The "Scramble for Africa" was a period of intense colonization of the African continent by European powers during the late 19th century. Political cartoons from this era provide valuable insights into the motivations, perceptions, and consequences of this historical event.
During imperialism Europeans states started big empires in africa, but also asia, and the middle east. The driving forces behind European Imperialism in Africa were the strive for ultimate power in Africa between competing countries, the need for money and technological advancements in European civilizations, and the constant attempt for Europeans to spread their cultures throughout Africa.
One of the most famous cartoons depicting this era is "The Rhodes Colossus," illustrated by Edward Linley Sambourne and published in Punch magazine in 1892. This cartoon portrays Cecil Rhodes, a British businessman and politician, as a giant straddling Africa, symbolizing his ambition to build a telegraph line from Cape Town to Cairo and his broader vision for British colonial expansion.
"The Rhodes Colossus" cartoon by Edward Linley Sambourne
The cartoon quickly became widely referenced in historical texts as an illustrated representation of the Scramble for Africa, and the New Imperialism era as a whole. The cartoon has become one of the most frequently used images to represent the era of New Imperialism and the European colonisation of Africa.
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Scramble for Africa: The Shocking Truth of the Berlin Conference (1884–1885)
Political cartoons played a crucial role. The Rhodes Colossus is an editorial cartoon illustrated by English cartoonist Edward Linley Sambourne and published by Punch magazine in 1892.
The “Scramble for Africa,” touched off in 1882 by the submission of the ruler of Tunis to a French resident, was followed by British intervention to secure its financial investments in Egypt. In the 1890s, the global scramble expanded to Asia, and new powers joined the race.
The Berlin Conference, held in 1884-1885, is another key event often depicted in political cartoons. This conference formalized the division of Africa among European powers, with little to no regard for the existing political and social structures of the continent. The cartoon depicts the Berlin Conference, where European leaders are gathered around a table, preparing to divide a cake labeled "Afrique." Otto von Bismarck of Germany stands with a knife, ready to cut the cake.
The powers included Great Britain, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany, and Belgium. Each superpower wanted control over a certain area on the continent and would do anything to ensure that their area remained in their best interest. As a result of the conference, European control began to overtake the African continent and imperialism became a giant part of the European mark.
Analyzing Africa's Actions and Reactions
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When the Europeans scrambled to colonize Africa, the reactions of the natives was progressively more apprehensive. At first the natives found that they could be peaceful with this strange new white man. Soon after, though, they found that these new men mistreated and cheated them greatly, and had superior military technology. Given these new conditions of the relationship the Africans decided it was in their best interest to take up arms against the Europeans and try to rid themselves of the harmful White Man.
Different African nations and leaders wanted to take different approaches to the Scramble for Africa, and some wanted to make diplomatic peace with the Europeans. Prempeh I, the Ashanti leader, wrote a letter to the British to ask for peace and protection of their country (Doc 2).
The Economic Motivations
Europeans “gold diggers” had a big interest in African resources and were willing to get them at any cost. They had even made plans about dividing the country. According to Source 5, the cartoon depicts the rocks as a symbol of how the Europeans wanted the resources of Africa so badly that it shows how the rocks symbolizing the resources were moved away from Africa towards the European regions. The rocks in the picture are a clear image of how Europeans were “gold diggers” and took away what was rightfully Africa's.
As more and more Western countries industrialize, more and more Western countries need resources to fuel their growing economies. Africa, a very large and resource rich continent, became a target for powerful European countries to colonize.
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The cake represents Africa as a resource-rich territory to be divided and consumed by European powers. The Europeans view Africa as a commodity or prize to be carved up and exploited for their own benefit.
Political cartoons of the Scramble for Africa often depict the power struggle and exploitation during that period. It shows how European powers divided and claimed African territories for their own interests.
"Yellow Peril" Imagery
Yellow Peril imagery proved irresistible to political cartoonists throughout the West, often enhanced by the new phenomenon of mass-circulation color printing.
A lithograph of this imagined threat, based on a drawing by the Kaiser, was produced that same year by a German artist whom he favored. It attracted worldwide attention. In this, the archangel Michael, holding a flaming sword, stands before a host of female warriors personifying the nations of Europe. He points to a distant Buddha wreathed in flames against black thunderclouds-or, in some interpretations, the black smoke of a burning village. The Christian cross shines in the sky above the imperiled Westerners.
"Yellow Peril" lithograph by Hermann Knackfuss
This famous “Yellow Peril” lithograph by the German artist Hermann Knackfuss was based on a drawing by his patron, Kaiser Wilhelm II, in 1895 and widely disseminated thereafter.
The Multipower Scramble for China
The multipower scramble for China, from 1895 to 1905, followed a similar pattern to that of Africa, but with very different results. Japan’s surprising defeat of the Qing empire instigated all the powers to secure spheres of influence connected to their economic interests, and fears of “slicing the Chinese cake” increased.
The four images below exhibit variants of the metaphor of the slicing of China, representing critiques from French, American, and British perspectives.
The push to carve China into foreign spheres of interest coincided with a revolutionary transformation in the nature of international communication. Advances in telegraph transmission expedited the speed of journalistic reporting.
At the same time-and more vivid and dramatic-the turn of the century saw a great leap forward in color printing. The lavish political cartoons in illustrated periodicals such as Punch in England and Puck and Judge in the United States are classic examples of this explosion in dramatic, colorful political commentary.
Abetting this technological transformation was the emergence of international postal regulations that facilitated the global dissemination of picture postcards. Images produced in one country were frequently reproduced for a global audience-sometimes so quickly that the original place of origin became obscured. Naturally, this heightened popular awareness of international affairs.
The cartoon and excerpt were followed by a piece of satirical verse by Edwin J. Rhodes measures with the telegraphic line the distance from Cape Town (at his right foot) in South Africa to Cairo (at his left foot) in Egypt, illustrating his broader "Cape to Cairo" concept for further colonial expansion in Africa. Rhodes stands in a powerful, open armed stance. This has been seen by scholars an indication of his power and influence during the European colonisation of Africa.
For centuries, European nations had been trading slaves, gold, ivory, and more with the west coast of Africa. Throughout the early 1800s, Europeans barely knew anything about the rest of the country of Africa. This quickly changed as Europe grew a sudden interest in exploring the rest of the country and taking advantage of their many valuable resources.
Long-term Effects of European Colonization
Africa has had a long and tumultuous road of colonization and decolonization the rush to colonize Africa started in the 17th century with the discovery of the vast amounts of gold, diamonds, and rubber with colonization hitting a fever pitch during World War I. However, the repercussions of colonization have left deep wounds that still remain unhealed in the 21st century.
Early on, European nations such as Britain, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Germany and Belgium scrambled for territories. Countries wanted land so they could harvest the resources, increase trade, and gain power.
Conclusion
Political cartoons of the Scramble for Africa offer a window into the complex motivations, power dynamics, and consequences of European colonialism. They serve as a reminder of the importance of understanding this historical period and its lasting impact on the African continent.
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