List of Colonized Countries on the African Continent

Welcome to this post on the list of colonized countries on the African continent, via Afrokonnect. From the late 19th Century to the mid-20th Century, European powers began the colonial expansion of African countries. Several African countries were shared in the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885.

This article is dedicated to providing an overview of the years various African countries spent in colonialism. This list helps us understand the impact of colonialism on the African Continent. The list of colonized countries is extensive with countries like Nigeria, Algeria and Kenya present in the list. The European invaders showed by ambitions by coming up with a lot of changes both culturally and politically.

The effects of colonialism can be viewed from a positive and negative point of view. The process of decolonization began after World War II. This marked the end of the colonial and dark era and the beginning of a new chapter in Africa’s history.

List of Colonized Countries on the African Continent

Beginning and End of Colonialism Domination in Africa Countries

1) Algeria

Colonized by: France

Beginning of Colonialism: 1830

End of Colonialism: 1962

Years of Colonialism: 132 Years

2) Angola

Colonized by: Portugal

Beginning of Colonialism: 1573

End of Colonialism: 1975

Years of Colonialism: 402 Years

3) Benin

Colonized by: France

Beginning of Colonialism: 1878

End of Colonialism: 1960

Years of Colonialism: 82 Years

4) Botswana

Colonized by: United Kingdom (UK)

Beginning of Colonialism: 1885

End of Colonialism: 1966

Years of Colonialism: 81 Years

5) Burkina Faso

Colonized by: France

Beginning of Colonialism: 1895

End of Colonialism: 1960

Years of Colonialism: 65 years

6) Burundi

Colonized by: Germany & Belgium

Beginning of Colonialism: 1897

End of Colonialism: 1962

Years of Colonialism: 65 years

7) Cameroon

Colonized by: Germany, France and the United Kingdom (UK)

Beginning of Colonialism: 1845

End of Colonialism: 1960

Years of Colonialism: 115 Years

8) Central African Republic (CAR)

Colonized by: France

Beginning of Colonialism: 1890

End of Colonialism: 1960

Years of Colonialism: 70 Years

9) Chad

Colonized by: France

Beginning of Colonialism: 1900

End of Colonialism: 1960

Years of Colonialism: 60 Years

10) Republic of Congo

Colonized by: France

Beginning of Colonialism: 1880

End of Colonialism: 1960

Years of Colonialism: 80 Years

11) Djibouti

Colonized by: France

Beginning of Colonialism: 1862

End of Colonialism: 1977

Years of Colonialism: 115 Years

12) Egypt

Colonized by: France & the United Kingdom (UK)

Beginning of Colonialism: 1876

End of Colonialism: 1956

Years of Colonialism: 80 Years

13) Equatorial Guinea

Colonized by: Portugal, United Kingdom (UK), Netherlands, and Spain

Beginning of Colonialism: 1507

End of Colonialism: 1968

Years of Colonialism: 461 Years

14) Ethiopia

Colonized by: Italy and the United Kingdom (UK)

Beginning of Colonialism: 1908

End of Colonialism: 1954

Years of Colonialism: 46 Years

List of Colonized Countries on the African Continent

15) Gabon

Colonized by: France

Beginning of Colonialism: 1852

End of Colonialism: 1960

Years of Colonialism: 108 Years

16) Gambia

Colonized by: United Kingdom (UK)

Beginning of Colonialism: 1816

End of Colonialism: 1965

Years of Colonialism: 149 Years

17) Ghana

Colonized by: United Kingdom (UK)

Beginning of Colonialism: 1756

End of Colonialism: 1957

Years of Colonialism: 201 Years

18) Guinea

Colonized by: France

Beginning of Colonialism: 1865

End of Colonialism: 1958

Years of Colonialism: 93 Years

19) Guinea-Bissau

Colonized by: Portugal

Beginning of Colonialism: 1616

End of Colonialism: 1974

Years of Colonialism: 358 Years

20) Ivory Coast

Colonized by: France

Beginning of Colonialism: 1839

End of Colonialism: 1960

Years of Colonialism: 121 Years

21) Kenya

Colonized by: Portugal & the United Kingdom (UK)

Beginning of Colonialism: 1505

End of Colonialism: 1963

Years of Colonialism: 458 Years

22) Lesotho

Colonized by: United Kingdom (UK)

Beginning of Colonialism: 1845

End of Colonialism: 1966

Years of Colonialism: 121 Years

23) Liberia

Colonized by: United States of America (USA)/Settler

Beginning of Colonialism: 1821

End of Colonialism: 1976

Years of Colonialism: 155 Years

24) Libya

Colonized by: Italy

Beginning of Colonialism: 1911

End of Colonialism: 1951

Years of Colonialism: 40 Years

25) Madagascar

Colonized by: France

Beginning of Colonialism: 1642

End of Colonialism: 1960

Years of Colonialism: 318 Years

26) Malawi

Colonized by: United Kingdom (UK)

