Colonial History of Nigeria and Kenya: British Rule and Independence

Colonial Nigeria: British Administration and Independence

The largest of British colonies in West Africa was Nigeria. The establishment of Nigeria as a British colony was mainly due to the efforts of Sir George Goldie.

After gaining control of all the British firms trading on the Niger River, he also took over two French companies and signed treaties with numerous African leaders. By 1886, his firm controlled business activities in the area and was granted a British royal charter, establishing the Royal Niger Company.

In 1900, the charter was revoked, and the company's territory came under the direct control of the British government. A year later, Nigeria became a British protectorate.

The administration of Nigeria was based on a system called indirect rule. Under this system, Britain ruled through existing political institutions rather than establishing a wholly new administrative network.

After gaining independence in 1960, a violent civil war between the country's different ethnic groups broke out. Tensions are still present in modern Nigeria.

British Colonialism in Kenya: Mau Mau Uprising and Freedom

The sudden granting of independence to India in 1947 made many British colonies hopeful that they would be next. In the 1950s, the British East Africa Federation aimed to combine Kenya with Tanganyika and Uganda.

However, this plan was disrupted by the Mau Mau rebellion. The Kikuyu people, who were behind the rebellion, had historically been based around the highland areas that had been reserved for white settlers. Consequently, they felt more marginalised and bitter towards the white settlers than other African ethnic groups. The targeting of isolated farms and the killing of family members, including women and children, shocked the white settler community. The British deployed 20,000 extra soldiers to quell the situation. Over a million Kikuyu were relocated to large reserves, and the Mau Mau organisation eventually disintegrated. Emergency powers remained in place until 1960. In 1963, a Black majority government was elected for the first time, and Kenya declared independence on 12 December 1963.