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| 1884–85 |
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| The Berlin West African Conference (See 1884, Nov. 15–1885, Feb. 26) was held against the backdrop of European territorial advances in Africa, which began to pick up momentum from 1875 onward. The conference established rules for the “scramble for Africa” in order to prevent armed conflict among Europeans. Africans were not invited to attend. Both the Belgians and the French moved into the lower Congo basin in this era; the French also expanded their presence along the upper Niger. At the conference, Britain, France, Germany, and Portugal negotiated colonial frontiers in Africa. In doing so, they both regulated and accelerated the scramble. | 1 |
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| 1888 |
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| Prempeh was elected Asantehene. He led the Asante into negotiations with Britain and the establishment of a protectorate, thus maintaining a nominal integrity of the state. | 2 |
| Pope Leo XIII ordered Cardinal Lavigérie to undertake a crusade against slavery. | 3 |
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| 1889, Jan. 10 |
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| France established a formal protectorate over the Ivory Coast. | 4 |
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| 1890 |
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| France made war with the king of Dahomey, who was defeated and forced to recognize a French protectorate. | 5 |
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| 1890 Ff |
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| Expansion of the colonial frontier in West Africa. The Europeans bolstered their presence in West Africa and expanded into new territory by turning increasingly to armed force. The French attacked Segu in 1890 and launched military expeditions in the West African interior throughout the decade, occupying African states such as Mossi and Sikasso. The British launched an expedition against the Ijebu in 1892; in 1897 they conquered Benin. The Germans launched expeditions in Cameroon and Togo in the 1890s. | 6 |
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| 1892 |
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| Second French-Dahomey war. King Béhanzin was captured, but the French faced continuing resistance. | 7 |
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| 1893–94 |
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| War between the Asante and the British. | 8 |
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| 1895, Jan. 1 |
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| The Royal Niger Company proclaimed a protectorate over Busa and Nikki, effectively blocking a French advance eastward from Dahomey. | 9 |
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| 1895–96 |
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| Fourth war between the Asante and Britain. A British expeditionary force was sent to Asante. | 10 |
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| 1896, Jan 20 |
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| Asantehene was deposed and imprisoned with other notables. A British protectorate was proclaimed on Aug. 16. | 11 |
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| 1897, Feb. 18 |
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| A British expeditionary force took Benin and plundered its royal art. Most of the art was sent to England, where it formed the core of private and museum collections of Benin art. | 12 |
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| 1898 |
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| Lagos was lit by electricity. | 13 |
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| Jan. 1 |
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| Hut taxes were imposed in Sierra Leone. | 14 |
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