Coins of the British Colonies in Africa This is what the map of Africa looked like in 1914 , on the eve of World War I. Great Britain possessed significant territories in the east, south, and slightly in the western part of the continent. Tags: EuropeGreat BritainAfricacoloniesBritish West AfricaBritish East AfricaSouthern RhodesiaUnion of South AfricaMauritiusSeychelles Read more about Coins of the British Colonies in Africa