Lumumba's Africa. Africa & Portugal - the colonial history. Ep 24 | RT Documentary

Portugal was the first European country to colonize parts of Africa in the 14th century. Pillars, known as padrões, can still be found in various parts of Africa, this is how the Portuguese marked conquered territory. They moved from Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, on to Angola and other countries, collecting slaves, establishing colonies and acquiring artefacts.

Of all the colonizing powers, Portugal was the poorest. But it still succeeded in its goals, and the way it colonized was quite unique. Moreover, the Portuguese, unlike other colonizers like the British, French or even the Germans, did not engage in developing the lands they occupied, and that remains evident today. Find out more about the consequences Africa is still facing, centuries after one of the cruellest colonizers, as historical records may show, left the continent.