The primary focus of the Berlin Conference in 1884 was to regulate European colonization and trade in Africa, effectively partitioning the continent among various European powers. Convened by Otto von Bismarck, the conference established rules to prevent conflict over African territory and allowed countries to lay claim to regions after demonstrating effective occupation. The participants, including major powers like Britain, France, and Germany, disregarded the interests and rights of African peoples. This led to the imposition of colonial rule, exploitation of resources, and significant social and cultural disruptions across Africa, shaping the continent's historical trajectory for decades to come.