The Road to Independence

Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa

The Road to Nationalism

• Unrest arose throughout Africa during the period of European control.

• There was a strong desire in most countries for independence from foreign rule.

• Nationalism (a strong belief in one’s country) fed this desire and nurtured the beginning of independence.

Dates of independence

of African nations

Kenya - Colonization

• In the 1800s, the coast of Kenya came under the control of Arab traders.

• The Germans and British took over next, but by the early 1900s, only the British remained in Kenya.

Kenya – Opposition to Colonial Rule

• Upset by their loss of rights as landowners and farmers, opposition groups began to form in the 1920s.

• Groups of guerrillas (a small, independent military force) swore to eliminate white settlers in Kenya, as well as any Africans who sided with them.

• They staged a rebellion in 1956, but were crushed by military forces.

Kenya - Independence

• Finally in 1964, Kenya achieved its independence from the British Empire.

• Jomo Kenyatta, le,ader of the Kenyan African National Union (KNAU) became the first president.

• Under Kenyatta and his successor, Daniel arap Moi, the KNAU ran unopposed in elections until the 1990s.

Kenya - Independence

• There has been some improvement in the political rights of Kenya’s people, but more is needed.

• The country remains a multi-party state on the books, but the reality is that the KNAU is still in control of the government.

Nigeria – Colonization

• Nigeria maintained its independence until the late 19th century (1800s) when Britain stepped in and began colonizing the area.

• Nigeria was a diverse nation with people and cultures from more than 250 ethnic groups.

Nigeria’s Ethnic Groups

Nigeria – Opposition to Colonial Rule

• In 1923, a movement began in Nigeria to set up the country as a self-governing member of the British Commonwealth.

• However, another nationalist group wanted complete freedom from British rule.

• Both military and peaceful groups struggled for Nigerian Independence.

Nigeria - Independence

• The federal elections in 1959 gave the nationalistic groups enough votes to form a government.

• In 1960, an independent government was established in Nigeria.

• At first, it was one of the most stable governments of the new African countries.

Nigeria - Independence

• By the end of a decade, though, a civil war broke out between the Christian south and the Muslim north.

• Because of clashes between ethnic groups, Nigeria suffered from violence and military rule until 1999, when a democratic government was established.

Nigeria - Independence

• Nigeria has the potential to have great wealth from their oil supplies.

• However, because of corruption in the government this resource has not been developed.

• As a result, Nigeria must rely on foreign aid and foreign supplies for their people.

South Africa

South Africa - Colonization

• South Africa was colonized by the British and Dutch in the 17th century.

• A policy of white superiority first became visible in 1685 when a law was passed forbidding whites and Africans to marry in a territory called Cape Colony.

• When Britain established the dominion of the Union of South Africa in 1910, power was given only to whites.

South Africa - Apartheid• The 1948 election brought

a new political party to power in South Africa and the policy of apartheid took a strong hold in the country.

• Basically, apartheid separated the country into whites and non-whites.

• In 1948, whites owned 80% of the land, even though they represented only 10% of the population.

South Africa - Homelands

• In 1951, the Bantu Authorities Act created “homelands” for black South Africans, who were assigned to artificially created parts of South Africa.

• The classifications were frequently inaccurate, and as a result of this law, 9 million South Africans were excluded from any role in governing South Africa.

South Africa - Independence

• Finally in 1961, the South Africans voted for and gained their independence from Britain.

• It took years of protests, several more decades, and a change of government leaders before blacks began to have a role in the government of South Africa.