Final answer:
The two African countries that remained independent from European colonization are Ethiopia and Liberia. Ethiopia successfully resisted Italian colonization while Liberia was founded as a homeland for freed African-American slaves and recognized as an independent republic by European powers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The two African countries that managed to stay independent from European colonization were Ethiopia and Liberia. These two nations stand out in history for maintaining their sovereignty during the colonial era. Ethiopia (historically known as Abyssinia) successfully resisted Italian aggression during the First Italo-Ethiopian War, culminating in the pivotal Battle of Adwa in 1896, where Ethiopian forces won a significant victory. The country later fell briefly under Italian control during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War but regained its independence after World War II.Liberia, on the other hand, was established by the American Colonization Society as a homeland for freed African-American slaves. Its status as a free, independent republic was recognized by European powers in the mid-19th century, as it was not considered a traditional colonial territory.Both these nations' experiences during the colonial period were unique. While most of Africa was carved up at the Berlin Conference of 1884, Ethiopia and Liberia were two notable exceptions, with Ethiopia being recognized as a sovereign entity and Liberia already functioning as an independent republic. In contrast to other African nations that achieved independence post-World War II, Ethiopia and Liberia's legacy of independence positioned them differently in the historical narrative of colonial resistance and autonomy.