
Table of Contents
Discuss the roles played by chartered companies towards total colonization in Africa.
CHARTERED COMPANY ADMINISTRATION
Refers to an association formed by investors or stake holders for the purpose of doing trade, exploration and colonizing colonies.
Historically chartered companies were formed by investors who gave this task to the traders and explorers in Africa to operate trade and commerce for profit maximization.
After being formed, they were granted/ given charter/ legal identification by their mother countries that identified them as official companies which were to represent the interests of the metropolitan. This is why they became known as Chartered Companies.
Before establishing colonial government, European powers gave chartered companies the task of establishing an administration with the purpose of seizing, colonizing and administering the virgin African territories.
Also they were to safeguard the interests of the metropolitan. These companies operated in those areas where their mother nations had economic interest.
COMPANIES IN EAST AFRICA
After the Berlin conference, East Africa came under control of two European powers, these were Germany and Britain. Therefore, the companies, which were operating in those colonies, come from those countries, involved: –
- Germany East Africa Company (G.E.A.CO)
- The imperial British East African Company (I.B.E.A.CO)
THE GERMANY EAST AFRICAN COMPANY (GEACO) 1884 – 1891
This was an organization established at the start of the Germany colonization of East Africa. The company in short, was responsible for the activities in the new colony (German East Africa) such as setting up leadership (administration), future explorations, development of the region etc.
Foundation
It was founded in 1885 after presentation of a treaty by Karl Peters in Berlin in Feb 1885. It was official identified in 1887.It was succeeded by the German government in 1891. It established Bagamoyo as their colony’s capital but soon moved it to Dar es Salaam.
Founder
The founder was Karl Peters who was the most significant figure in the establishment of the company.
The company generally, played a big role in signing treaties with African chiefs in East Africa. The company was also involved in the partition of East Africa where two treaties were involved i.e. Delimitation Treaty ( 1886) and Helgoland Treaty ( 1890). Karl Peters also signed treaties with chiefs like Chief of Usagara, Chief of Uzigua, Chief of Ukamietc
THE IMPERIAL BRITISH EAST AFRICAN COMPANY (IBEACO)
It was a Commercial association formed so as to develop African trade in the areas controlled by the British Colonial power in East Africa.
The origin of I.B.E.A.CO can be traced back to 1856 when William Mackinnon formed a steam ship service in Indian Ocean. In 1862, it was renamed as the British Indian Steam Navigation where in 1886, it was given an imperial charter, and thus it became known as I.B.E.A.CO
In 1888, Sir William Mackinnon and I.B.E.A.CO were authorized to serve as administrator of East Africa Protectorate ( Kenya) which was the area of influence of British East Africa. Generally the company represented and defended the British interest in East Africa.
COMPANIES IN WEST AFRICA
In West Africa there were various chartered companies that were operating for the interests of their mother countries in Europe.
These companies were as follows:-
THE ROYAL NIGER COMPANY (RNC)
This was a British Mercantile Company that involved in Commercial activities in West Africa in the 19th c for the interest of Britain. It was formed by George Goldie in 1879 as the United African Company and it was renamed as the National African Company ( NAC) in 1881.
The company became known as Royal Niger Company (RNC) in 1886 July when the British government granted it a charter and Lord Aberdare became governor while George Goldie became Vice – governor.
The Company dealt with trade, negotiating treaties with African Chiefs and defending the British interests which were in jeopardy from the Germans and French. The Company existed for a comparatively short time (1879 – 1900) but was instrumental in the formation of Colonial Nigeria.
GERMAN WEST AFRICAN COMPANY (GWAC)
This was a German Chartered Company formed so as to safeguard the interests of German and represents the interests of German in West Africa. The company was established in 1885 and given a charter to represent Germany interest in West Africa.
The company operated in Cameroon and Togoland and it influenced Germany to colonize the two countries in West Africa.
COMPANIES IN SOUTH AFRICA
The companies that were operating in this region were as follows:
BRITISH SOUTH AFRICAN COMPANY
This was the British chartered company formed by Cecil Rhodes in order to represent Britain in Southern Africa. The company was formed in 1884 and given a charter to operate in Southern Africa.
The company operated in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana etc.
THE ROLES OF CHARTERD COMPANIES TOWARDS COLONIZATION OF AFRICA
Qn. In which ways the chartered companies influenced colonialism in Africa.
