ABSTRACT
This chapter follows French interaction with colonized Africans from the acceleration of the colonial conquest to decolonization. Its introduction introduces basic myths within French colonial rule, including the assimilation paradigm and laïcité. The discussion demonstrates factors of colonial expansion in the second half of the nineteenth century, especially the reaction to reformist Islamic jihad movements, the obsession with trade routes and anti-slavery rhetoric, and points to the use of African allies and troops as a decisive element. The chapter then focuses on concepts of colonial organization like assimilation or variants of indirect rule and their practical consequences, before turning to the social effects of the pillars of colonial domination, like taxation, the discriminatory legal code and forced labour. After turning to the issue of economic conditions and European settlers and Lebanese migrants taking part in economic development, but also insisting on less well-known local economic and commercial initiatives, the discussion turns to intersections between the religious and the social, through the role of Christian missions, Islamic brotherhoods and local religions. Education and changing gender roles under colonialism constitute another essential element of scrutiny. Finally, the chapter presents analysis on the effects of World War II and the experience of decolonization, while pointing out that some trajectories, like those of Cameroon and Madagascar, represent anomalies within the wider trend. The conclusion engages with the question of French neocolonialism.
