it's depicting how many nations were all trying to get influence into Africa. having control in Africa means new opportunities in many different was such as: Economy(natural resources, new market places, land for growing populations to settle,place to invest), Politics and Military(bases for naval and trading ships, power and security for empires, nationalism and spirit), Society (spread of Christianity, civilization, & western culture), and Science and innovation(new weapons, new medicine, improved transport). if you didn't have a piece of Africa it's possible you would be left in the dust of larger empires
