AFRICA’S DECOLONIZATION AND INDEPENDENCE 9
Running head: AFRICA’S DECOLONIZATION AND INDEPENDENCE 1
Africa’s Decolonization and Independence
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Introduction
In the process of decolonization and independence of Africa, nationalists faced a lot of challenges as they opposed the imperial rule. In Africa, Egypt is identified as the first country to oppose the activities of British colonialists. It was after World War II that most of the African countries started nationalist movements that advocated for decolonization and attainment of independence. Ghana used a non-violent movement to push for decolonization while Kenya used violent movement to oppose British rule. Europeans because of their knowledge on industrial revolution exploited African resources, captured energetic Africans for slavery and established a strong army to defend their colonies. Colonialists who explored Africa came from states like Germany, Great Britain, Italy, France, and many others. Colonial rule was fully witnessed in most Afrthe can regions from 1914-1945 and resulted in both economic and political changes (Birmingham & Birmingham, 2008).
In most cases, Africans were exploited by Europeans hence organized for decolonization and attainment of independence. After World War II, the African continent experienced rapid decolonization because Europeans were unable to meet the post-war goals they had set with African soldiers. African ex-soldiers had collected several facts concerning their colonialists, including their vulnerability to death when shot. Therefore, ex-soldiers were confident after World War II to attack Europeans and oppose their destructive imperial rule (Nathan, 2016). Imperial rule was implemented after the Berlin conference conducted from 1884-1885 in Germany. Therefore, the paper discusses the decolonization and independence of African countries.
Africa’s Decolonization and Independence
The African countries which were earlier infuriated because of European’s greediness to exploit resources and grab the African land include South Africa and Egypt. South Africa was led by nationalist leaders and first gained independence in 1910 after the end of ruthless Boer war. Afterward, Egypt became independent in 1922. Residents of Cape Town and Natal region in South Africa had earlier identified Europeans as greedy people with evil targets of exploiting raw materials like gold found in South Africa. At around 1950s-1970s, many African countries attained independence. The central African Republic became independent in 1960, Kenya 1963, and Ghana 1957 (Bradshaw, Richard & JuanFandos-Rius, 2016). Europeans exploited fertile lands of Africans, extracted resources for their industries and also imposed taxes to Africans. African traditional leadership was abolished by Europeans leaving all native African under foreign rule. The ruthlessness of Europeans influenced Africans who had received formal education to coordinate with ex-soldiers in fighting Europeans.
Nationalism and independent movements started in Africa after the realization that Europeans targeted to benefit their interests and not cater to African needs. Nationalists advocated for reclamation of African land, respect to African culture and conducting traditional religious events without interference from colonialists. World War II was an event that led to decolonization. The French revolution also influenced the need to decolonize Africa because Europeans needed extra raw materials for their industries and could do anything to get such materials, even relocation thousands of native Africans. Therefore, Africans needed leaders who will use paths like violence, diplomacy and peaceful actions to struggle for the independence of their nations (Makinda, Okumu & Mickler, 2015). Nelson Mandela led South Africa for decolonization, Jomo Kenyatta led Kenya and Nkrumah led in the process of decolonization and attainment of independence.
Egypt’s Decolonization and Independence
Historians explain that Egypt was decolonized first if compared to other African countries. Decolonization is the state of a country becoming independent after being freed from its colonizers. Egypt was colonized by the British after British soldiers forced out French from operating in the country. Egypt remained an organized nation before the British invasion and colonization. Egyptians valued their culture and were furious after the British introduced Western culture. British protectorate dictated on the organization of society among Egyptians. After decolonization of Egypt in 1922, Sultan Ahmad Fuad ruled Egyptians (Creary, 2012). Since cotton was the major cash crop in Egypt, British control of the product made cotton less beneficial to local people. From 1952-1953 is when Egypt fully became independent but had earlier opposed the British rule.
