In 1884, European powers met in Berlin, Germany, spread a map of Africa on a table, and divided the continent among themselves, without ever setting foot on its soil. What followed was a ruthless scramble for control, land, and labor. This book tells the untold story of what came next for the ordinary African families who lived under colonial rule.
Set in Kenya, The Colonized and the Scramble for Africa is a gripping, personal, and deeply human memoir that spans generations. Told through the eyes of a young Gĩkũyũ girl growing up on a British colonial farm, the story captures both the brutality and resilience of a community forced into survival. From age four, the narrator begins questioning the world around her, forging a path against a life of predetermined servitude.
When the Mau Mau Freedom Fighters rose in armed rebellion during her childhood, a national crisis unfolded: mass detentions, the creation of "secure villages," and intense repression. Amid this chaos, an unexpected opportunity emerges?school. But for African girls in the 1950s, even this was a battle.
Written with honesty, clarity, and emotional depth, The Colonized chronicles lives caught in a power struggle not of their choosing. It is a story of resilience, identity, and the quiet strength of those history tried to forget.
Perfect for readers of African history, postcolonial memoirs, and untold stories of ordinary people facing extraordinary challenges.