Qn. Why European colonial powers transferred the task of establishing colonial administration to their chartered companies?
Signing of treaties
The company had a task to sign different treaties that would enable their nations to colonize areas in Africa. For examples, a treaty between BSACO and King Lobengula of Matebelele and on 3rd October 1888. Also a treaty between GEACO and Chief Magungo of Msovero in 1884.
Suppressing African Resistances
It was a duty of the companies to suppress all resistances in Africa which were against colonial rule. For examples, GEACO suppressed Hehe Resistance in Tanganyika, IBEACO suppressed Nandi Resistance in Kenya etc.
Abolition of Slave Trade
The Chartered Companies also involved much in the abolition of Slave trade in They abolished Slave trade in order to establish a new trade called Legitimate trade which emphasized an exchange of goods and not slaves.
Exploitation of African Resources
The companies carried out import and export activities in order to exploit the African resources particularly minerals for the industries in the metro For example the B.S.A.CO ensured the exploitation of minerals in South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe
Establishment of Chartered Companies also played a big role in establishing and developing economic infrastructures such as roads , railways and ports so as to ensure inports and export. For example, G.E.A.CO established the Central Railway Line in Tanganyika which was constructed from 1893 to 1905 – 1914, I.B.E.A.CO started the construction of a railway line from Uganda to Kisumu in 1896.
Protecting the Boundaries of Colonies
Chartered Companies also protected the boundaries of their colonies by preventing other rival powers from occupying For example: In East Africa G.E.A.CO ( Germany) signed the agreement of 1886 to resolve boundaries conflict between the two powers.
Exploring the Hinterland of Africa
The companies were responsible for exploring the interior of Africa and the resources The information brought by those companies fueled the process of colonization of Africa. For example the Royal Niger Company (RNC) explored Nigeria, Niger and Ghana for the future colonization by the British.
Generating Funds
Chartered Companies also were responsible in generating fund through commercial activities so as to finance their administrative activities and For example, the Mozambique Company by the Portuguese in Mozambique formed a private bank ( Banco de Beira) in Beira in order to run different colonial projects.
Thank you for the auspicious writeup. It if truth be told
was once a leisure account it. Look complicated to far introduced agreeable from you!
However, how could we keep in touch?
I don’t even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was good.
I don’t know who you are but definitely you are going
to a famous blogger if you aren’t already 😉 Cheers!
Wonderful goods from you, man. I have understand your stuff previous to and you’re just extremely magnificent.
I really like what you’ve acquired here, certainly like what you are stating and the way
in which you say it. You make it enjoyable and you still care for to
keep it sensible. I can not wait to read far more from you.
This is really a great site.
fantastic points altogether, you simply won a new reader.
What might you recommend in regards to your publish that you just made a few days ago?
Any positive?
Hello this is kind of of off topic but I was wondering if blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code with HTML.
I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding skills so I wanted to get advice from someone with experience.
Any help would be enormously appreciated!
I absolutely love your blog and find most of
your post’s to be just what I’m looking for.
Would you offer guest writers to write content for yourself?
I wouldn’t mind publishing a post or elaborating on a few of the
subjects you write regarding here. Again, awesome weblog!
Its like you read my mind! You appear to know a lot about this, like you wrote the book in it or something.
I think that you could do with some pics to drive the message home a bit, but other than that, this is fantastic blog.
An excellent read. I will definitely be back.
I’ve been browsing on-line greater than 3 hours these days, but I
never discovered any fascinating article like yours.
It is pretty worth enough for me. In my view, if all webmasters and bloggers made just right content material as you
probably did, the internet might be a lot more helpful than ever before.
Saved as a favorite, I love your blog!
Heya i’m for the first time here. I came across this board and I in finding It really helpful & it helped me out a lot.
I hope to provide one thing again and help others like you aided me.
Unquestionably believe that that you said. Your favorite justification appeared to
be on the net the simplest thing to take into account of.
I say to you, I definitely get annoyed while other folks consider worries that they just do not realize about.
You controlled to hit the nail upon the highest and
also defined out the whole thing without having side-effects , other people could take a
signal. Will likely be again to get more. Thanks
I have read several just right stuff here. Certainly price bookmarking for revisiting.
I wonder how so much attempt you set to create such a wonderful informative site.