AFRICAN COLLABORATION TO EUROPEANS
Collaboration refers to an act of working together or accepting a proposal from the opposite side. Some African societies collaborated with the Europeans because of the following reasons.
Futility of resistance; Those who weren’t capable of fighting opted to invite the Europeans as friends, example the Sangu people who collaborated with the Germans in Tanzania.
Ignorance; some were ignorant of Europeans intentions and their territories. They accepted the Europeans as good friends who in turn colonized them all, example Chief Mangungo of Msovela.
The influence of the agents of colonialism; the missionaries made many Africans to be very weak. They humbled them to the word of God, same were baptized to Christianity, they didn’t resist the colonial rule.
Bribed {blinded} by gifts, some African kings signed the bogus agreements with the Europeans after being promised to receive private gift E.g. The agreements between Karl Peters and Chief Mangungo of Msovero in the coastal strip of E.Africa (Tanganyika)
Expectation of defense against internal and external enemies. They collaborated with the Europeans who protected him against their enemies. Example, Olaibon Olenana of Laikipia Maasai who asked British support against Sendeyo. Olaibon Olenana gave the Laikipia land to the British for 100 years from 1904 to 2004. sendeyo escaped to Tanzania.
Expectation of weapons from the Europeans. Other kings made the Europeans their close friends in order to acquire guns and bullets from Europeans. They were dreaming of becoming supreme over their fellow Africans military. A typical example of this sort was Nambongo Mumias of Wanga of Kenya, he made agreements with the Europeans (the British) they gave him weapons and he gave them a hand.
Expectation of peace in future; some of the African were exhausted with constant warfare, they get shielded from their fellow Africans attacks for example the Fante collaboration with the British against the Asante people of the gold coast (Ghana). The Sangu collaboration with the Germans against Hehe.
Expectation of political post during colonial time E.g. The collaboration of Semei Kakungulu of Buganda with the British. He acted as Figure 23: Semei Kakunguru a mediator between the kings of the central part of Uganda with the British. Later on he was made the administrator in Central areas of Uganda.
