Malak Kanan

10/27/17

European imperialism along with European oppression of Africans is capable of erasing

the African culture. The reasonings behind imperialism overall is to be considered superior over
a land piece, and once someone becomes superior on a piece of land, they create a new culture
with the power they possess. Throughout human history, humans have conquered lands and
countries to indicate their form of power. Those who have great power and are greatly respected
and obeyed are owners of land and places. For example, King, Pharaohs, and Presidents are well
respected and looked as leaders of a society. When Europeans conquered African lands to
become globally powerful, they erased the African culture. Those that were put out of their
homelands were forced to leave behind a culture and possibly a belief system to meet the
European demands of power. Copper Sun and Things Fall Apart are book based off the the lives
of African villagers living through European imperialism. The books both reveal that European
imperialism helped separate the village from its culture while the European made it clear their
beliefs were superior of theirs.
The need to be superior or dominant over a group of people is commonly seen today as it
was seen for thousands of years. In recent years, groups like the Klu Klux Klan exemplify what
superiority over others looks like, and it is a need for things to dramatically change so that only
one group of people live happily. Power has a lot to do with why many strive to be dominant
because dominance equals power. In the book Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo is a leader who
believes he is a superior being overall unlike his father, but he quickly falls under the leadership
of European imperialism along with his culture. Unfortunately, once a being is believed to be
superior, they have the power to demand those they believe are under them to do as he/she
commands despite any common tradition. European imperialism in Africa symbolised European
power in Africa because they were in control of the land that carried such valuable beliefs and
tradition. Their control over African lands helped Africans think that they had ownership of what
occurs on that land. In the book ​Things Fall Apart, ​Europeans enforced the idea that all villagers
of Umuofia have the wrong religion and beliefs and told them to change into Christians. It is
seen on page 176 when Okonkwo comes to realize what European imperialism took away from
him, “‘Does the white man understand our custom about land?’‘How can he when he does not
even speak our tongue? But he says that our customs are bad, and our own brothers who have
taken up his religion also say that our customs are bad’”(Achebe).
European imperialism also has the power to kill off African tradition. In the book ​Copper
Sun, ​Amari’s entire village gets burned off and killed within a day of meeting the European
Imperialists. Amari describes the European Imperialists as inconsiderate of their customs when
recollecting their inhumane actions in this quote, “WHEN THE SUN ROSE THE NEXT
MORNING, Amari looked with horror at what was once her tribe’s village. All of the homes had
been burned, their roofs of thatch and walls of reeds consumed by the fire. The charred and
bloodied bodies of relatives remained where they had fallen, with no one to perform proper rites
for burials, no one to say the prayers for the dead. Amari knew that the pale strangers probably
did not know their customs, could not understand the seriousness of the proper burial procedures,
but the Ashanti were people of her own land, supposedly brothers in spirit with Amari’s people.
How could they do this and face their own future? she wondered in horrible confusion. It was
just one of many questions for which she had no answer. Where did these strangers come from?
Why do they want to hurt us? How can I continue to live without my family?”(Draper 15).
European imperialism was done solely for their selfish need, such as the enslavement of the
Africans for economic power on their resourceful lands, or followers to enlarge their belief
systems in a large area of land. Their oppression of Africans helps take away from the freedom
of tradition and freedom overall. Amari states in ​Copper Sun, “​Suddenly, one of the pale-faced
men with the death sticks came over to them, shouting in a language she did not understand. He
made it clear, however, that they were to get up from the ground immediately. Most of their
captors, both black and white, carried both whips and fire sticks. Amari looked around in fear
and tried to ask what was happening, but all she received in response was a vicious slice of a
whip across her arms and neck. She cried out as she arched her back in pain, but she hurried to
her feet and asked no more questions” (Draper 16). The oppression of Amari and her people
discontinued their tradition because they weren’t allowed the freedom to do as they please, or
else they were punished.
European imperialism is a piece of history that can’t be erased due to its effect on today’s
world too. The fact that many African traditions were erased and shattered due to the Europeans
fight for power effects African lives today. The strive for power is existent in today’s world, and
it’s still hurting the African generation.