Lhe volume VI covers the history of Africa from the beginning of the 1880th century until the seizure of the European colonial powers on the continent from XNUMX. Despite the growing assertion of the European commercial, religious and political presence during this period, external influences did not have a direct impact on most African societies, where there is a series of culturally distinct attempts to modernize, expand and develop existing structures. Two decisive sequences of events owing virtually nothing to foreign influences - the Mfecane in southern Africa, with its repercussions in Central and East Africa, and the Muslim reform movements in West Africa - feature prominently in eight chapters in this volume.
The book opens with four thematic chapters devoted to the main forces at work in African society at the turn of the century, the changing role of Africa in the global economy, the new trends and processes at work. work and the consequences of the abolition of the slave trade. They are followed by twenty-three chapters devoted to the evolution of the situation in the different regions. In conclusion, two other chapters look at the African diaspora and take stock of the continent's political, economic and cultural development on the eve of the European conquest.