Video feature
Ramantswana examined how colonial legacies have economically and theologically impoverished Africa. He challenged the enduring impact of colonialism on the continent and advocated for a reimagined future rooted in Indigenous cultures and languages.
“European colonialism in Africa began well before the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885; however, this conference is significant for having established a legacy of a fractured continent, created in the image of Europe to serve European interests,” he said. “The roots of Africa's poverty can be traced back to colonialism and the continuing dynamics of coloniality, which still influence the so-called post-colonial realities on the continent.”
The critical question that remains today is whether Africa can overcome the burdens of its colonial past, said Ramantswana.
"As an African, how do I genuinely reflect on the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885 in light of Africa's current stark and complex situation?” he asked. “The issue of poverty is particularly acute in Africa, with 438.6 million people living in extreme poverty.”
This statistic is not just a number, he added.
“In the Congo Basin, specifically the Democratic Republic of the Congo, once a focal point of colonial ambitions, approximately 73.5% of the population finds themselves entrenched in extreme poverty,” he said. “Moreover, the continent continues to grapple with conflicts and wars.”
He reflected that nations like Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, and Libya are embroiled in turmoil, contributing to widespread suffering and displacement.
“The recurring pattern of coup d’états in the Sahel region illustrates a concerning trend of political instability,” he said. “This is not to say that no positive stories are emerging from the African continent.”
Yet, although many positive stories are emerging, the 1884-1885 Berlin Conference legacy still remains with us.
“Africa remains partitioned along colonial lines,” he said. “ The Berlin conference aimed to avoid conflicts among the colonising nations, and yet through its reinforcement of the scramble for Africa, sowed ethnic tensions among African people. The current ongoing wars in Africa are in one way or another due to the curse the of Berlin.”
The resources exploited from Africa through colonialism have not served to make Africa great, he added. “We are identified along the lines of the partitioning of Africa, which hides our true identities,” he said. "This for me is the legacy of the Berlin conference—a conference that was about our land and about us without us.”
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