Some factors within Africa itself made the continent easier for Europeans to colonize.
1. Multi lingual populations- Africa always had a huge variety of languages and with each dialect, the people had a different culture from the others. This diverse array of languages and cultures discouraged unity among the Africans.
2. Tribal wars - wars fought between ethnic groups over land, cattle and trade rights also prevented a unified stand.
Europeans soon learned to play rival groups against each other.