What parts of Africa are under British rule?
By the early 1900s, huge parts of Africa – including Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria and large areas of southern Africa – all came under British rule. The British Empire was larger and more powerful than ever… As Queen of Great Britain, Queen Victoria was also Queen of all the countries in the British Empire. She was even Empress of India!
What is an example of indirect rule?
The central authority has less control over the outcomes of these laws under indirect rule. One of the most well-known examples of indirect rule is the British system of governmental rule in the countries of Nigeria and South Africa in the late 1800s. The French used direct rule in West Africa in the late 1800s.
What is indirect colonial rule?
What was ‘Indirect Rule?’ It was a system of colonial administration, mainly British, by which colonial powers ruled through local chiefs. The concept was not new, as it stemmed from the fact that great African empires had been run this way too. The Asante for instance ruled their conquered territories via local indigenous chiefs.
What does indirect rule mean?
What does Indirect rule mean? Here are all the possible meanings and translations of the word Indirect rule. Indirect rule is a term used by historians and political scientists to describe a system of government that was developed in certain British non-colonial dependencies often called "Protectorates" or "Trucial states".
Why did the British adopted indirect rule in West Africa?
The average British saw the colonies as a harsh environment where they could die of malaria or other diseases so they were unwilling to come and work there. This created the shortage of critical personnel in the colonies. The British were therefore forced to use local people, leading to the adoption of Indirect Rule.
Why did British use indirect rule?
India's princely states, where from the mid-eighteenth century the British first employed and developed this system of indirect rule, stood as the conscious model for later imperial administrators and politicians who wished to extend the Empire without the economic and political costs of direct annexation.
What are the reasons for the adoption of indirect rule in Nigeria?
Reasons for Introducing Indirect Rule in NigeriaLarge size of the country.Lack of personnel.Lack of finance.Language barrier.Preservation of traditional institutions.Fierce resistance by Africans.
Why did the British use the indirect rule in Ghana?
The Colonization of Ghana The British used a method called Indirect rule in African colonies as a way of giving traditional African leaders new titles as colonial administrators. As Britain took control of the Gold Coast they dominated trade, introduced new techniques, grew new crops, and demand control of other areas.
Why did Britain use indirect rule system in Nigeria?
In Nigeria, the indirect rule system was introduced by the country's first Governor-General, Lord Frederick Lugard who felt that Nigeria being very big and vast would be impossible to handle if the British ruled directly.
What was the main reason why the British used indirect rule in Northern Nigeria?
Cheap nature of indirect rule Apparently, the core reason for indirect rule in Nigeria was because of the cheap nature of the system. Since indirect rule used the local authorities, the colonial masters didn't spend too much money on the administration.
What is the advantage of indirect rule?
Advantages of Indirect Rule (i) It recognized and preserved African culture and tradition. (ii) It ruled the people through their traditional rulers. It used the traditional rules as a link to their people. (iii) It contributed in training traditional rulers in the art of modern local government administration.
When was indirect rule introduced in Africa?
the interest of the colonial administration. The process of implementing indirect rule in Nyasaland began in 1912 with the District Administration (Native) Ordinance and by 1934 the system had become fully established.
What are the benefits of indirect control?
Advantages and Disadvantages of Indirect RuleRecognition of traditional chiefs.Preservation of native institutions.It was cheaper.Eliminated bad traditional practices.Modernization of traditional institutions.Built trust.
Why did the British use the indirect rule in Gold Coast?
According to Frederick Lugard, architect of the policy, indirect rule was cost effective because it reduced the number of European officials in the field. By allowing local rulers to exercise direct administrative control over their people, opposition to European rule from the local population would be minimised.
What were the effects of the indirect rule system in West Africa?
The greatest fault of the Indirect Rule system, however, was its complete exclusion of the West African educated elite from local government: the educated elite were excluded from both Native Administration and colonial government, and thus became transformed into an alienated class.
What was the stated goal of indirect rule in Africa?
to preserve African political institutions.
Did Britain use direct or indirect rule?