In 1869, Egypt thought British was a good business partner and lent money to complete the Suez Canal buildings. The English Banks coordinated with the British Empire that bought all shares after Egypt delayed in the repayments of the debt from the English Banks. Failure to pay debt allowed the British Empire to control resources in Egypt including agricultural products and minerals (Hargreaves, 2014). Therefore, the Egyptians witnessed the harsh rule of British colonialist in the era of World War I. British authorities confiscated cotton, determined the prices of commodities in the market and alienated land. Egyptians from loyal families who were not affected by the activities of the colonialists claiming that Europeans were introducing Western civilization to Egyptians. After Egyptians demonstrated because of British claiming that some parts of Suez Canal were under the British government, Egypt in 1922 was offered partial independence, but British colonialists maintained some of their operations along the Red Sea and in cotton plantations.
Egyptians were frustrated after British colonialists became untrustworthy in trade, especially the operations of the Suez Canal. Grabbing of African land, asking English Banks to fine Egyptians for delaying in payments of debts and exploitation of local minerals are some of the factors that influenced nationalists in Egypt to ask for decolonization. The struggle for independence in Egypt started with negotiations whereby representatives of the Egyptian people went to London to discuss matters concerning the Egyptian government. After negotiations failed, Egyptians engaged in massive protests which made it difficult for business and governance of the British Empire to continue in Egypt. The British government did not fully ignore the protests and allowed to grant Egyptians limited independence in 1922. New monarch was started in Egypt after limited independence was given by the British government. British Empire became less powerful after 1922 because Egyptian leaders took an active role in deciding on foreign trade partnerships and regulation of trade commodities (Arowolo, 2017). Egyptian government controlled investments especially trade across the Suez Canal after it was granted limited independence by the British colonialists.
Egypt was populous of all British colonies, and this influenced its earlier independence. After granting of limited independence in Egypt, Egyptians were allowed to trade with countries where British controlled economic, social and political systems. In Egypt, the struggle for decolonization first started with non-violent strategies than proceeded to violent movements after the British authorities ignored negotiations from Egyptian leaders. Therefore, British colonialists had a dictatorship form of government and prioritized any opportunity that could benefit its investments and improve its superiority among the western countries which at the time were exploring Africa and colonizing several countries (Pingali, 2012). To protect their interests, colonialists supported the new religion of Christianity which was spread by missionaries.
World War II and its influence on Decolonization and Independence
World War II contributed a lot to the division of power in many parts of Africa. After the war, European colonialists were no longer viewed as superpowers because the United States and the Soviet Union had emerged as the new superpowers after World War II. The decolonization movements started shortly after the end of World War II because the United States had pressure to convince African countries to adopt capitalism while USSR was supporting socialism. For African states to change and become democratic capitalist states, they were to be independent first. Also, communism could not be effectively spread if African countries were to remain under European colonialism. Therefore, nationalist movements were supported by the United States and USSR. The two superpowers after World War II hated Europe and did not support Europeans to continue colonizing and controlling the economy and political organizations of Africans. The war also enlightened the ex-soldiers. African ex-soldiers who participated in the war helped their fellow Africans to ignore the ideology of European superiority (Mlambo, 2018). Ex-soldiers conformed that white men during the war died the same way Africans did. Also, sufferings by Africans were also common to white men while on the battlefield. The gun shoots did not discriminate the white combats from the blacks. Therefore, Africans were ready to push for decolonization either through the violent movements or non-violent movements. Therefore, a message from ex-soldiers and influence from the United States and the Soviet Union contributed to movements for unification, integration, and liberalization of the Africans.
The Pan African Movement
Pan African Movement took an active role in the decolonization of Africa. After Egypt was granted limited independence in 1922, Pan Africanists later coordinated to create solidarity bonds needed to help Africans be freed from the ruthless colonial authorities. Pan Africanists were Africans but their efforts extended to advocate for the rights of the black race in Diaspora. The first Pan Africanist conference took place in London and discussed issues like land alienation, slavery, exploitation of minerals and other activities of colonialists in Africa (Nwaubani, 2001). In 1958, a conference for Pan-Africanists was attended in Ghana under the influence of Nkrumah. Leaders from different countries including Egypt, Morocco, Liberia, and Ethiopia attended and discussed how to support all African countries for decolonization and opposing of racism spread by colonialists. Therefore, the Pan African Movement had a role in decolonization and attainment of independence in Africa.
How Ghana Pushed for Decolonization and Independence through a non-violent movement
Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana was an African who took the interests of Pan-Africanism serious. In 1957, he led Ghana to attain independence. Decolonization process in Ghana is fully attributed to efforts of Kwame Nkrumah. Nkrumah organized constitutional reforms that led to independence, hence convinced British colonialists to grant Ghana independence without the use of armed violence. Kwame Nkrumah was a diplomat who valued negotiations and resolving issues through peaceful means. Unification and motivation of people to understand their rights was the main focus of Kwame Nkrumah. Boycotting European goods to influence negotiations with colonial leaders was a strategy by Nkrumah that led to the signing of peace agreements and finally decolonization of Ghana (Birmingham & Birmingham, 2008). The Convention People’s Party was formed by Nkrumah and helped in the decolonization of Ghana. After Ghana attained independence in 1957, Nkrumah was a declared a permanent president and the limited act freedom of other people. The cocoa planters were under Nkrumah’s rule, and people are opposing the Convention People’s Party received fewer benefits from the leadership of President Kwame Nkrumah.
How Kenya used violent anti-colonial movements for decolonization and independence
Kenya was under British colony and used violent and bloody means for the attainment of independence. For decolonization of Kenya, the Kikuyu community took an active part. There was a movement called ‘Mau Mau’ that rebelled against British colonialists. Mau Mau rebellion took place from 1952-1960. The fight for decolonization in Kenya was influenced by activities of British colonialists like alienation of African land, denial of voting rights to Africans and low wages paid by British white settlers to laborers who worked in plantations (Makinda, Okumu & Mickler, 2015). The working conditions for laborers was poor and unprotected by the Europeans. Kenyan society engages in violent means like boycotts, threatening Europeans and burning their structures to assassinate white colonialists and other local chefs who collaborated with colonialists in the exploitation of Kenyan resources. Europeans extracted minerals forced Africans to work on plantations and restricted their residential areas.
The assassinations by Mau Mau fighters influenced declaration of a state of emergency in 1952 whereby European soldiers threatened Africans and wanted to prove to them that they have a powerful empire with rights of colonizing Africans (Hargreaves, 2014). However, Africans in Kenya intensified their fight until British Europeans asked for reinforcement from their mother country. Kalenjin community and the coastal Bantu greatly opposed colonial rule, and in 1963, the British agreed to grant Kenya independence. Jomo Kenyatta became fully the President of Kenya in 1964 after British declared Kenya a republic. Non-violent movement in Kenya resulted in massive loss of lives whereby at least 13,000 Mau Mau people were killed as they fought for decolonization of Kenya. However, Africans enjoyed the fruits of decolonization which included getting their alienated land, control of the government, regulation of market commodities to suit their prices and attainment of freedom which was limited by British colonialists.
Conclusion
In conclusion, decolonization and independence of African countries relieved Africans from sufferings caused by colonialists. European colonialism lasted for many years influencing exploitation of minerals in Africa, alienation of African land, denial of human rights and freedom, and exploitation of laborers. British colonized many countries in Africa are controlling their economic and political organizations. In Africa, South Africa and Egypt were granted independence earlier although it was limited independence. Most of the African countries including Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria attained independence after World War II. World War II enlightened African leaders who discovered that Europeans were untrustworthy and exploited them in all means. For instance, British colonialists did not compensate ex-soldiers as it had promised. Therefore, ex-soldiers were infuriated for lack of compensation and organized boycotts seeking for decolonization. Also, Pan Africanism movement organized on how to help African states attain independence and escape the harsh colonial rule. For instance, Kwame Nkrumah organized several conferences advising leaders like Jomo Kenyatta on how to fight for independence. In claiming for decolonization, violent and non-violent movements were used. In Kenya, a non-violent movement was organized while in Ghana there was a non-violent movement that pushed for independence.
References
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