Colonial Violence in Africa from the Late Nineteenth to Early Twentieth Century

This edited volume examines the underexplored history of colonial violence in Africa, highlighting its systemic nature and the mechanisms through which it was justified during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Despite growing public discourse and sporadic scholarly attention, colonial violence remains marginal in academic research across disciplines such as war studies, environmental history, and cultural studies. By addressing various typologies of violence—military, environmental, cultural, and more—this book offers a nuanced understanding of how violence was embedded in colonial governance and ideology. Drawing on both secular and ecclesiastical narratives, the authors provide a multifaceted framework for interpreting colonial violence and its enduring legacies. It also establishes critical links between colonial and post-colonial violence, offering insights into the conflicts that followed independence across African nations. The book illuminates the intellectual and institutional contexts that shaped violent colonial practices, encouraging further scholarly inquiry into this vital yet neglected field.