Indirect rule is a system of government used by the British and French to control parts of their colonial empires, particularly in Africa and Asia, through pre-existing local power structures.
What are the benefits of indirect rule?
Advantages of Indirect RuleRecognition of traditional chiefs.Preservation of native institutions.It was cheaper.Eliminated bad traditional practices.Modernization of traditional institutions.Built trust.
What were the advantages of indirect rule?
Advantages of Indirect Rule (i) It recognized and preserved African culture and tradition. (ii) It ruled the people through their traditional rulers. It used the traditional rules as a link to their people. (iii) It contributed in training traditional rulers in the art of modern local government administration.
Why did most native princes put up with indirect rule?
Because of their small numbers relative to local populations, most European colonizers resorted to indirect rule, relying on the governments that were already there but exerting control over their leaders.
Why did the British use indirect rule?
Therefore the British used indirect rule in order to pass government policies to the people.
What was indirect rule?
Indirect rule was a system of administration whereby the Britain governed their African colonies through their traditional rulers and their traditional institution under the supervision of British Officials.
Why did Lugard introduce indirect rule in Northern Nigeria?
There was the Influence of Lord Lugard: He introduced Indirect Rule in Northern Nigeria because it had succeeded in India and Uganda where he had worked as a colonial administrator.
Why did the British avoid direct contact with African people?
Hence local rulers were empowered to rule for them. Fear of Hostilities and Revolts: It was also because of fear of revolts that the British avoid direct contact with African people as much as possible. Through indirect rule Britain preserve direct traditional institutions.
What was the result of Lugard's indirect rule?
This book caught the admiration of the British government.As a result, indirect rule was rapidly spread to other British African colonies.
What was the existence of a well established traditional administration?
The Existence of a well Established traditional Administration: In many areas of Africa such as Northern Nigeria, the British found well established traditional institutions under the Muslim rulers. The institutions were easily adaptable to a system of indirect rule. Moreover, the Muslim rulers such as the Lamidos were powerful and had influence on their people. Therefore, Britain came to believe that before any British administration could succeed in Africa, the Africans traditional rulers were essential.
What did Britain believe?
Britain believed that all people prefer self rule to ‘alien rule’.
Why was indirect rule necessary?
Indirect rule was considered necessary for practical, economic, and climatic reasons. It functioned within "Native Councils" and minor courts, which were responsible for local administration. The councils, which comprised traditional rulers, made bylaws, regulated matters of local interest, tried minor cases, enforced the construction of community access roads and buildings with no monetary compensation for the workers, and performed other functions dictated by the colonial officials.
Who popularized indirect rule?
Nevertheless, it was Lugard who modified and popularized indirect rule, elevating it to the status of a doctrine. A passage in his Political Memoranda (1906), a set of official instructions to his colonial administrative officers in northern Nigeria, states: "There are not two sets of rulers—British and Native—working either separately or in cooperation, but a single Government in which native Chiefs have well-defined duties and an acknowledged status equally with the British Officers. Their duties should never conflict and should overlap as little as possible" (Bello 1962, p.73). The chiefs, in short, were not subordinates or inferiors to the officers but were agents who cooperated with them in the great civilizing mission.
What was the dual mandate?
In 1922 Lugard published his famous The Dual Mandate in British Tropical Africa, ostensibly a reiteration and elaboration, but actually a rationalization of a doctrine that was clearly in trouble. Curiously, the book made Lugard an international celebrity in the interwar years. Indirect rule became a sort of occult science, the quintessential bible for governing colonial peoples. The British government adopted it for most of its African colonies, except in those colonies where the existence of prefabricated white colonial collaborators made it superfluous. The League of Nations also appointed Lugard as its advisor regarding the proper governance of colonial peoples. France, Portugal, and Belgium joined the bandwagon, perhaps against their better judgment, and adopted modified forms of indirect rule.
How did imperialists control conquered people?
Historically, imperialist regimes generally controlled conquered peoples through the agency of the local ruling elite. They did so for practical reasons. While the elite were allowed to reign according to their local laws, customs, and political institutions, they were required to acknowledge the overlordship of the conqueror and to respect it. Failure to do so resulted in their deposition and replacement with those willing to accept the new dispensation. This is indirect rule broadly defined.
