The European colonization of West Africa had numerous effects on the native people of the region. The Europeans used multiple methods to keep the things under control, including assimilation and association, or dividing and ruling. There was segregation, and the native people were not allowed to take high positions, or to be included into the education.
The borders between the imperialist powers did not corresponded with the ethnic or religious background of the people, which later in the history turned out to be a huge problem which has a big effect even in the present.
The Europeans also used lot of the natural resources of the region. For that purpose they built infrastructure, which can be seen as positive as it remained for usage for the native people after they gained independence. Also the Europeans introduced multiple plants, mostly cash-crops in the region, and they were of great benefit during the colonization, and in the present are still the main source of income for multiple nations of West Africa.
