Governing Africa: British records from African countries under colonial rule

Governing Africa: British records from African countries under colonial rule is a thematic series contained as a sub-set within the digitized archival content known as British Online Archives (BOA), distributed by Microform Academic Publishers (MAP).  This series includes the following collections:

Colonial Africa in official statistics, 1821-1953

This collection provides access to 144,428 pages in 13 volumes of statistics from African Blue Books from 1821-1953.  MAP states, "These statistics cover the history of thirteen colonies across Africa. The date range of statistics for each colony depends on who ran it at the time. Most colonial statistics cover that colony's funds, its population and the names of its officers. Details of which countries each colony was trading with and what they bought or sold were recorded in these books. Public services which were run by the British colonies are also covered by these records. The statistics for Africa told the Colonial Office how the British Empire was performing as a business. Some topics in these books only appear in a few issues: population numbers for slaves would be recorded until the abolition of slavery. However, military spending would only be included at times of war. The imperial statistics in this collection are listed by year for ease of reference."

Colonial Law in Africa, 1808-1919

This collection provides access to 96,513 pages of African government gazettes from 1808-1919.  MAP states, "Originally known as the 'Government Gazettes', each item contains the colonial laws for the year they were published. The legal records also include property for sale, probate records and bankruptcy notices. This is the first part of the three part series 'Colonial Law in Africa'. These items cover the Napoleonic Wars, the Boer War and the First World War. They also cover the abolition of the legal status of slavery. These gazettes were published alongside the African Blue Books of Statistics during the 19th and 20th centuries."

Gambia under colonial rule, in Government reports, 1881-1966

This collection provides access to 22,628 pages of Annual Departmental Reports relating to the Gambia, 1881-1966. MAP states, "The Annual Departmental Reports relating to the Gambia are a complementary series to the earlier microform collection of Annual Reports of the Governor, Blue Books and Government Gazettes, titled Government Publications relating to the Gambia (EP Microform, 1975). For the purposes of organization, the departmental reports have been divided into nine sections; Administration, Finance, Judicial and Police, Natural Resources, Social Services, Transport and Public Works, Communications and Post Office Savings, Commerce and Miscellaneous. Within each section, departmental series have been organized in chronological order, prefaced by selected extraordinary reports and sessional papers of particular relevance, and followed by related sub-sections. relating to discrete collections, as well as more complete explanations of the functions and activities where titles are not self-explanatory. Introduction derived from an online guide to the microfilm edition by D. C. Dorward, Lecturer in African History, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia."

Ghana and Togo under colonial rule, in Government reports, 1843-1957

This collection provides access to 56,380 pages of Annual departmental reports relating to the Gold Coast and Togoland, 1843-1957.  MAP states, "Ghana and Togo were known by the colonial Government as the Gold Coast and British Togoland. These countries’ records are published together because Togoland included land which is now part of Ghana. The Gold Coast and British Togoland were managed by the government departments who wrote these progress reports. The statistics for Ghana, but not Togo, are included in Colonial Africa in official statistics, 1821-1953. These reports explain why those statistics are at the levels recorded. The contents pages at the front of each report list the departments which existed at that time. Comparing the contents pages reveals how the structure of the colonial government changed over time."

Kenya under colonial rule, in Government reports, 1907-1964

This collection provides access to 59,806 pages of Annual departmental reports relating to Kenya, 1907-1964.  MAP states, "The colony of Kenya was managed by the government departments who wrote these A1:F79 reports. They start when Kenya was a part of the East Africa Colony and continue until independence. The statistics for Kenya are included in Colonial Africa in official statistics, 1821-1953. These reports explain why those statistics are at the levels recorded. The contents pages at the front of each report list the departments which existed at that time. Comparing the contents pages reveals how the structure of the colonial government changed over time."

Nigeria and Cameroon under colonial rule, in Government reports, 1887-1962

This collection provides access to 81,604 pages of Annual departmental reports relating to Nigeria and the British Cameroons, 1887-1962.  MAP states, "The Annual Departmental Reports relating to Nigeria and British Cameroons are a complementary collection to the earlier British Online Archives publication of Nigerian Blue Books. For the purpose of organisation, the departmental reports have been divided between ten headings: Administration, Finance, Judicial and Police, Natural Resources, Social Services, Transport and Public Works, Communications and Post Office Savings, Commerce, Miscellaneous, and reports relating to the British Cameroons. Within each section, departmental series have been organised in chronological order, prefaced by selected extraordinary reports and sessional papers of particular relevance, and followed by related sub-collections."

Zimbabwe under colonial rule, in Government reports, 1897-1980

This collection provides access to 98,505 pages of Annual departmental reports relating to Southern Rhodesia, 1897-1980.  MAP states, "The occupation of Southern Rhodesia was first triggered by the discovery of gold in South Africa. When the British South Africa Company's hopes of uncovering gold in Mashonaland were not realised, they attacked and defeated the Ndebele in 1893, then occupied Matabeleland too. The Company's treatment of the native population inspired the Shona and Ndebele Risings of 1896-1897, this rebellion was defeated with great difficulty. After its defeat some more experienced colonial managers were appointed to administrate Rhodesia and those managers initiated the publication of the reports reproduced here. Southern Rhodesia was first formally annexed as a British colony from 1923, Northern Rhodesia became a British Colony in 1924. From 1953 to 1963 Southern Rhodesia was re-united with Northern Rhodesia to form the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. The Federal period witnessed considerable white immigration, the white population of Southern Rhodesia trebled between 1945 and 1960;" this increase was actively encouraged by the white population who administered the running of the country. This exponential population growth increased political tensions between the native and the white populations, these tensions came to a head in the mid 1960?s. In 1964 Northern Rhodesia became independent as Zambia, Southern Rhodesia would begin calling itself Rhodesia. Then in 1965, after its attempts to negotiate independence failed, the government which only represented the white settlers made a Unilateral Declaration of Independence. This declaration of 'independence' was not recognised by the outside world and gave rise to guerrilla warfare internally. The war ended with a 'power-sharing' agreement including some black politicians in June 1979;" this was followed by the constitutional agreement between the warring factions of Zimbabwe and the UK Government, which was reached at Lancaster House in December 1979, this in-turn led to the first election under universal suffrage. These annual reports illustrate the dramatic historical development of Southern Rhodesia from corporate colonisation, through imperial colonisation, to independence."