The Role-Played by Africans in the First World War

 

 

The Role-Played by Africans in the First World War

 

 

Colonial Africa as an important part of the interest of the European colonial power was necessarily dragged into their war. Africans participated in the First World War in various ways.

1. As Soldiers: Africans participated in the actual fighting, as soldiers among other war efforts. In Africa, the Allies and Germany had territories and common frontier. African soldiers did most of the fighting while the officers were the Europeans.
2. As Carriers: As a result of poor roads in some areas and lack of roads in others Africans also served as carriers of food, ammunition (arms) and other materials for the fighting soldiers. Some Africaniovere recruited as guards to lead the troops find their way.

Ill. Supply of Food: Another way in which Africans participated in the war was in the supply of foodstuffs of the fighting forces. Village people were forced in to a massive effort to increase food production.

• Supply of Raw Materials: In additions, the African colonies supplied raw materials such as cotton, palm oil, tin and rubber to the European war industries.

1. Monetary contribution: There was increase in direct taxation to meet the cost of the war.

The Effects of the First World War on Africa

1. The War led to the Establishment of the Mandate System: As a result of the defeat and expulsion of Germany, the German colonies were seized and converted into mandated territories of the League of Nations. These colonies were administered by some powers on behalf of the League of Nations.

Accordingly, Britain took charge of Tanganyika, parts of Togo and parts of Cameroons. France took pars of Togo and parts of Cameroon. Belgium took Rwanda and Urundi and South Africa took German South West Africa (Namibia).

1. The War Led to the Growth of African Nationalism: That is Africans became conscious of their rights especially the right to self-government. African Nationalism was encouraged by the following factors:

By Woodrow Wilson who in his famous Fourteen Points called for self-determination for all the people of the World.

Some African fought in Europe and came in closer contact with the white man. they discovered some of the weaknesses of. the White man and became convinced of the equality of all men.

Ill. Britain and France partitioned Togo and Cameroon: The Treaty of Versailles confirmed this Partition. Meanwhile their people were not consulted. This offended their sense of justice, and

fair play and developed in them a strong hatred of European colonialism. The Ewes of Togo who were spit apart by the division began to organise the Ewes Union Movement and to appeal for a remetger of the tribe.

1. In West Africa, the elite of British West African colonies formed the National congress of British West Africa to protest against the ills of British Colonial policy.
2. The war also encouraged Negroes leaders such as W.E.B. Dubours to summon the first Pan­African-Congress to coincide with the Paris Peace conference. The Pan-African congress was summoned to impress upon the members of the Paris Peace Conference the Importance of African in the future. The Congress also called on the members of the Paris Peace Conference to place ex-German colonies under International control.

 

Economic Consequence

 

1. Local industries were developed in Africa to produce some of the things which could not be
   imported because of the War in Europe. A typical example was the development of coal mining at Enugu during the war to offset shortage of imported coal.
2. The war brought in a lot of money to Africa. This was so because thousands of African soldiers recruited were paid Apart from this, Europeans who came to fight h Africa also brought in a lot of money.

• There was sharp rise in the prices of African Export goods soon after the war as these goods were in great demand in Europe.
• The war also brought rising inflation. These were greater demand for social and economic development.