THE USURPATION OF AFRICA: BERLIN CONFERENCE

Triggered by imperialist purposes and the expectation of high profits, the European powers developed, during the 19th century, a colonial policy of military and administrative occupation of the African continent, ensuring the exploitation of human and material resources. This policy led to the so-called “Scramble for Africa”, marked by several diplomatic conflicts between Europeans. To resolve them, the German government organised the Berlin Conference (1884-1885), in which the division of Africa between the participants was agreed upon.

Governments appointed border commissions that applied geodetic and cartographic knowledge to establish this effective occupation. In the Portuguese case, the Cartography Commission, created in 1883, was responsible for this organisation.

Thus, a new map of Africa was born, with borders drawn with a ruler and square, without regard for the African peoples and kingdoms whose societies were being dismantled, despite their constant resistance.

"The chicken will be plucked.”

Engraving by Raphael Bordalo Pinheiro published in his satirical newspaper O António Maria, edition of October 23, 1884.

Bordalo Pinheiro Museum / EGEAC

An advocate of colonialism, Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro criticises the government for its inability to defend Portugal’s “historical rights”. Portugal is represented by an older man in a coat, France by the explorer Pierre Savorgnan Brazza on the left, and the United Kingdom is personified by John Bull on the right.

"A chacun sa part si l'on est bien sage"[To each his share, if we have sense]. 
Journal L'Illustration, 1885.
© Wikimedia Commons, public domain.

This engraving, published on the occasion of the Berlin Conference, satirises the ambition of the Europeans by having the German Chancellor, Otto Bismark, share out the "African cake" among all those present: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, France, Great Britain, Italy, Norway, the Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, Sweden, the United States of America and the Ottoman Empire.