing our land to our neighbors

The skirmishes between neighboring clans would’ve been eliminated over time. Every country went through similar struggles during their nation building stages

Yes, many parts of Africa were still living like the days of the Stone Age
And the Somalis were not very advanced, just Nomads killing each other, only Islam made them better, and we are in 2023 and you are still living the same conflicts as centuries ago. Tell me when will it stop?

 

[Nomadic lord]

This is a common misconception among Somalis. Colonialists united us if anything rather than dividing us, before colonialism we were basically divided into micro states ruled by different clans. And no we would have never united somaliweyne or even thought of uniting it because it itself is a colonial ideology. Ernest Bevin is the godfather of the “Somaliweyne” ideology

Just because a particular colonial power may have united us as a nation doesn't mean that colonialism hasn't had some disastrous and negative impacts in other aspects of our country. Additionally, one could argue that had it not been for the colonial powers, Somali history could have taken a different path that also ended up uniting its people. For example, there were already regional alliances and the concept of Somali-speaking territories, and it's possible that more organic and voluntary pathways towards Somali unification could've happened.

 

[mohammdov]

No, tribal wars were still a thing even during colonial times. The colonial authorities didn't have much power in the hinterlands and most people lived as they did before colonization. A British officer lived amongst the Somalis for a time during the colonial period, and he wrote about tribal wars happening. The book is called Warriors: Life and Death Amongst the Somalis.

No, I am talking about 1925, when colonization took place officially. I know a lot of oral history and tribal wars. I assure you that the tribal wars between 1925 and 1960 were less than those that occurred between 1960 and 2023.

Colonialism actually increased the amount of wars happening in Somaliweyn. The arrival of colonial authorities triggered the Dervish War, the Italian campaigns against the Hobyo and Majeerteen Sultanates, the Biimaal Revolt, Sheikh Bashir's revolt, Sheikh Hasan Barsane's revolt, and much more.

Colonialism arguably increased tribalism amongst Somalis since colonial authorities instigated tribal division as a way to divide and conquer Somalis.

Tribalism was more severe before colonialism because there was nothing that united the people. When colonialism came, the Somalis felt that they had a common enemy. Before that, I assure you that an entire tribe was cleansed within a week.

Traditional Islamic schools already existed before colonials arrived.

I'm talking about modern schools

The only reason we had to have a strong army and go to war against the Ethiopians in the first place was because of the colonizers. They were the ones who gave away our land to Ethiopia.

I assure you, had it not been for colonialism, Somalia would have been part of Ethiopia. They saved what was left. The Somalis would not have had a chance against Melelek’s army.

 

[mohammdov]

You must hail from a clan that were colonial puppets and who benefited from their masters technology and firepower.

where as prestigious clans where killed in the hundreds of thousands, for going against the will of the white man.

Do not make the issue personal. Before me, my grandfather used to work on a car, and one day he killed a British man who insulted him. He hit him with his car and fled to his re abti in Ogadenia. There is nothing that makes me love colonialism. I told you that colonialism was terrible and bad. But don't you see the positive side?

 

[attash]

No, I am talking about 1925, when colonization took place officially. I know a lot of oral history and tribal wars. I assure you that the tribal wars between 1925 and 1960 were less than those that occurred between 1960 and 2023.

Tribalism was more severe before colonialism because there was nothing that united the people. When colonialism came, the Somalis felt that they had a common enemy. Before that, I assure you that an entire tribe was cleansed within a week.

I'm talking about modern schools

I assure you, had it not been for colonialism, Somalia would have been part of Ethiopia. They saved what was left. The Somalis would not have had a chance against Melelek’s army.

Menelik actually tried to invade the region that we now call "Somalia" before the Europeans did. He did so multiple times. In the 1890s, he sent his general Ras Makonnen to invade the Shabeelle river valley, but his forces were repulsed by those of Sheikh Hasan Barsane. Another time was when he tried to invade the Gedo region, before his army got annihilated by the Sultan of Geledi's troops at the battle of Luuq. He didn't try venturing past the Ogaden region after that.

The only reason the Ethiopians even acquired the Ogaden region was because the region was sparsely populated and lacked organized kingdoms and armies like the sultanates near the coast. Still, the Ethiopians struggled to consolidate even this region without British support. The British had to enact an arms embargo to prevent the Somalis of the interior from resisting and crushing Ethiopian forces like they did at the Battle of Jigjiga (1900).

I don't know where you got the idea that the Europeans and the Ethiopians were ever at odds with each other. The Europeans and Ethiopians were united by the goal of establishing Christian rule over Muslim lands. The European colonizers were the reason why our lands became part of Ethiopia, since Menelik would have never been able to conquer so much territory without European support.

