Names Changes

• While European colonization of Africa brought about many changes with residual effects that still plague African nations today, some short-lived changes involved the renaming of places and people. After the end of colonization, many African leaders sought to reclaim Africa through the rejection of European titles and names by replacing them with traditional African ones. For example, the former British territory of Southern Rhodesia was later changed to Zimbabwe, a word meaning "home" in Shona, a major language of the people who inhabit the land. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the capital city of Leopoldville was changed to Kinshasa, as a tribute to the village that once stood near the site and as a formal rejection of King Leopold II of Belgium.
  
  

High Rates of Illiteracy

• Colonialism in Africa brought a number of changes to education. Most Africans who had access to or could afford to attend classes were restricted to learning reading and writing colonial languages such as English or French from missionary schools, which focused on converting Africans to Christianity. Those who resisted conversion were often denied an education. Other adults had little time or money to devote to learning reading and writing in European languages, making it difficult for them to understand and thrive in colonial society. As a result, literacy rates amongst African populations, especially adults, were often very low. After colonial powers left the continent, many nations reformatted existing education systems and began literacy programs to educate their populations. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Education Organization's data from 2000, Tanzania's literacy rate for 1975 was approximately 61 percent. By 1986, literacy rates had increased to 90.4 percent.
  
  

Imperialism

• By definition, colonialism is essentially imperialism with certain distinct differences. While colonialism involves conquering of land and exploitation of people and resources, imperialism involves creation of an empire and governing of a territory without significant settlement. For example, the Congo Free State was privately governed by King Leopold II of Belgium and became infamous for working conditions similar to slavery and the brutal treatment of local people. However, very little development or land settlement occurred. Following a number of political changes, nationalist movements and international outrage at the atrocities and human rights violations, the imperial Congo Free State became the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
  
  

Racism

• In a place where the majority of the people share the same race, racism is generally not a problem. However, people tend to find some differentiating distinctions such as tribe, clan or socioeconomic status to separate themselves from others. While it would be incorrect to say that racism is a problem that was solved with the end of colonialism, it is correct to say that once European powers vacated leadership roles and Africans took over, many racist policies and discriminatory practices, based on skin color and meant to disadvantage native peoples, were no longer an issue. Although race was no longer the discriminating factor, tribe, clan, ethnicity and religious affiliations often were. These factors still present problems in modern Africa.