From the 1870s to present day, 1884, I arrive at the Berlin Conference with my personal views about the

fate of what I know consider to be my country, Africa. My name is Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza. I am originally of Italian descent, from a noble family, (Maria Petinga, A Life for Africa, pg 4). However, in my years of exploration, I have worked as a French naval explorer. I have explored the Congo River, and lived with the tribes of Africa. This experience has allowed me to see Africa, from the inside; the real Africa. From my travels I have learned that the reasons for Africa colonization are for countrys personal interests. However, I come in today as a humanitarian, here to tell you how those motives have become injust, and a violation of humans rights. I first got my chance to explore Africa, by getting France to back up my plan to explore the Ogowe River, (Thomas Packenham, Scramble, pg 34). There, I wanted to find the source of the Ogowe River. As a arrived, I was very aware of the European trade posts, salt brandy, manufactured goods, ivory, and slaves were the main exports of Africa. Observing and setting up these trade posts, I was exposed to the colonial abuses. There were often manhunts, in which Europeans would massacre the tribes. The slaves would be killed by exhaustion, starvation, or decimated by disease. Then, when the traders could not feed their slaves anymore, they would kill the in massacres. I saw slaves being stabbed with knives, slaughtered, and ultimately treated with extreme brutality and inhumanity. These slaves were the main source of profit for the French, and other European powers, an essential part of Frances economic motives. However, it is something that I stand against. One of my first interactions with a tribe, the Apfourou tribe, i delt with a aggression and barbaric behavior when trying to negotiate with them. I later elarned that they had met up with Stanley previously. Stanleys aggressive behavior had caused them to become in fear, resulting in violence. This was ultimately a peace lesson for me. France brought me into the Congo, in hope of me to bring civilization to the tribes. I was sent in to set up scienttic stations. However, I was subjected to the rapid death rate of the people because of disease, and lack of financial assistance from the French. But, I would not let this come in the way of my motives. I lived with the tribes, in a very basic lifestyle. I learned their language, and culture. Along with that, I was able to set up communication channels, build roads, and foretell harvests, because of my peaceful interaction with the Africans. I also was able to gain trust with the Africans though palabres. In this, a spiritual ritual would take place, where the black chief and white chief would share their motives. When I performed this act of peace in with the tribe of Apfourou, they proceeded to bury their weaponry. My peaceful interaction with the Africans makes me known as a peaceable conquerer, which meant I only used violence in the act of self-defense. From my experiences, I have learned that violent interaction with the Africans, only prolongs civilizing them. My peaceful stategics, have clearly gained more success than any other conquistador has hoped for. Over the centuries, Africa has been known as White mans Africa. From this day forward, that name will be abolished. Most of you have criticized my methods, believeing that I have prevented the developemtn of the Congo. I know that a peaceful conquerer, could never mix well your economic motives nad crave for power. Nonetheless, I am here protecting the people of Africa. They can no longer be used as an enterprise. When colonizing Africa, slavery must be abolished. As honorable as glorifying dead people is, treating the living people right is even better, Brazza. The

reasons for colonizing Africa should be for civilizing these people who have been treated like animals, not for your countrys economic motives. Africa must be colonized, but not with the sword; with communication, and patience. Thus far, you have not beganto understand the tribes you meet. It is an essential factor in the colonizing process that you understand their culture. Europeans have become self obsessed with their own culture, and that has kept us from colonizing Africa, with out mass murders, slavery, and brutality. When colonizing Africa, I advise you to open up to the peoples living conditions, customs, language, and economy. If not, terror between the whites nad blacks will last as you Europeans are the only beneficiaries of this colonizing process. That is not what colonization should bring, it must benefit the tribes of Africa as we bring them civilization.