The Berlin Conference: The Scramble for Togo

In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna explore the often-overlooked partition of Togo during the Berlin Conference era. They delve into the unlikely story of how a small sliver of West Africa became German Togoland, and how its colonial history diverged sharply from the violent conquests seen elsewhere. The conversation covers Gustav Nachtigal's treaty with King Mlapa III in 1884, the diplomatic maneuverings between Britain, France, and Germany over the Togo coast, and the peculiar 'model colony' reputation Togoland earned under German rule. Lucas explains the role of the hinterland expeditions, the construction of the Togo-Borgu railway, and how Togoland's strategic position made it a pawn in the wider Scramble. They also reflect on the legacy of the German colonial period, the subsequent Anglo-French mandate partition after World War I, and how Togo's story challenges simplified narratives of African partition. Along the way, they touch on the Kamerun border dispute, the Aneho and Lome settlements, and the reasons why Togo remains a fascinating case study in colonial history. #Togoland #BerlinConference #GermanColonialism #GustavNachtigal #KingMlapa #ScrambleForAfrica #WestAfrica #Lome #AngloFrenchMandate #ModelColony #TogoBorguRailway #HinterlandExpeditions #1884Treaty #GermanEmpire #BritishGoldCoast #FrenchTogo #WorldWarI #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo