Final answer:
African leaders and peoples did resist European invasion through various acts of resistance and revolts, such as those by the Zulu, Matabele, and Egyptians, as well as the war led by the Mahdi's army and Ethiopia's successful resistance against Italy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Yes, African leaders did make attempts to resist the European invasion. This is evident in a number of significant resistance movements and revolts that erupted as Europeans sought to dominate the African continent.
One of the famed examples of African resistance was displayed by the Zulu and Matabele (Ndebele) tribes, who actively opposed the British and Dutch control in southern Africa. These are clear instances of African acts of resistance.
Another notable instance involves Egypt, where Egyptians revolted against the foreigners unwilling to submit to European control. Similarly, a war was waged by the Mahdi's army in Sudan. Furthermore, Ethiopia was one of the few African countries that successfully resisted European colonialism, notably in the war with Italy.
These movements and revolts, although often ended in European control, underline the fact that Africans, particularly those in the interior, did not sit back but actively resisted foreign influence.
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