The British Amalgamated in the novel A Man of the People represents the British governmental influence on African nations. While the governments of these nations are "self-sufficient"—led by their own presidents, parliaments, and chiefs (like Nanga)—they are essentially puppets for the British, making them an amalgam of Britain and native cultural peoples. The government acts as a corrupt, greedy organization but uses the native figureheads to maintain strength in their African countries.

They are essentially enacting the will of the British on these countries, empowering British rulers and sustaining the countries' dependence on foreign influences, in spite of leading the people to believe they are truly independent. At the same time, the members of the British Amalgamated, the governmental leaders, are using their influence and positions to gain material wealth.

The British Amalgamated represents everything that is corrupt in Nanga's deceptive rule. This incident occurs when Chief Nanga is discussing his new road with Odili prior to the arrival of the Americans. We discover that the new road must be tarred immediately according to Nanga's wishes, yet there is a delay because an African boy,really a native African soil expert, wants the soil tested prior to the road being paved. Complicating the matter even more, Nanga has ten luxury buses arriving to use the road; these buses are  lent to him by the British Amalgamated on the never-never arrangement, or a free gift (43). Of course, this will allow Chief Nanga to become even wealthier. This incident illustrates Africa's dependency through its own corrupt officials on the foreigners, the British. Even though the British may not outwardly hold power, they are using Africans as puppets so they may  rule the country from behind the scenes. The British Amalgamated sustains Africa's economic dependency upon foreigners. Ironically, this is occurring while Africans believe they are free from foreign power!