 

[NOT-ACTIVE]

This is a common misconception among Somalis. Colonialists united us if anything rather than dividing us, before colonialism we were basically divided into micro states ruled by different clans. And no we would have never united somaliweyne or even thought of uniting it because it itself is a colonial ideology. Ernest Bevin is the godfather of the “Somaliweyne” ideology

I agree that colonialism brought us a more peaceful Somaliweyne identity. This unity was peaceful but ultimately short lived as seen by what happened post 1991

What I’m saying is that without colonialism, one clan probably would’ve united us all under one country. This is what happens to most tribalist societies. One dominant tribes unifies everyone one under one common identity ie. The Ummayyads, Abbasids, etc

Somalis were never isolationist and eventually one clan would’ve gotten access to more modern weapons from abroad and use that to unite the entire Somali peninsula

 

[Three Moons]

I assure you, had it not been for colonialism, Somalia would have been part of Ethiopia. They saved what was left. The Somalis would not have had a chance against Melelek’s army.

Menelik’s army was defeated by the Gobroon Army when he tried to take southern Somalia, only 200 of his soldiers returned home. And Colonialism is the very reason why his army became powerful to begin with. The British allowed the Ethiopians to arm themselves to the teeth while at the same time they put up a blockade on the Somalis. The moment a Somali power like the Dervish showed up and bypassed the British blockade, Menelik and his army was neutralised, see the Battle of Jigjiga in the year 1900 as an example.

Colonialism did not provide us with cities, we already had them. Colonialism didn’t provide us with a new language or religion. Af-Somali was already the Lingua-Franca and Islam was dominant. Colonialism didn’t expand our trade, we were already trading with most of the world. Even the industrial progress that could have been considered ‘benefits’ in hindsight like the Salt Factory of Hafun or the railway system to Jowhar were intentionally dismantled by the British during WWII.

Colonialism instead destroyed the centuries old intricate trade network between the coastal and interior cities. Colonialism ceded away vast swathes of Somali lands to neighbouring entities, with the pen. The latter groups didn’t even defeat us on equal terms to get those lands, they were gifted. Colonialism put us on a unnecessary military collision course to regain stolen lands when we could have invested all of that wealth and effort into industrialisation.

There were no benefits.

 

[NOT-ACTIVE]

Yes, many parts of Africa were still living like the days of the Stone Age
And the Somalis were not very advanced, just Nomads killing each other, only Islam made them better, and we are in 2023 and you are still living the same conflicts as centuries ago. Tell me when will it stop?

I’m not saying this to diminish others or act like we were some advanced nation. If we were so advanced, we would’ve never been colonized

What I’m saying is that all those benefits of colonization would’ve came to us with or without the colonizers as we were never isolationist

You mentioned Islam. This further proves my point. Somalis interacted with the world and it allowed us to learn and exchange ideas from others. This is why Somalis had cannon fire before most of sub-Saharan africa and why we were one of the earliest Muslims

But if you were an isolated hunter gatherer, you did not have the same ability to learn from others so colonization may have been your only way. It’s not saying we’re better, we were just less isolated and more exposed to foreigners allowing us to learn from them

Personally, I think colonialism was a net negative for all Africans as it caused a level of exploitation almost never before seen. Colonialist apologist are just racists trying to cope and feel better about what was done to the global south

But with us Somalis it literally provided no benefits as we probably could’ve received the same aforementioned benefits without the oppression that came alongside colonialism

 

[Kane]

Do not make the issue personal. Before me, my grandfather used to work on a car, and one day he killed a British man who insulted him. He hit him with his car and fled to his re abti in Ogadenia. There is nothing that makes me love colonialism.

Your Grandfather was rageedi but I was speaking of the major sub clans, who submitted themselves to the gaalo subjugation.

I told you that colonialism was terrible and bad. But don't you see the positive side?

We lost land, people, wealth,livestock and the power our forefathers had accumulated over hundreds of years with their blood, in less than half a century. Because of superior weaponry, where a single coward could kill hundreds of warriors, by pointing and squeezing a Gatling gun and you’re asking if I see the positive side.

 

[BenInHer]

Somalia was hardly ever colonized tho. The worst they did to us was give our lands away.

Even dijbouti barely felt it aside from the hoarde of afars to stop the merge.

Yet look at algeria, india, china, north/south korea. Canada/America/kenya/falestines/south africa/Zimbabwe and so on. Them mfers was colonized and fiddled with.

Tbh im surprised they didnt annex our land and put on reservation.