Why did Britain adopt Indirect Rule?

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What is Indirect Rule and Why did Britain adopt it?

 

Indirect rule was a system of administration whereby the Britain governed their African colonies through their traditional rulers and their traditional institution under the supervision of British Officials. But the question here is “Why did Britain adopt Indirect Rule?” I hope this article may bring more light to you about this issue.

In this system, the British recognizes existing local rulers and where such traditional authorities were absent, the British appointed what was called warrant chiefs. The function of the traditional or local authorities includes maintenance of law and order, the collection of taxes. Recruitment of labor for public work, construction of roads and the trial of offenders in the traditional courts.

 

Why did Britain adopt this policy of  Indirect Rule?

 

In West Africa, Lord Lugard the High Commissioner of Northern Nigeria Protectorate introduced indirect rule firstly  in Northern Nigeria. Lugard had witnesses the system of indirect rule in India and Uganda since he served as a colonial officer. In India, the British allowed large part of the country to be ruled by India Princes and in Uganda. The British ruled the Buganda through their traditional ruler the Kabaka of Buganda.

After his retirement from colonial service in 1919, Lugard put his practical experiences of indirect rule into a book. “The Dual Mandate in British Tropical Africa” published in 1922. This book caught the admiration of the British government.As a result, indirect rule was rapidly spread to other British African colonies. This system was practiced because of several reasons.

Main reasons

  1. Shortage of Staff: There was an acute shortage of trained European staff to help run the vast territories. Britain was therefore forced to, rely on the services of the local rulers. This shortage of staff was made worse because the Britain were involved with the Angio-Boer War. Again service in Africa was very unpopular because of the high mortality rate caused by the tropical climate and diseases among Europeans.
  2. Shortage of Funds: Secondly, the funds or money available were too meager to finance
    large scale direct administration. Hence the shortage of funds forced the British to adopt the Policy of Indirect Rule
  3. Lack of Roads: The British could not easily reach most parts of its’ colonies because the colonies were vast with bad roads and lack of the means of communication. Hence local rulers were empowered to rule for them.
  4. Fear of Hostilities and Revolts: It was also because of fear of revolts that the British avoid direct contact with African people as much as possible. Through indirect rule Britain preserve direct traditional institutions.
  5. The Existence of a well Established traditional Administration: In many areas of Africa such as Northern Nigeria, the British found well established traditional institutions under the Muslim rulers. The institutions were easily adaptable to a system of indirect rule. Moreover, the Muslim rulers such as the Lamidos were powerful and had influence on their people. Therefore, Britain came to believe that before any British administration could succeed in Africa, the Africans traditional rulers were essential.
  6. The High Illiterate Population: Some communities were illiterate communities where the people could not readily learn through the radio and press about government activities. Therefore the British used indirect rule in order to pass government policies to the people.

Other reasons

  • There was the Influence of Lord Lugard: He introduced Indirect Rule in Northern Nigeria because it had succeeded in India and Uganda where he had worked as a colonial administrator.
  • The existence of Powerful Traditional Rulers: Like Emirs and Lamidos. Therefore, the British believed that for any administration to succeed, she must collaborate with these powerful rulers.
  1. Pressure Traditional Institution: Britain wanted to reserve the traditional Institution of the people.
  2. Britain believed that all people prefer self rule to ‘alien rule’.
  3. British Racial Arrogance: The British were very proud and arrogant and so did not want to mingle with the natives.

 

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