Archaeology Reveals Africa’s Own History of Colonialism

Archaeology is reframing how colonialism in Africa is understood, shifting focus from European conquest toward colonial dynamics that originated within the continent itself. Researchers argue that colonialism has taken many forms throughout history, from trade and cultural exchange to outright domination, and that Africa’s own empires—including Egypt, Kush, Dahomey and Songhai—practiced expansion and subjugation long before European arrival. Examples include the 19th-century Zulu expansion under Shaka and the migrations of Ethiopia’s Mursi people. The scholars note that Africans also controlled parts of Europe, citing the Almoravid dynasty’s rule over Iberian territory. Researchers call for greater attention to historical justice, cultural exchange, and Africa’s own agency in shaping colonial processes—challenging narratives that cast the continent solely as a colonized subject rather than an active historical force.