Colonial Law in Africa, 1808-1919

This collection provides the opportunity to explore official periodicals published by successive British governments in ten African countries between January 1808 and December 1919. It is an important resource for the study of Britain's imperial projects throughout Africa.

During the nineteenth and twentieth centuries the British government published gazettes relating to their colonial territories on an annual basis. This collection, drawn from British Foreign & Commonwealth Office files held at The National Archives (UK), brings together numerous gazettes from British administered territories in Africa. Thus, the volumes within this collection are divided by country — Kenya, Lagos (Nigeria), Northern Rhodesia (Zambia), Nyasaland (Malawi), Sierra Leone, Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), The Gambia, Gold Coast (Ghana), Uganda, and Zanzibar (Tanzania).

Some documents address major historical events such as the Boer War, the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade, and the First World War. Importantly, the gazettes supply key historical data and information, such as shipping records, legislation, probate records, and records of land sales. The collection also sheds light upon government finances and trading, as imports, exports, and colonial finances are detailed in some gazettes. These publications likewise offer insights into aspects of colonial society. For example, they supply notices of official appointments, as well as statistics regarding population, communications, crime, and the incidence of disease.

Colonial Law in Africa, 1808–1919 is the first collection in a three-part series, Colonial Law in Africa, hosted by British Online Archives. This collection, and the series as a whole, provides an extensive overview of British rule throughout Africa. It is a rich resource for students and researchers interested in Africa, as well as the broader themes of colonialism and race in modern history.

The object of the Gazette is to inform officials, and the general public, who otherwise might not have the opportunity, of the different Regulations, Orders, Postal arrangements, legal information, etc., affecting Protectorates.

Kenya Gazette, 1899–1902, img 1

Insights

Some of the earlier gazettes include letters to the editor on a range of subjects. From 1870, these were replaced by official notices.

The name of each gazette tended to change as the colony grew and official borders shifted.

The gazettes feature notices regarding new or amended laws. Studying these notices reveals issues that were considered important at that time. For example, decisions to legislate are indicative of cultural shifts away from traditional practices such as witchcraft. The range of gazettes included in this collection, spanning ten African territories over an extensive period, facilitates broad, comparative surveys of legal priorities and cultural trends.

Colonial Law in Africa, 1808–1919 is a substantial resource. The collection provides students and researchers with official reports, details of colonial finances, court records, shipping records, licence applications, the names of colonial officers, and details of imports and exports. Some of the gazettes also contain weather recordings.