Colonial policy of assimilation was introduced in Africa by the

1. Analyze the question The question asks which colonial power introduced the policy of assimilation in Africa.

2. Explain the concept Assimilation was a colonial policy that aimed to turn Africans into "Black Frenchmen." Colonial subjects were expected to adopt the language, culture, religion, and values of the colonizer. Those who did were rewarded with full citizenship rights.

• French policy: direct rule combined with assimilation. French territories such as Senegal (the Four Communes: Dakar, Saint-Louis, Gorée, Rufisque) were treated as extensions of France. Africans who became "évolués" (educated, Westernized, French-speaking) could be granted French citizenship.
• British policy: indirect rule, which used existing traditional rulers (as Lord Lugard did in Northern Nigeria) and did not try to make Africans British.
• Portuguese policy: also had an "assimilado" system in Angola and Mozambique, but it was more limited and is less closely associated with the term. The French version is the classic, textbook example.
• German policy: harsh direct rule, with no assimilation.

3. Solution

• British: indirect rule, so not assimilation.
• Germans: direct, forceful rule, so not assimilation.
• Portuguese: had a limited assimilado system, but the policy is mainly credited to France in standard JAMB and WASSCE texts.
• French: introduced and practiced assimilation as its central colonial policy.

4. Answer The correct option is D. French.

5. Exam tip Remember the pairings:

• French = Assimilation
• British = Indirect Rule

Both start with a similar feel: "F-A" (French-Assimilation) and "B-I" (British-Indirect). JAMB repeats this pairing often.