Revisiting the French Colonial Policy of Assimilation

Revisiting the French Colonial Policy of Assimilation

​The Blueprint for Cultural Transformation

​During the era of French colonial governance in parts of Africa, a calculated administrative strategy known as the “Policy of Assimilation” was put into practice. The fundamental objective of this program was to integrate the colonized population into French culture and society. This involved a deliberate effort to diminish or supplant the local traditions, languages, and belief systems that constituted the indigenous African identity, with the ultimate aim of creating a populace aligned with French ideals and interests.

​Engineering a New Identity

​The assimilation process was highly prescriptive, dictating profound changes in the personal and public lives of the colonized.

• ​Linguistic and Naming Shifts: Individuals were often pressured to adopt French names and exclusively use the French language, even within their own households when communicating with their children.

• ​Cultural and Lifestyle Mandates: Traditional African customs were actively discouraged and sometimes prohibited. This policy encouraged the adoption of French culinary habits (as exemplified by the lasting presence of items like the baguette and French cheeses in former colonies) and consumption of French media.

• ​Religious and Social Conformity: A strong emphasis was often placed on converting to Christianity and adhering to a monogamous marriage structure, diverging from many traditional African social norms.

​In essence, this system sought to mold the African subject into a cultural and social reflection of a French citizen, serving as a form of cultural and psychological engineering.

​Case Study: The Four Communes of Senegal

​To serve as models for this policy, the French administration established specific urban centers where the assimilation agenda was most rigorously applied. In Senegal, four key cities Saint-Louis, Gorée, Rufisque, and Dakar were designated as Communes de Plein Exercice (Communes with Full Status).

​Residing or securing employment within these pivotal cities often necessitated a degree of assimilation. This requirement meant demonstrating a commitment to adopting French customs and rejecting many aspects of one’s African heritage. In extreme instances, the quest for social acceptance and perceived status under this system led to the adoption of European physical standards, which included practices like skin lightening.

​Note: The historical connection between these assimilation pressures and the initial popularity of certain skin-lightening products, often associated with key West African commercial hubs like Abidjan, serves as a stark historical footnote to this cultural displacement.

​The Enduring Legacy

​The Policy of Assimilation was more than just a political tactic; it was a deep-seated attempt at mental and cultural engineering. Although the colonial era has passed, the deep-seated cultural, linguistic, and political patterns established by this policy continue to influence the socio-economic and psychological landscape of many modern African nations. The remnants of this historical attempt to erase identity remain a crucial subject of post-colonial discourse and understanding.