Decolonisation in Africa (1951-1980)
After World War II, the European nations relinquished sovereignty of their colonies in Africa, and these regions became independent nations.Â
This period is known as the decolonization of Africa. It took place from the middle of the 1950s to 1975.
In African history, decolonization has grown to be a pivotal event that continues to influence the continent’s politics, economy, and society.
After obtaining independence, Africa had to cope with several issues, including establishing new governments, resolving economic disparities, and coping with the effects of colonialism.Â
We will study the advantages and difficulties of decolonization in Africa in this essay.
About Decolonisation of Africa
- The Europeans were the ones who colonized Africa, and many of the African nations were their colonies in the West. The only two African nations never under European colonial rule were Ethiopia and Liberia.
- Africa had abundant resources, including fossil fuels like oil and gas and precious metals like platinum, cobalt, diamonds, and gold. This is why they established their colonies there.
- Many African nations were first colonized by Portugal, which was followed by the entry of other Western nations like Portugal, Spain, France, Britain, and other European powers.
- Except for Ethiopia and Liberia, almost the whole continent was ruled by Europe in the late 1800s. The Scramble for Africa was a period that generally spanned from 1881 to 1914.
- Negotiations with the colonial power led to the independence of several countries, such as Ghana in 1957. Algeria achieved independence from colonial domination in 1962 using military resistance.
- The process of becoming independent, or decolonization, began in the middle of the 20th century and continued for several decades. The majority of African nations had gained independence by the 1980s.
Independence of Various African Nations Since 1951
Year African Nations’ independence
1951 Libya was the first African nation to gain independence
1952 Mau – Mau started in Kenya
1956 Morocco and Tunisia gained independence
1957 Ghana is the first British colony to gain independence
1960 Congo gained independence from Belgium
1961 Sierra Leone and Tanzania gained independence
1962 Algeria becomes an independent nation
1963 Kenya becomes an independent nation
1964 Malawi and Zambia become independent
1965 Gambia gains independence
1966 Botswana and Lesotho gained independence
1975 Angola and Mozambique become independent
1980 Zimbabwe becomes independent
Scramble for Africa
The invasion, occupation, division, and colonization of Africa by seven Western European nations is referred to as the “Scramble of Africa.”
Except for Ethiopia and Liberia, European nations colonized nearly all of Africa between 1880 and 1900.
The Berlin Conference in 1884 served as the impetus for the Scramble for Africa.
The conference controlled trade and colonization of Africa by Europeans. Seven European countries seized control of African states.
The Suez Canal’s opening, which connected the Red Sea and the Mediterranean and shortened the time needed to make the lengthy trek to the east coast of Africa and India, enabled them to accomplish this.
The Scramble for Africa took place during the New Imperialist era, from 1881 to 1914.
The “Congo Conference,” sometimes known as the Berlin Conference, marked the beginning of British “New” Imperialism.
In 1884, German Chancellor Otto von Bismark invited the world’s most powerful Western nations to a summit.
African dominance was the topic of discussion and resolution at the meeting.
Historical Background of Decolonisation of Africa
- The great military might of European colonists united several African nations, forming them into a single entity. However, they started fighting inside these erected false borders as soon as colonialism ended. Tribal animosity and a lack of a shared cultural past were the causes of this. The worst genocides took place in Nigeria, the Congo, Burundi, and Rwanda.
- Most African countries had abundant natural resources. Consequently, the resource-rich regions began to side with one of the civil conflicts. Take the conflict involving Burundi, Uganda, Angola, etc.
- African nations were a source of raw materials for colonists. These nations’ inadequate agriculture and lack of industries made them susceptible to neo-colonialism.
- Their economy was mostly reliant on the export of one or two commodities. Due to declining global prices, trade between the countries was hampered by political upheaval and civil wars.
- The majority of colonial countries prevented Africans from going to school. They failed to fully provide the necessities of Africans. That explains the absence of sensible leadership and confidence in democratic procedures. As a result, shortly after winning independence, the majority of countries encountered civil conflict and corruption.
- Over the past 20 years, there have been reports of disasters caused by climate change, mostly affecting third-world countries in Africa.
- In several countries, ethnic strife resulted from the decolonization process. This was evident in countries with substantial populations of European settlers.
- There were riots and anti-White sentiment throughout the nation. As was the case in Zimbabwe, white people were forcibly removed from their homes. This led to a financial crisis as well as a general decrease in production.
Causes of the Decolonisation of Africa (Internal and External)
The decolonization of Africa was brought about by several internal and external factors, including World War II, the emergence of new superpowers like the United States that backed the process, the independence of Asian countries like India, and the development of virtuous African leaders like Nelson Mandela.
