European powers convene the Berlin Conference to divide the African continent among themselves with no African representation.
At a Glance
- Date
- 15 November 1884
- Location
- Berlin, Germany
- Category
- Diaspora & Global
- Source
- Berlin Conference records (1884-1885) · Britannica
What It Meant Then
It formalized the 'Scramble for Africa' and the colonial borders that shaped the continent.
What It Means Now
The conference's legacy underlies much of modern Africa's political map.
Cite this page
- MLA
- “The Berlin Conference Partitions Africa.” Black-History.com, 30 Sept. 2026, https://black-history.com/on-this-day/the-berlin-conference-partitions-africa/.
- APA
- Black-History.com Editors. (2026, September 30). The Berlin Conference Partitions Africa. Black-History.com. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/the-berlin-conference-partitions-africa/
- Chicago
- Black-History.com Editors. “The Berlin Conference Partitions Africa.” Black-History.com. September 30, 2026. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/the-berlin-conference-partitions-africa/.
Editorial Note
By the Black-History.com editors. Last reviewed 30 September 2026. To suggest a primary source or a correction, write to editors@black-history.com or use our corrections form.