Colonialism and Oppression in the African Diaspora Kenyan feminist and environmental activist Wangari Maathai explores the legacy of colonialism and oppression in her home country through her moving 2006 memoir, Unbowed. Maathai explains that during the 19th and early 20th centuries, Africa experienced a massive influx of white settlers. In an effort to consolidate control over their newly acquired colonies, many European powers had encouraged large numbers of ethnically white citizens to establish a new home on the African continent. As a result, thousands of native Africans were displaced. Among these were the ancestors of Maathai, the Kikuyu and Maasai peoples. Most of these forced displacements took place in the highland regions. The fertile soil and temperate climate of this area have proved attractive to native African populations for centuries; and it seemed that the new British colonists found it equally appealing. After most of the land's original occupants were transported to the Rift Valley region of western Kenya, settlers began to exploit the vast natural resources of the highlands. The territory was substantially devastated as ancient forests were cut down to make room for agricultural land. The introduction of the plantation system, with its non-native plant species, large-scale hunting, and systematic recruitment of Africans as field workers, marked the next phase in the oppression of native Africans (Maathai 6-9). The situation became more balanced and more complex when the British colonial administration introduced a currency-based income tax system. For centuries Kenya's economy was based largely on the exchange of livestock and other goods. With this in mind, this should be a small on… at first glance, this would appear to be a positive impact of post-colonial interactions between France and Africa; but the situation beneath the surface is actually quite problematic. Most of the countries responsible for these new industries are Western in origin, meaning that most of the profits earned through these efforts are filtered into Western economies. This imbalance, in turn, affects the purchasing power of the average African; and reinforces neocolonial power dynamics. Works Cited Kolawole, Mary. Womanism and African consciousness. Trenton, NJ: African World Press, 1997. Print.Maathai, Wangari. Indomitable: A Memoir. New York: Anchor Books, 2007. Print.Profant, Tomas. “French geopolitics in Africa: from neocolonialism to identity”. Perspectives: Central European Review of International Affairs 18.1 (2010). 41-62. Network. May 18 2014.