Why was the colonial system flawed?
In either case, the chiefs generally were unaware of their powers, obligations, and rights; their place was not properly defined; they were under the thumb of colonial officers; and the exclusion of the Western-educated elite from participation in local administration caused the system to come under sustained attack by the emerging nationalists in the post-1930 period, primarily because the system was an impediment to the rise of nationalism, the establishment of democracy, and the regaining of independence.
How did indirect rule affect the Europeans?
Indirect rule was cheaper and easier for the European powers and, in particular, it required fewer administrators, but had a number of problems. In many cases, European authorities empowered local traditional leaders, as in the case of the monarchy of Uganda, but if no suitable leader could be found (in the traditional Western sense of the term), the Europeans would simply choose local rulers to suit them. This was the case in Kenya and Southern Nigeria, and the new leaders, often called "warrant chiefs", were not always supported by the local population. The European ruling classes also often chose local leaders with similar traits to their own, despite these traits not being suited to native leadership. Many were conservative elders, and thus indirect rule fostered a conservative outlook among the indigenous population and marginalised the young intelligentsia. Written laws, which replaced oral laws, were less flexible to the changing social nature, old customs of retribution and justice were removed or banned, and the removal of more violent punishments in some areas led to an increase in crime. Furthermore, leaders empowered by the governments of European powers were often not familiar with their new tasks, such as recruitment and tax.
When did direct versus indirect rule start?
While making more subtle distinctions, this model of direct versus indirect rule was dominant in academia from the 1930s until the 1970s.
What did Lugard believe about the indirect rule system?
According to Lugard, Indirect Rule was a political doctrine which held that the Europeans and Africans were culturally different to this extent, Africans had to be ruled through the Africans own institution.
How did Mahmood Mamdani's indirect rule help?
Mamdani himself famously described indirect rule as "decentralised despotism".
Why was the hierarchical nature of the political structure ideal for the system of indirect rule?
The hierarchical nature of the political structure was ideal for the system of indirect rule because the British could control the emirs and the emirs in turn could control their people.
What was the dichotomy between British and French rule?
From the early 20th century, French and British writers helped establish a dichotomy between British indirect rule, exemplified by the Indian princely states and by Lugard's writings on the administration of northern Nigeria, and French colonial direct rule.
What did European ruling classes choose?
The European ruling classes also often chose local leaders with similar traits to their own , despite these traits not being suited to native leadership. Many were conservative elders, and thus indirect rule fostered a conservative outlook among the indigenous population and marginalised the young intelligentsia.
What was the difference between indirect rule and Islamic judicial system?
The difference was that, they made sure it conformed to good governance and public morality as pertained in Britain. Also where death sentence was handed down to a suspect, it was subject to the approval of the District Officer in charge of the area.
Who had control over the emirate?
The system made provision for the position of an Emir. There was already existing Emirs in Northern Nigeria who traditional had control over their Emirate. The Emirs were appointed according to the tradition of the people.
What was the purpose of the Native Authority?
The British created a Native Authority with the mandate to make laws, maintain law and order and provide some basic amenities for the people. The Native Authority was made up of a group of traditional states organized into paramountcies and assisted by some sun-chiefs.
Why were Native courts created?
Native courts were created to help in the administration of justice at the local level. Every Native Authority had a native Court, where cases were adjudicated. Anybody who was dissatisfied by the ruling of the Native Court could appeal alone the chain till it reaches the court of the Native Administration. This court was headed by the Paramount Chief.
Who supervised the work of the Native Authorities at the bottom of the structure?
They were the British officials who directly supervised the work of the Native Authorities at the bottom of the structure.
Who supervised the work of the Provinces under it jurisdiction?
Each colony was divided into regions with each region being headed by a Regional Commissioner. The Regional Commissioner supervised the work of the Provinces under it jurisdiction.
Who presided over the Protectorate Court?