Beginning of Colonialism: 1885

End of Colonialism: 1964

Years of Colonialism: 79 Years

27) Mali

Colonized by: France

Beginning of Colonialism: 1880

End of Colonialism: 1960

Years of Colonialism: 80 Years

28) Mauritania

Colonized by: France

Beginning of Colonialism: 1858

End of Colonialism: 1960

Years of Colonialism: 102 Years

29) Morocco

Colonized by: France & Spain

Beginning of Colonialism: 1903

End of Colonialism: 1956

Years of Colonialism: 53 Years

List of Colonized Countries on the African Continent

30) Mozambique

Colonized by: Portugal

Beginning of Colonialism: 1505

End of Colonialism: 1975

Years of Colonialism: 470 Years

31) Niger

Colonized by: France

Beginning of Colonialism: 1897

End of Colonialism: 1960

Years of Colonialism: 63 Years

32) Nigeria

Colonized by: United Kingdom (UK)

Beginning of Colonialism: 1851

End of Colonialism: 1960

Years of Colonialism: 109 Years

33) Rwanda

Colonized by: Germany & Belgium

Beginning of Colonialism: 1899

End of Colonialism: 1961

Years of Colonialism: 62 Years

34) Senegal

Colonized by: France

Beginning of Colonialism: 1816

End of Colonialism: 1906

Years of Colonialism: 90 Years

List of Colonized Countries on the African Continent

35) Sierra Leone

Colonized by: United Kingdom (UK)

Beginning of Colonialism: 1787

End of Colonialism: 1961

Years of Colonialism: 174 Years

36) Somalia

Colonized by: Portugal, Italy and the United Kingdom (UK)

Beginning of Colonialism: 1506

End of Colonialism: 1960

Years of Colonialism: 454 Years

37) South Africa

Colonized by: Netherlands and the United Kingdom (UK)/Settler

Beginning of Colonialism: 1652

End of Colonialism: 1994

Years of Colonialism: 342 Years

38) Sudan

Colonized by: United Kingdom (UK)

Beginning of Colonialism: 1882

End of Colonialism: 1956

Years of Colonialism: 74 Years

39) Swaziland

Colonized by: United Kingdom (UK)/ Settler

Beginning of Colonialism: 1880

End of Colonialism: 1968

Years of Colonialism: 88 Years

40) Tanzania

Colonized by: Portugal, United Kingdom (UK), and Germany

Beginning of Colonialism: 1502

End of Colonialism: 1963

Years of Colonialism: 461 Years

41) Togo

Colonized by: Germany and France

Beginning of Colonialism: 1884

End of Colonialism: 1960

Years of Colonialism: 76 Years

42) Tunisia

Colonized by: France

Beginning of Colonialism: 1869

End of Colonialism: 1956

Years of Colonialism: 87 Years

43) Uganda

Colonized by: United Kingdom (UK)

Beginning of Colonialism: 1890

End of Colonialism: 1962

Years of Colonialism: 72 Years

44) Zaire/Congo

Colonized by: Belgium

Beginning of Colonialism: 1879

End of Colonialism: 1960

Years of Colonialism: 81 Years

45) Zambia

Colonized by: United Kingdom (UK)

Beginning of Colonialism: 1889

End of Colonialism: 1964

Years of Colonialism: 75 Years

46) Zimbabwe

Colonized by: Portugal and the United Kingdom (UK)/Settler

Beginning of Colonialism: 1560

End of Colonialism: 1980

Years of Colonialism: 420 Years

FAQ

How many countries colonized in Africa?

Africa was colonized by seven different nations.

The United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Spain, and Portugal were the nations in question here.

The process of colonialism in Africa was finished by the turn of the 20th century, and it wasn’t until the middle of the previous century that the last colonized African nation achieved its independence.

Which country in Africa was first colonized?

The Dutch first established one of their early colonies in Ghana in the 16th century and began extracting resources from underground mines there, mostly gold.

It was via the Elmina Castle, which had been constructed in Ghana in 1642,

That the Dutch kidnapped and exported thousands upon thousands of Africans from Ghana to be sold as slaves in the Americas and Europe.

How many African countries were colonized by the British?

The decline of Britain’s colonial empire in Africa began during the early years of the queen’s reign as monarch.

At one point, the United Kingdom exercised dominion over at least 17 nations located on the African continent.

Even today, the legacy of British dominance is connected with wars, the compelled exploitation of natural resources, and the seizure of territory.

List of Colonized Countries on the African Continent

List of Colonized Countries on the African Continent

Conclusion

The list of colonized countries on the African Continent shows a painful and devastating period in Africa’s history.

It showed a period in which the African continent was dominated by European powers. These European powers exploited the African continent massively which has led to neo-colonialism.

Note: Neo-colonialism refers to a previously colonized country being dependent on its colonialist.

The list also shows the resilience of the African spirit which can’t be suppressed and fought for its independence.

The decolonization process in Africa was very memorable in the history of the continent.

The African continent is urged to learn from its past which will help contribute to a better future for the continent.

This will help foster peace and unity on the continent hence contributing to a shared progress.

Thanks for reading and I hope to see you another time on Afrokonnect.ng.

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