Answer and Explanation:
European nations divided Africa into colonies through a process known as the Scramble for Africa. During this period, European countries partitioned Africa into colonies with the aim of exploiting the natural resources and establishing their dominance over the continent. The division was not based on the way African leaders wanted or along traditional or cultural borders, but rather on the interests of the European powers, often resulting in arbitrary boundaries that did not align with preexisting cultural or geographic borders. The process of colonization had a profound impact on Africa, resulting in the exploitation of natural resources, the introduction of European culture and religion, and the suppression of African political and social structures.