They continue to have an impact today – the serious consequences of a historic meeting in Berlin at the end of 1884/beginning of 1885. In 1884, Chancellor Otto von Bismarck invited high-ranking emissaries from the most important colonial powers to Berlin. “In the process of colonization that was already underway, there were more and more conflicts between the colonial powers,” explains the historian Dr. Felix Schürmann from the Transcultural Studies Research College at the University of Erfurt. “The core conflict was trade policy – the protectionist actions of the colonial powers. Everyone wanted to restrict others’ access to resources and export markets in Africa for their own benefit.” In order to avoid war among themselves, the colonial powers agreed on their colonial interests in Africa at the historic Berlin Congo Conference or “Africa Conference” and signed on On February 26, 1885, a set of rules, the so-called “Congo Acts”, which no one followed afterwards.
Almost 35 years of German colonial history
Nothing changed in the brutal expropriation and deportation of countless cultural assets from Africa before and after the historic Berlin Congo Conference, quite the opposite. The conference chaired by Bismarck marked the beginning of German colonial history, which lasted almost 35 years (1884-1919) until the end of the First World War. The German Empire maintained numerous colonies, including those in what are now Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Namibia, Cameroon, Togo and Ghana. Colonies were also established in Kiautschou, China, the Pacific islands of Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Nauru, Caroline Islands, Palau, the Mariana Islands and the Marshall Islands.
To this day, for example, the largest collection of Cameroon’s cultural heritage in the world is stored in public museums in the Federal Republic of Germany. This was recently brought to light in the Cameroonian-German research project “Reverse Collection History” with funding from the German Research Foundation.
140 Years of the Berlin Congo Conference: A Dark Chapter in Colonial History
The Berlin Congo Conference, also known as the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885, marked a significant turning point in the history of European imperialism, with lasting effects on Africa that resonate to this day. Held from November 15, 1884, to February 26, 1885, the conference aimed to regulate European colonization and trade in Africa, with a particular focus on the Congo Basin. It has since become a symbol of the aggressive and exploitative colonial policies that reshaped much of Africa’s political, social, and economic landscape.
Background and Convening of the Conference
By the late 19th century, European powers were scrambling for control over African territories, driven by the industrial revolution, the desire for raw materials, and the competition among European states for dominance. King Leopold II of Belgium had already begun his covert efforts to claim the Congo region as his personal colony, hoping to extract resources, particularly rubber and ivory, using forced labor. This move alarmed other European powers, who feared that they would be excluded from potential commercial benefits in Africa.
To avoid conflict between European nations, Otto von Bismarck, the Chancellor of Germany, convened the Berlin Conference to establish rules for the partition and colonization of Africa. The conference brought together representatives from 14 nations, including Germany, France, Britain, Portugal, Belgium, and others. However, no African representatives were present. The outcome of the conference was a system that sanctioned European domination over vast African territories, including the Congo Free State, which Leopold effectively claimed as his own.
The Partition of Africa and the Congo
The Berlin Conference did not only decide the fate of the Congo; it set the stage for the “Scramble for Africa”, a period during which European powers carved up nearly the entire African continent. The main decisions made at the conference included:
- The establishment of free trade zones in the Congo Basin to ensure access to resources.
- The principle of effective occupation, which required colonial powers to establish a physical presence (such as military or administrative control) in the territories they claimed.
- The recognition of Leopold II’s claim to the Congo as his personal property, creating the Congo Free State.
The Congo Free State was supposed to operate under the guise of a philanthropic enterprise, but in reality, it became one of the most brutal colonial regimes in history. King Leopold’s exploitation of the Congo’s natural resources led to horrific abuses, including the forced labor of millions of Congolese people to harvest rubber, the widespread use of mutilation, and the mass deaths of millions of Africans due to harsh conditions, disease, and violence.
Impact and Legacy
The consequences of the Berlin Congo Conference were disastrous for the African continent, particularly for the people of the Congo. Leopold II’s reign resulted in the death of an estimated 10 million Congolese, many of whom were killed through direct violence or died from disease, starvation, and forced labor. The systematic exploitation left the Congo’s economy and society deeply scarred, a legacy that is still visible in the region’s ongoing struggles.
The conference also laid the groundwork for the broader colonization of Africa by European powers, which intensified over the following decades. While the Berlin Conference was ostensibly about regulating colonization and ensuring that European nations would avoid war over African territories, it ignored the rights and interests of the African people, sowing the seeds for long-term instability, conflicts, and injustices that continue to affect the continent.
In 1908, after international pressure and protests, Belgium took control of the Congo Free State from Leopold, making it a formal Belgian colony. However, this transition did not bring an end to exploitation, and the Belgian colonial regime continued to abuse the Congolese people until the country gained independence in 1960.
Reflections on the 140th Anniversary
As we mark the 140th anniversary of the Berlin Congo Conference, there is a growing acknowledgment of the destructive legacy of European colonialism. In recent years, discussions have been intensifying about reparations, the return of cultural artifacts looted during the colonial period, and a reevaluation of the colonial past.
The anniversary serves as a reminder of the importance of understanding colonial history, not only to honor the victims of exploitation but also to address ongoing effects like economic disparities, political instability, and cultural trauma in former colonies. The legacy of the Berlin Conference and the horrors that followed, particularly in the Congo, continue to shape conversations about race, justice, and reparations today.
While the 1884-1885 conference was primarily a diplomatic event among European powers, its impact on Africa—particularly in the Congo—is a potent reminder of how historical events shaped by imperialistic ambitions still affect global politics, culture, and identity.
