During the 1800’s, colonization reached one of its peaks, almost every European country was searching for any land that was not colonized. The one country that no one had laid claim to was Africa. Africa had an abundance of natural resources which made it priority to European countries to acquire and with these natural resources it could boost the wealth and industrial power of the country that laid claim to it. The after effects of European occupation has affected tribal relations in Africa to this very day. It was known as the “Scramble of Africa”. The “Scramble for Africa” was the occupation, division, and colonisation of African territory by European powers during the period of New Imperialism, between 1881 and 1914. It is also called the Partition of Africa and by some, the Conquest of Africa. This would later form part of the reason for genocides and wars within Africa.

Industrial powers within the “Scramble of Africa” were the major players in Europe that wanted to expand their wealth by utilising raw materials within countries that were not colonized. These powers included players from Britain, Portugal, France and the Dutch. Britain had laid claim to India and utilized the raw materials for major wealth gain within Europe, example spices and material. They had sent missionaries to Africa to convert the natives to Christianity, as well as explorers to get more information on the land and find more ways to obtain greater wealth. Two notable explorers that were sent to Africa were Richard Burton and John Speke. They travelled to the east of Africa to discover the source of the Nile.