Africa Is Not a Country #29
????Happy Friday, the last day of Black History month and my last unapologetic history lesson in honor of this month.
My Africa, the land of breathtaking landscapes, legendary warriors, rich traditions, and the eternal struggle of people thinking it’s a single country. Seriously, if I had a dollar for every time someone asked me if I “speak African,” or said "I visited Africa," or I gave my unapologetic side eye, I’d have enough money to buy back some of our stolen artifacts and my side eye would say it all!
As we say goodbye to Black History Month on this last day, I can't help but remember to "educate" and remind all that "Africa" is NOT a country. This month marks 140 years since western powers sidelined Africans and carved up "ownership" of the continent among themselves. Let’s set the record straight: Africa is a continent— not a country. A whole 54 sovereign countries, over 2,000 languages, and cultural diversity. So how did we even get here?
The Berlin Conference; The Scramble For Africa
Imagine walking into your home one day, only to find a group of strangers sitting at your dining table, dividing up your rooms, furniture, and even your favorite chair—without asking you. Now, imagine that happening on an entire continent. That’s exactly what went down at the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885, where European powers gathered to split the resource-rich continent of Africa among themselves without a single African representative in the room nor permission from the owners of the land. So they went ahead and drew lines with reckless abandon, splitting tribes, families, and entire civilizations. That’s how you end up with a country like The Gambia, a tiny strip of land following a river, or the artificial straight-line borders of Chad and Libya. The Great African Heist
Back in the late 19th century, European countries were scrambling to get their hands on Africa’s land, resources, and labor. This period, known as the “Scramble for Africa,” was driven by a mix of greed, racism, and a desire to control valuable raw materials like gold, rubber, and diamonds. But with so many European countries rushing in at once, conflicts began brewing.
To avoid fighting among themselves, the European powers decided to hold a meeting in Berlin, Germany, hosted by German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. Fourteen countries attended, including Britain, France, Belgium, Portugal, and Spain. But guess who wasn’t invited? The actual people living in Africa and owners of the land.
At the conference, European leaders took out a map and started drawing lines—completely disregarding the existing ethnic, cultural, and historical boundaries of African societies. Kingdoms were split in half, rival groups were forced into the same new “countries,” and powerful African civilizations were completely ignored.
For example:
By the time they were done, almost 90% of Africa was under European control, with only Ethiopia and Liberia managing to escape full colonization.
Africa’s Struggle Under Colonial Rule
Once these artificial borders were set, colonial governments enforced brutal rule over African nations. Resources were exploited, traditional governance was dismantled, and millions of Africans were subjected to forced labor, violence, and oppression. The wealth generated from Africa’s land and people went straight to European nations, leaving the continent impoverished. Colonizers justified their actions using racist ideologies, claiming they were “civilizing” Africa. But let’s be real—how do you “civilize” a continent that was already home to advanced kingdoms, trade routes, and rich cultures long before European arrival? The Great Zimbabwe, Mali Empire, Benin Kingdom, and many others thrived without European interference.
And the names? Many were bestowed by colonialists, take Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe and Zambia), named after British businessman Cecil Rhodes, whose only real contribution was exploiting land and people. Names were assigned by these colonial powers, often disregarding indigenous identities and languages. In the post-colonial era, several nations reclaimed their heritage by adopting indigenous names. Ghana was once the British Gold Coast, Burkina Faso used to be Upper Volta, and Eswatini ditched Swaziland to reclaim its true heritage.
Atrocities and Cultural Robbery
If colonization had a “best of” album, it would be Blood, Sweat, and Stolen Artifacts because of the hideous atrocities committed during this period. From King Leopold II of Belgium turning the Congo into his horror show, which resulted in the death of millions to the Mau Mau uprisings in Kenya against British rule, the suffering was immense. And then, there’s the great museum heist of the century where our artifacts were looted and now sit on the shelves far far away from their rightful homes. Ever been to the British Museum, the Louvre, or any major European institution? About 90% of their prized African collections were not gifts. The Benin Bronzes, the Rosetta Stone, Ethiopian manuscripts—all stolen. There's a joke that the only reason the great pyramids of Egypt are still in their right locations is because they were too large to be stolen!
The Ones Who Dodged the Colonial Bullet
Not every African nation was fully colonized. Ethiopia famously fended off the Italians at the Battle of Adwa in 1896, making it the OG of African resistance. Liberia, founded by freed African Americans, also avoided full colonization, though the U.S. had its grip on its governance. While these countries struggled, they at least dodged the “We’ll take your land and your name” package deal.
The Lingering Impact
Fast forward to today, and the scars of the Berlin Conference still run deep. The borders drawn without African input have fueled ethnic tensions and conflicts that persist in many regions. Many African nations still struggle with economic and political instability due to the lasting effects of colonization. Despite this, Africa continues to rise. Countries are reclaiming their identities, rewriting their histories, and demanding the return of stolen artifacts and resources. The resilience of African people proves that, while borders were drawn on maps, they could never erase the strength of a continent.
Reclaiming Africa’s Future; A Future Beyond Borders and Labels
So, what’s the takeaway from this history lesson? It’s that Africa was never a blank slate for Europeans to carve up, and its people were never passive participants in their history. Today, we can honor Africa’s past by supporting efforts to decolonize education, preserve indigenous languages, and demand the return of stolen artifacts sitting in European museums. We can’t change history, but we can change the narrative. African history isn’t just about colonization—it’s about the thriving empires before it, the resilience through it, and the innovation after it. We should be teaching kids about Mansa Musa’s golden empire, the advanced architecture of Great Zimbabwe, and how African civilizations were already flourishing while some parts of the world were still figuring out basic plumbing.
Let’s build a world that respects history—not one that erases it. And most importantly, let’s recognize the power of Africa beyond the borders forced upon it. Because Africa was whole before colonization, and its people are working to make it whole again. And while we’re at it, let’s talk reparations—not just the financial kind, but intellectual reparations. Return our artifacts, rewrite the history books with the truth, and stop calling Africa a country!
Call to Action: Redefining the African Narrative
It’s time we reclaim our stories and celebrate the African continent's diversity, power, and ingenuity every day—not just during Black History Month. Learn, unlearn, and relearn, educate the next generation so we never have to hear someone ask, “Do you speak African?” ever again. Share Africa’s true history. Challenge stereotypes. Support African-led businesses, creatives, and movements. Because a better world isn’t just about fixing borders—it’s about breaking down the walls that divide us all. Africa is not a country. It’s a powerful, beautiful, and resilient continent, and it’s time the world acts like it.
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Happy reading!
Olunosen Louisa Ibhaze
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