The system made provision for a Protectorate Court which was presided over by a resident British official. Anybody who was dissatisfied by the ruling handed down to him/her at the native court could appeal the ruling at this Protectorate Court.
How did indirect rule affect the British?
Indirect rule was particularly effective in enabling the British to exploit natural resources and raw materials of vast subordinate nations. The establishment of naval and military bases in strategic points around the globe maintained the necessary power to underpin such control.
Where did indirect rule originate?
The largest application of Indirect rule was in British Asia, in hundreds of pre-colonial states, first seen at work under the East India Company’s system of subsidiary alliances in the Indian subcontinent. The areas thus brought into the British sphere of influence became known as the Indian Princely States.
What is direct rule?
Direct rule is when an imperial or central power takes direct control over the legislature, executive and civil administration of an otherwise largely self-governing territory. Indirect rule on the other hand is a system of government used by the British and French to control parts of their colonial empires, particularly in Africa and Asia, through pre-existing local power structures. These dependencies were often called “protectorates” or “trucial states”. By this system, the day-to-day government and administration of areas both small and large was left in the hands of traditional rulers, who gained prestige and the stability and protection afforded by the Pax Britannica, at the cost of losing control of their external affairs, and often of taxation, communications, and other matters, usually with a small number of European “advisors” effectively overseeing the government of large numbers of people spread over extensive areas.
Was Zanzibar a protectorate?
In 1890 Zanzibar became a protectorate (not a colony) of Britain. The Princely States of India were ruled indirectly. So too was much of the West African holdings. The ideological underpinnings, as well as the practical application, of indirect rule in Kenya and Nigeria is usually traced to the work of Frederick Lugard, ...
Reasons for opposition to Indirect Rule
Below is a summary of the reasons why the educated elite opposed the Indirect Rule system in British West Africa
About The Author
Ralph teaches English for Academic Purposes (EAP) online. He is the founder of Cegast Academy and content manager at RN Digital Media Ent. He has years of experience behind him successfully coaching thousands of high school and university level exam candidates in English, Literature, and related subjects.
Overview
Indirect rule was a system of governance used by the British and others to control parts of their colonial empires, particularly in Africa and Asia, which was done through pre-existing indigenous power structures. Indirect rule was used by various colonial rulers: the French in Algeria and Tunisia, the Dutch in the East Indies, the Portuguese in Angola and Mozambique and the Belgians in Rwanda …
British Empire
Some British colonies were ruled directly by the Colonial Office in London, while others were ruled indirectly through local rulers who are supervised behind the scenes by British advisors. In 1890 Zanzibar became a protectorate (not a colony) of Britain. British Prime Minister Salisbury explained his position:
The condition of a protected dependency is more acceptable to the half civilized races, and mor…
Practical implementation
Indirect rule was cheaper and easier for the European powers and, in particular, it required fewer administrators, but had a number of problems. In many cases, European authorities empowered local traditional leaders, as in the case of the monarchy of Uganda, but if no suitable leader could be found (in the traditional Western sense of the term), the Europeans would simply choose local rulers t…
Interpretations
From the early 20th century, French and British writers helped establish a dichotomy between British indirect rule, exemplified by the Indian princely states and by Lugard's writings on the administration of northern Nigeria, and French colonial direct rule. As with British theorists, French colonial officials like Félix Eboué or Robert Delavignette wrote and argued throughout the first half of the 20th century for a distinct French style of rule that was centralized, uniform, and aimed at …
See also
• Bussa revolt - a 1915 uprising against indirect rule in Northern Nigeria
• Direct colonial rule
• Analysis of Western European colonialism and colonization
• Neocolonialism
Sources and references
• Michael Crowder. Indirect Rule: French and British Style. Africa: Journal of the International African Institute, Vol. 34, No. 3. (Jul., 1964), pp. 197–205.
• Paul Rich . The Origins of Apartheid Ideology: The Case of Ernest Stubbs and Transvaal Native Administration, c.1902-1932. African Affairs, Vol. 79, No. 315. (Apr., 1980), pp. 171–194.