External causes
- The United States and the Soviet Union, the two strongest and most successful nations, opposed colonialism.
- the United Nations and other international organizations supported decolonization.
- India supported decolonization in West Africa following African independence.
- Â and the United States ascent to global prominence following World War II also supported decolonization.
Internal causes
- African nationalism began to arise in many West African countries following World War II.
- colonial powers’ political repression of Africans, which denied them fundamental freedoms and rights.Â
- To strive for independence, African nationalists established trade unions and political groups. They coordinated protests and strikes against the colonial powers as well.Â
- When certain African nations, like Ghana in 1957, gained independence through talks with the colonial power, it was the first significant win for African nationalism.Â
- Most of Africa had achieved independence by the 1960s. This was a significant watershed in African history that had a lasting effect on the political, economic, and social advancement of the continent.
Effects of Decolonization in Africa
Africa was profoundly and permanently affected by decolonization, which mostly took place in the decades after World War II.
Africa’s political, economic, and social environment was altered by the decolonization process, which brought about both advantages and considerable difficulties. The following are some major effects:
Political Effects
- African nations achieved independence and sovereignty from European colonial powers, which resulted in the creation of new states and the division of political borders.Â
- Creation of New Governments: To create their political structures, many African countries adopted a variety of governing structures, such as democracies, military dictatorships, and one-party republics.Â
- Pan-Africanism and nationalism: The fight for independence sparked the development of Pan-Africanism, which emphasizes solidarity and collaboration among African states, as well as a sense of nationalism and oneness among Africans.Â
- Conflict and Instability: The removal of colonial borders that ignored racial and cultural distinctions frequently resulted in political instability following decolonization, which took the form of coups, civil wars, and border disputes in some of the affected nations.
Economic Effects
- Economic Challenges: Poverty, inequality, and a reliance on a narrow variety of exports are among the issues that post-colonial states face as a result of inheriting economies that were set up to favor the colonial powers.Â
- Attempts at Economic Diversification: While results varied greatly, some nations made an effort to diversify their economies through industrialization and development initiatives.Â
- Debt and Dependency: Attempts to modernize and grow frequently resulted in large debt, making many nations reliant on loans from international financial institutions as well as foreign help.
Social and Cultural Effects
- African cultural identity, the arts, and literature saw a renaissance thanks to independence movements that celebrated native customs and history.Â
- Education and Literacy: Although access and quality varied, the creation of national education systems resulted in gains in higher education and literacy rates.Â
- Social Change and Challenges: As nations adjusted to new economic and political realities, decolonization brought about social changes, including modifications to gender roles and family structures.Â
- Urbanization: People moved to cities in pursuit of work and opportunity as a result of economic developments, which fueled urbanization. This led to the development of urban centers but also brought about problems like overcrowding and poor infrastructure.
International Relations
- Non-Aligned Movement: To stay out of the Cold War hostilities between the US and the USSR, many African countries joined the Non-Aligned Movement.Â
- Continued Foreign Influence: Even after gaining their independence, several African nations were nevertheless heavily influenced politically, militarily, and economically by both new and old global superpowers as well as by former colonial powers.
Africa is still shaped by the complicated and varied decolonization process that took place there. Even though independence gave people the right to self-determination and sovereignty, colonialism’s legacy still has an impact on the political, economic, and social advancement of Africa.
Aftermath of Decolonisation of Africa
After gaining independence in the early 1980s, antagonistic tribes inside countries and troublesome border disputes led to the outbreak of civil conflicts throughout Africa. Poverty and oppression resulted from the deterioration of the situation caused by religion and tribal wars, governmental instability, and colonial policies. The quest for dominance by European settlers led to issues in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Algeria.
From 1948 until 1990, South Africa practiced apartheid, which denied its citizens the right to vote. The disintegration of African republics was further exacerbated by the political dynamics of the Cold War era.
African Independence
- Peaceful negotiations: Through discussions with the colonial power, certain nations, like Ghana in 1957, were able to gain independence.Â
- military struggle: Some achieved independence by military opposition to colonial control, such as Algeria in 1962.Â
- Gradual transitions: A few nations went through a more gradual process of becoming independent, such as Tunisia in 1956.
Conclusion
The first nation to annex territories in Africa was Portugal. Because of its wealth in gold, spices, diamonds, and land, they colonized it.
The land, resources, and trade of Africa were seized by colonizers.
Africa’s independence movement started slowly but picked up steam in the middle of the 20th century as a means of resisting colonialism.
The independence movement includes nonviolent demonstrations, boycotts, and occasionally even armed conflict.
Decolonisation in Africa (1951-1980)