The Niger River and the Royal Niger Company at the Berlin Conference

The Berlin Conference of 1884-85 is often remembered for carving up Africa, but few know the backroom deals that decided who controlled the Niger River. In this episode, Lucas and Luna dive into the role of George Goldie and his United African Company in securing British dominance over the Lower Niger, while France claimed the Upper Niger. They explore how the principle of 'effective occupation' was applied on the ground, the brutal palm oil trade that fueled the scramble, and how the Berlin Act's promise of free navigation was quickly sidelined by corporate monopolies. From Goldie's treaty-making with local chiefs to the seeds of the Fashoda Incident, this is a story of how a river became a pawn in Europe's imperial chess game. Tune in for a deep dive into one of the Berlin Conference's most consequential yet overlooked chapters. #BerlinConference #NigerRiver #RoyalNigerCompany #GeorgeGoldie #ScrambleForAfrica #Colonialism #EuropeanImperialism #ImperialHistory #AfricaHistory #EffectiveOccupation #BerlinAct #UnitedAfricanCompany #PalmOil #1884 #1885 #NigerDelta #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo