Postcolonial Africa Nationalism a European export Rise in Africa between WWI & WWII African involvement in WWII was catalyst for completion of independence

Transition to Independence “In 1950, apart from Egypt, only Liberia, Ethiopia & white-controlled South Africa were sovereign states.” “By 1980 no African state (with the exception of two tiny Spanish holdings on the Moroccan coast) was ruled by a European state, although South Africa & Namibia continued to be white- dominated.”

Kwame Nkrumah-Ghana At the stroke of midnight, March 6, 1957, Kwame Nkrumah proclaims Ghana's independence. (NARA, 306-RNT )

Julius Nyerere-Tanzania When Tanganyika became independent in 1961, Nyerere was Prime Minister. In 1964 Tanganyika joined Zanzibar to form the Republic of Tanzania, and Nyerere became the new country's first President. He was re-elected President three times, and he resigned in Nyerere adopted socialist policies, which were only partly successful. Tanzania remained one of the poorest countries in Africa, but it was politically stable and it had one of the highest literacy rates in Africa.

Patrice Lumumba-CONGO Belgium begins to lose control over events in the Congo following serious nationalist riots in Leopoldville (now Kinshasa) Congo becomes independent with Patrice Lumumba as prime minister Congolese army mutinies; Belgian troops sent in ostensibly to protect Belgian citizens and mining interests; UN Security Council votes to send in troops to help establish order, but the troops are not allowed to intervene in internal affairs President dismisses Lumumba as prime minister Lumumba arrested Lumumba murdered, reportedly with US and Belgian complicity

Transition to Independence Many times frought with bloodshed Instability plagued new states due to lack of economic & political infastructure, haphazard political boundaries & people ill-prepared for self=rule Not enough educated, trained & experienced citizens Corruption in new governments, military coups, failed socialist leadership, civil wars, border struggles

Nigerian Civil War ( ) 1960 Independence from Britain 1967 – 1970 conflict caused by the attempted secession of the South- eastern (Christian) provinces of Nigeria as the self-proclaimed republic of Biafra from (Muslim) north notorious for the starvation in some of the besieged war-bound regions & genocide

South Africa 1948 Afrikaner-led National Party in power Governed under apartheid, white minority rule Citizens divided, white (Afrikaners, colored (Indian, mulattos), and black (African) Whites isolated the country, withdrew from British Commonwealth of Nations Built “homelands” for blacks to live in, carried passes like foreigners to go to work International community did not acknowledge homelands as separate countries Zulu chief Albert Luthuli (1960s) and Anglican bishop Desmond Tutu (1984) received Nobel Prize for anti-apartheid work  increased international attention

South Africa 1978 Pieter Botha, NP President who limited apartheid 1980s violent guerilla violence between gov’t troops & blacks 1986 international sanctions & global attention million black workers strike Botha resigns, replaced by NP F.W. de Klerk De Klerk lifts ban from African National Congress activities, releases Nelson Mandela from prison, & repeals Separate Amenities Act % whites voted to grant constitutional equality 1994 Mandela elected president in first open elections

Africa Today Incredible diversity Urban boomtowns Looming poverty Famine (Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan) AIDS epidemic Civil strife (Congo, Rwanda) Conflict over resources Lasting colonial influence

Cape Town, South Africa

Rwanda

French Sign in Senegal

Mt. Kilimanjaro Nile River in Cairo Sahara Desert