During the precolonial error, many African leaders fought against the colonial powers. These leaders valued their freedom and independence, especially as it was the key to their kingdoms’ growth and extension. History predates colonial invasion in Africa because of the need to secure wealth and dominance. Hence most African leaders resisted colonization.
Needless, the European colonizers had powerful weapons that helped them secure many African territories. They enslaved Africans, dethroned their rulers, stole their lands, and even sexually abused them. Therefore, it is indisputable to say that the white man’s civilization to Africa brought more harm than good. This article focuses on three African leaders who protested colonial rule.
Queen Ndate Yalla
Ndate Yalla was the Queen of Waalo, a kingdom in northwestern Senegal. She was the daughter of King Amar Fatim and Queen Fatim Yamar. According to the Waalo, a queen had the title Lingeer while a king Brak. Ndate was the last-born daughter of King Fatim. In 1846, queen Ndate succeeded his elder sister, who had served as a queen following his father’s demise. She served as a Lingeer from 1846 to 1855.
Reign of Ndate Yalla
History celebrates Ndate Yalla for her exceptional leadership skills in Senegal. She was among the best reigning queens in the 19th Century. Amid her time in power, she defended her Kingdom from the French invaders.
The Kingdom of Waalo arose from the fall of the Jolof Empire. Initially, Jolof was the dominating Empire in Senegal. However, its decline led to the rise of various kingdoms. Among these Kingdoms was the Waalo empire. The latter had a strong desire to maintain its assets from the neighboring French colonials who had settled in St Louis. Ndate would tax the French, whose goods had to pass through Waalo to reach their colony. Since the French’s business depended on commercial expansion, they needed to have a good rapport with their neighbors. Hence every time they traded through the Waalo kingdom, they paid taxes.
However, with time, the French settlers refused to pay the taxes. Queen Ndate stated the country was theirs and so had the sole responsibility to govern it. Therefore, they had the power to control the movement of goods. She said they would continue taking 10% as taxes. She had refused to have any negotiations with the French and was well aware of their indecisive tricks. However, as the French population increased, they rebelled more and stopped paying taxes. Queen Ndate ordered the French not to trade any goods through her Kingdom.
Following the deteriorating situation, the French declared war on Waalo. They believed it was the only way they would have full control of the trade. After months of battle, Ndate and her husband refused to submit to the French administration. She mobilized more forces to resist the French invasion.
In 1855, the French forces and their African allies had outnumbered the kingdom of Waalo. Despite the French winning the battle, Queen Ndato’s spirit of resilience didn’t stop. Senegal commemorates her as a potent monarch attributing to her great legacy.
Changamire Dombo
He is among the most successful rulers to resist colonial invasion in his territory. Changamire established the Rozvi Empire between 1684 and 1889 by mobilizing local Shona rulers to develop their army. It was during this time that the Muenimutwapa kingdom was falling that the then princess sought colonial help.
As a founder and ruler of the Rozvi Empire, Changamire and his military were powerful. Many referred to them as the destroyers because they damaged anything that came in their way. They challenged the Portuguese to combat near the Zambezi river and became victorious. On most occasions, Changamire mocked the Portuguese. He would defile their graves and sacred images.
Under Changamire Dombo’s reign, Portuguese colonial ambition never met its true potential. They then fled the plateau.
Samori Toure
He was the founder and ruler of the Wassoulou, an Islamic empire during the 19th century. It was at this time that French colonialists had arrived in West Africa. Samori rose to power because of his extraordinary intelligence. His military career began with him joining the Sisse army where many acknowledged his military skills. He then left the army and established his loyal group. Under Toure’s leadership, they began to expand their authority and territory.
After forming his empire, Samori called upon family members and ethnic groups who had conflicted to unite. Within no time, Samori had a large army comprising of 10000 to 12000 well-armed and trained soldiers. Later, he attempted to extend his empire along trade routes. The European invasion in west Africa almost made it impossible for him. However, Samori maintained his empire through minor fighting and treaties. Since he had a good relationship with the British, they supplied him with equipment like riffles. Due to his great leadership and tactical maneuvers, he prevented a French invasion of his territory.
However, in 1898, Samori’s reign came to an end after the French and their African allies defeated him. Many remember him for his spirit of determination and unity. He is one of the powerful African leaders who were loyal and stood up for their kingdoms.
Koitalel Arap Samoei
He was the greatest orkoiyot among the Nandi tribe. Orkoiyot was a title given to the supreme spiritual and political leader among the Nandi. The latter is an ethnic group from an east African country (Kenya). Koitalel was born in 1860 to Kimnyole Arap Turukat and Samitu. Samoei was the last born amongst his four brothers. Compared to his brothers, he had the gift of interpretation. As such, he was closer to his father than his brothers.
At the time Samoei became 25 years, he succeeded his father and became the Orkoiyot. According to the Nandi community, the orkoiyot specifically came from the Talai Clan. This is because they believed that God had chosen the members from Talai as intermediaries who delivered messages to the people. Amid his reign, Koitalel Arap Samoe had foreseen the coming of a black snake that went through their land.
And it was not long before colonial governments visited Africa, Kenya. The colonial administrators approached the Orkoiyot and demanded the construction of a railway line. During those times, railway lines served as a means of transport for merchants. However, Samoei was not pleased with the idea. Since he had no trust in strangers, he refused the idea and sent the people away from his land.
Among the east African ethnic groups, the Nandi was a strong tribe. History documents that they resisted colonial invasion and fought fearlessly despite the colonials having superior weapons. Since Samoe was a strategic military commander, he planned his attacks systematically. The Nandi troops would often hide in the mountains and launch surprise attacks on the British workers who were building the railway. The troops would then steal the construction materials which they would then use to make fighting weapons like spears.
The two groups conflicted for several years with the Nandi slowing down the construction process. Eventually, the British administrators decided to call for peace talks with the Nandi. It was during these negotiations that Samoei had decided to let his guard down. However, little did he know that he had presented the British with an opportunity to capture him.
As Samoei prepared to amend their differences with the British colonel, they were ambushed and the British officers shot them. Only one member among those who had accompanied Samoei fled to tell the story.
Mekatilili Wa Menza
She is of the Giriama tribe. History documents her as among the greatest freedom fighters on the east African coast of Kenya. The name Mekatilili originated from Katilili, who was Mekatilili’s firstborn son. Mekatilili had four brothers, Nzai, Hare, Kithi, and Mwarandu.
The arrival of British colonialists to Giriama infuriated Mekatilili, especially since Mepoho, a diviner prophesied they would invade and erode the culture of the Giriama. The prophecy became true when British administrators tried to evict the giriamas from their land. The colonials demanded the people to pay a hut tax to stay in their huts.
However, at 70 years old, Mekatilili rose to lead her people against the colonial intruders. She incited her people to fight and refrain from colonial oppression. The Giriamas believed that they had acquired powers from the kayas, which they considered as their religious worshipping grounds.
Mekatilili was a great influencer among the giriamas. As such not even the youths from the Giriama tribes joined the colonial military. Due to her attempts to resist the British government, the British arrested her together with her son in law and sent her to exile in Kisii, western Kenya, where they imprisoned her. It was not until 1914 when the colonials freed her.
She returned to her tribe and continued to lead them. However, to end the strong Giriama resistance, the British decided to attack them. With the help of powerful weapons, they lynched the Giriama houses, bombed the kayas, and killed people. Then they captured Mekatilili for a second time and detained her in Kismayu in Somalia. She managed to flee and in 1920, she died.
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