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Governing Africa, 1808-1995

Governing Africa:British Records from African Countries under Colonial Rule, 1808-1995 Trial Series

What's Inside

Collections
Volumes
Documents
Pages

Introduction

Governing Africa contains primary source documents mostly derived from a series of annual reports and accounts sent to the British Government by its colonial administrations in Africa. The featured collections cover British colonial administrations that reigned during the 19th and 20th centuries, and include content on 13 colonies, from Ghana and Togo to Kenya and Nigeria. Apartheid era South Africa is also covered extensively in the papers of journalist Colin Legum and materials from political parties on both sides of the racial and ideological divide. 

Together, these resources provide students and researchers with a comprehensive overview of British rule in Africa, allowing them to trace its rise, decline, and eventual fall, as well as its ongoing influence in post-colonial societies.  

Dates Covered

1808-1995

Contributors

  • British Foreign & Commonwealth Office
  • Institute for Commonwealth Studies, Senate House
  • Kate Legum

Collections

Licensed to access Apartheid Through the Eyes of South African Political Parties, 1948-1994

Contributor: Institute for Commonwealth Studies, Senate House Contents: 4 Volumes, 33 Documents (7,499 Pages)
Apartheid was a system of white minority rule that prevailed in South Africa for much of the 20th century. This...
A close up of a gold nugget, laid on top of an old map of Africa.

Licensed to access Colonial Africa in Official Statistics, 1821-1953

Contributor: British Foreign & Commonwealth Office Contents: 13 Volumes, 777 Documents (144,428 Pages)
The so-called “Scramble for Africa” that occurred during the late nineteenth century involved European powers carving up the continent. The...
A black and white image of a gavel resting on a table with a globe in the background.

Licensed to access Colonial Law in Africa, 1808-1919

Contributor: British Foreign & Commonwealth Office Contents: 10 Volumes, 159 Documents (96,513 Pages)
The laws a country has implemented can provide a fascinating insight into a country’s political, social and, cultural history. In...
A black and white image of a gavel resting on a table, with a plush chair and scales of justice in the background.

Licensed to access Colonial Law in Africa, 1920-1945

Contributor: British Foreign & Commonwealth Office Contents: 11 Volumes, 357 Documents (199,176 Pages)
The legal system that a country has developed can provide fascinating insights into its social, cultural, and political history. This...
A black and white image of a gavel resting on a table, with a row of books and scales of justice in the background.

Licensed to access Colonial Law in Africa, 1946-1966

Contributor: British Foreign & Commonwealth Office Contents: 12 Volumes, 321 Documents (197,084 Pages)
The legal system that a country has developed can provide fascinating insights into its social, cultural, and political history. This...

Licensed to access Gambia Under Colonial Rule, in Government Reports, 1881-1966

Contributor: British Foreign & Commonwealth Office Contents: 9 Volumes, 90 Documents (22,628 Pages)
This comprehensive collection explores in detail Gambia’s history under British colonial rule through extensive governmental reports. Beginning near the end...

Licensed to access Ghana and Togo Under Colonial Rule, in Government Reports, 1843-1957

Contributor: British Foreign & Commonwealth Office Contents: 11 Volumes, 138 Documents (56,380 Pages)
Ghana and Togo Under Colonial Rule, in Government Reports, 1843–1957 contains papers from the colonial governments in Ghana and Togo....

Licensed to access Kenya Under Colonial Rule, in Government Reports, 1907-1964

Contributor: British Foreign & Commonwealth Office Contents: 10 Volumes, 135 Documents (59,806 Pages)
Kenya Under Colonial Rule, in Government Reports, 1907-1964 contains papers from the colonial government in Kenya. They reveal the approach...

Licensed to access Malawi Under Colonial Rule, in Government Reports, 1907-1967

Contributor: British Foreign & Commonwealth Office Contents: 9 Volumes, 79 Documents (33,734 Pages)
Malawi Under Colonial Rule, in Government Reports, 1907-1967 contains papers from the colonial government in Malawi. They reveal the approach...

Licensed to access Nigeria and Cameroon Under Colonial Rule, in Government Reports, 1887-1962

Contributor: British Foreign & Commonwealth Office Contents: 10 Volumes, 188 Documents (81,604 Pages)
Nigeria and Cameroon Under Colonial Rule, in Government Reports, 1887–1962 contains papers from the colonial governments in Nigeria and Cameroon....

Licensed to access Reporting on Africa: From Apartheid to Pan-Africanism, 1949-1995

Contributor: Kate Legum Contents: 5 Volumes, 111 Documents (27,064 Pages)
Colin Legum (1919–2003) was a South African journalist and writer on African politics. Born in the rural farming town of...

Licensed to access Sierra Leone Under Colonial Rule, in Government Reports, 1893-1961

Contributor: British Foreign & Commonwealth Office Contents: 9 Volumes, 90 Documents (38,641 Pages)
Sierra Leone Under Colonial Rule, in Government Reports, 1893-1961 contains papers from the colonial government in Sierra Leone. They reveal...

Licensed to access Uganda Under Colonial Rule, in Government Reports, 1903-1961

Contributor: British Foreign & Commonwealth Office Contents: 9 Volumes, 79 Documents (50,493 Pages)
Uganda was a colonial creation that was formed by joining the kingdoms of Buganda and Bunyoro. In 1894, Uganda became...

Licensed to access Zimbabwe Under Colonial Rule, in Government Reports, 1897-1980

Contributor: British Foreign & Commonwealth Office Contents: 12 Volumes, 155 Documents (98,505 Pages)
This collection provides a unique opportunity to explore the British administration in Zimbabwe by looking at annual governmental reports. In...
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