A Psychological Re-Appraisal of the Impacts of Colonialism and Imperialism on African Development.

Abstract

The road to African's self-development and economic emancipation is made rough by low technological advancement, foreign-dependent economy, political instability, social insecurity, and religious gullibility. At the centre of these factors is the human element. Despite the realization of the pivotal role of the human element in the development of any society, Africans are yet to initiate and implement programmes for the development of the continent. This paper implicates colonialism and imperialism in Africans' inadequate zeal for self-determination. It explores how the colonialists (and to a large extent the neocolonialists), methodically, tailored their activities, through psychologic imperialism, toward making negative indelible marks in the perceptions of Africans. Consequently, Africans have a negative impression of themselves and their abilities to solve their problems independently. This re-appraisal of the methods and processes of colonialism reveals a long-term African subservience plan. It is, therefore, suggested that Africa can only develop when the citizens think positively of themselves, conceive common goals, and galvanize the available human and material resources to achieve such national and continental goals.

Ife Psychologia Vol.13(1) 2005: 113-122