Introduction

Imperialism, also known as the era of Neocolonialism, was a period in history that lasted from the 19th century to the early 20th century, during which European powers extended their control over large parts of Africa, Asia, and Oceania. This process was marked by a series of characteristics, such as economic exploitation, scientific racism, cultural assimilation, and the suppression of local resistances.

In the colonization process of Africa, European powers divided the continent among themselves in the event known as the Berlin Conference of 1884-85. This act of arbitrary division completely disregarded traditional power structures, cultures, and existing tribal divisions. As a consequence, colonization resulted in conflicts and problems that persist to this day.

The dynamics of colonialism in Africa were marked by a variety of experiences, depending on who the colonizers were and who the colonized were. In some cases, there was violent resistance, and in others, there was collaboration. Regardless of the context, African colonialism resulted in significant changes in the political, economic, social, and cultural structures of the colonized territories.

Contextualization

The study of Imperialism, especially in Africa, is crucial to understand the global power dynamics that have implications to this day. The economic exploitation of Africa and the subjugation of its people were critical factors in the creation of the modern world. Furthermore, the colonization of Africa has significant ramifications in the contemporary context, in issues such as racial relations, economic development, ethnic conflicts, and territorial disputes.

Moreover, knowledge of these histories points to understanding how historical narratives are constructed and who is left out of them. Beyond understanding the economic and political consequences of imperialism, it is essential to comprehend how this process affected local societies and the human beings who lived there.

Practical Activity: 'Imperialism in Africa: Impacts and Resistances'

Project Objective

The objective of the project is to lead students to explore in-depth the multiple aspects of imperialism in Africa, allowing for an understanding of its historical, social, economic, and cultural repercussions. Through research, data analysis, audiovisual material production, and critical writing, students should be able to discuss colonial dynamics and resistance movements in Africa.

Detailed Project Description

Students, divided into groups of 3 to 5 people, must choose an African country that was colonized and conduct a comprehensive research project. The project will consist of a historical and geographical analysis, profiles of important personalities, resistance cases, and a short documentary. The project may take several weeks to complete, with time divided between research, preparation, and presentation.

Required Materials

• Internet access for research
• Books, academic articles, documentaries, maps, period photographs, etc.
• Video recording and editing equipment (can be a smartphone)
• Video editing program

Detailed Step-by-Step

1. Country Selection: Each group will choose an African country that was colonized to focus on in their research. Each group must choose a different country to avoid duplication of work.

2. Historical Research: Students must research the history of colonization of the chosen country: who were the colonizers, how the country was colonized, what were the main economic, social, cultural, and political consequences of colonization.

3. Profiles of Important Personalities: Within the context of colonization, students must research and write brief profiles of important personalities - both colonizers and colonized - who played a relevant role in the country's history.

4. Resistance Cases: Identify, analyze, and discuss the resistance movements that occurred during colonization and in the process of fighting for independence.

5. Documentary Creation: Based on the research conducted, students must create a 15 to 20-minute documentary that narrates the history of colonization, the main actors involved, and the resistance movements. The documentary may include images, videos, interviews, reenactments, animations, graphics, etc.

6. Report Writing: In parallel with the creation of the documentary, students must write a detailed report of their research and conclusions. The report should follow the structure of Introduction, Development, Conclusions, and Bibliography.

   • Introduction: In this section, students must contextualize the theme, discuss its relevance and real-world application, and define the project's objectives.

   • Development: The student must explain the theory behind the project's central theme, detail the activity, indicate the methodology used, and finally present and discuss the results obtained.

   • Conclusions: Students must conclude the report by summarizing their main points, explaining the learnings obtained, and drawing conclusions about the project.

   • Bibliography: Students must indicate the sources they relied on to work on the project such as books, web pages, videos, etc.

7. Presentation: Present the report and the documentary to the class and the teacher, explaining the focuses of their research and the conclusions drawn from it. The presentation should be followed by a question and answer session.

Project Deliverables

Each group must deliver the documentary and the written report. The documentary should be a creative and critical expression of what the group learned during the research process. It should be informative, engaging, and aesthetically pleasing. The written report should complement the documentary, providing additional details and depth that cannot be included in the video format. The report should be carefully written, reviewed, and properly referenced.

The written document and the documentary together should address at least four key topics or concepts that connect and complement each other, offering a comprehensive view of the impact of imperialism in Africa.