The initial colonisation of Africa was helped by the lack of unity among the people of Africa. Africans did not see themselves as a group, but were caught up in tribal loyalties. Europeans used these tensions to promote colonisation. Africans would sometimes support European efforts to dominate rival tribes. They often received favours, arms and other goods in return for their help. It was only after World War I, and more so after World War II, that Africans started to unite against their colonisers. Thus began the rise of African nationalism and the efforts to win freedom from colonial rule in favour of self-determination.
There were various factors that influenced the growth of African nationalism and some of these are discussed below.
1) World War II
During World War II many Africans supported their colonial rulers in the war effort. This exposed them to the ideas of democracy that they were being asked to defend - despite being denied it themselves. The war also saw Africans placed in higher positions of influence in the government and the workplace, raising their self-confidence and ambitions. They looked to independence from colonial rule and self-rule as the answer. The mass urbanisation that took place during the war also boosted their enthusiasm for independence ideals. In this way independence movements came to be established. The war also left many colonial powers weaker. But the USA and USSR emerged stronger at the end of the war. Neither held African colonies and they supported the decolonisation of Africa.
After World War II an increasing number of other colonies gained independence especially in the East, as Japan gave up its colonies after the war. This inspired Africans and gave them confidence to fight for their own freedom.
2) Education and Communication
Western values that came with colonial rule emphasised education and religion. Education exposed Africans to ideas of Western democracy and they became influenced by these. Africans who were privileged to study in Europe returned to the continent and promoted these ideas. They were angered by the limits imposed by colonial rulers and wanted to use their education and knowledge for the upliftment of their people in Africa.
The development of communication technology, especially the radio and press during the war also created greater awareness of freedom ideas. These ideas began to reach a wider range of people throughout Africa, and as education improved it allowed more people to use this information.
3) American Civil Rights Movement and Pan Africanism
Pan Africanism emerged from the ideas
of the American Civil Rights Movement, led by Martin
Luther King. This
movement was at the forefront of the struggle for equal rights of black
Americans and inspired unity of African people around the world. The call went up to end
white domination including colonialism and slavery. Important people
in the development of Pan Africanism were Henry
Sylvester Williams, W
du Bois, George
Padmore and Marcus Garvey. Pan Africanism actively promoted
African dignity and black pride recognising the psychological damage
of racism.
Martin Luther King
(Source:http://www.marxists.org/glossary/people/k/pics/king-martin-luther.jpg)
George
Padmore
(Source:http://www.nathanielturner.com/images/New_Folder/georgepadmore.jpg)
The first Pan-African Conference was held in 1900 in London and its ideas
spread to important leaders in the African independence struggles such
as Nkwame Nkrumah and Jomo Kenyatta whose rallying cry was ‘Africa
for Africans’. Pan Africanism gave rise to the Black
Consciousness Movement in South
Africa under Steve Biko and the Pan Africanist Congress
of Azania (SA)
with similar principles.
Steve Biko
(Source:http://www.grisgrisfilms.com/images/biko-head.jpg)
Jomo Kenyatta
(Source:http://www.nathanielturner.com/images/New_Folder/jomokenyatta.gif)
Kwame
Nkrumah
(Source: http://us-africa.tripod.com/nkrumah.jpg)
4) The Rise of Communism
The rise of Communist Russia and communism also influenced anti-colonial sentiment. Communism was opposed to capitalism and colonial rule was seen as playing an important role in the development of capitalism. The Soviets were determined to spread communism and so supported African independence movements.
5) The United Nations Organisation
The establishment of the United Nations and the statement of its principles committed the organisation to human rights and self-determination. The UN was therefore obliged to encourage and support the African independence movements. The organisation's most powerful members, the USA and USSR supported decolonisation. The UN also provided a voice for those who had been colonised to express their demands. A special Afro-Asian bloc developed, made up of those countries who supported anti-colonialism. In 1952 African countries demanded faster economic development in the colonies and began to set dates for independence.
Learning
outcome: Learners will be expected to synthesise information about
the past to develop, sustain and defend an independent line of historical
argument. They will be expected to communicate and present information
reliably and accurately in writing and verbally.
Activity 3
