Why the Gambia is Inside Senegal: The Berlin Conference Explained
They Lied About AfricaPlay episode
Show notes
Africa’s borders weren’t drawn in Africa — they were drawn in Berlin in 1884. At the infamous Berlin Conference, European powers sat down to carve the continent into colonies, with rulers and pens, and without a single African in the room.In this episode of They Lied About Africa, I break down how the scramble for resources and power led to Africa being divided into 54 countries. We’ll look at why groups like the Soninké, Wolof, Ewe, and Somali people were split across multiple nations, how the Berlin rules reshaped politics, economies, and communities, and why those colonial borders still define Africa today.This isn’t just history — it’s a story that explains why Africa looks the way it does on the map, and why it still matters for our generation.
