Chapter five: Nationalism in Africa

Introduction

Nationalism can be defined as the feeling belonging by an individual or group of people to a

geographical area known as motherland.

Nationalist there is an individual who has such feeling for his country that he ready and willing
to defend and keep out of his country and interfere it

Nationalism in Africa expressed in anti-colonial term as the desire of freedom from colonial rule,
also nationalism of Africa was expressed various ways some violent and non violent and
peaceful.

25:- Dates of African independence

Factors that Promoted in nationalism in Africa

1. European invasion of Africa: European invasion of Africa was seen as threat to the life
of Africans, traditional and indigenous political system, institutions and authority of
African ruler were undermined. In many places the European alienated land for their own
use and displaced the African who were living there
 2. Social discrimination: African were not allowed to live areas reserved for Europeans,
even schools and hospital as were organized such way, also African culture was
abandoned in favor of colonial culture

3. Racial segregation: - the colonial government of enacted laws that discriminated against
by white because of their skin this discrimination affected Africans socially, politically,
and economically.

4. Colonial labour laws: - through colonial Africa, Europeans subjected Africans to harsh
labour condition; this was either through legislation or by force.

5. Land alienation:- in many places the Europeans alienated for their own use and they
selected most productive areas and displaced the Africans who were living their

6. The first world war and second world war:-

7. Over taxation:-

8. Western education

9. Economical domination: European dominated the colonial economy while excluding

the African for gaining or benefiting from economic activity in the colony. Africans
merely provided labour activities in return of minimal wages and European workers
were paid netter salaries

Factors that strengthened nationalism

1. Pan African movement encouragement: leader of pan-African movement declared that

African was for Africans the main objectives of this movement was to provide forum through
which protest against European aggression of other races especially black people.

2. International opinion against colonialism: after the second world war there was
international opinion against colonist the opinion was expressed in international forum such
as the league of nations and united nation organization, there were also conference and
forum of pan African movement held in Europe to discuss the future of colonialism and
colonial territories, one of these fifth pan- African congress held in Manchester, England
 1945 among those who attended were African nationalists Such as , Kwane Nkrumah of
Ghana, Nnamdi Aziklwe of Nigeria, Leopard Senghor Of Senegal , Kamusu Banda Of
Malawi, Jamo Kenyatta in Kenya.

3. British labour party:- it took over power in 1945, its socialist policies were against
colonialism, as were socialist and communist party in Russia and France, the activities,
opinion and anti colonial attitudes of these parties greatly encouraged nationalism in Africa

4. International political reforms: political changed took place in some western countries
such as Britain by the British labour party apposed colonialism also communist and socialist
part in France refused

5. Emergence of world power: the rise of united state and soviet union as world power also
encouraged nationalism in Africa

6. Participation of African in the world wars: Africans who fought in the war by side of
European realized that Europeans were after all only human such experiences destroyed the
myth of European superiority

7. Attainment of independence by some colonies: the independence attained by some

colonies like India in 1947 also acted great inspiration to African nationalists; similarly
encouragement came from Ghana which became independent in 1957.

Nationalism in Somaliland

Introduction of Sayid Mohamed Abdulla

 Among community Sayid Mohamed was noticed miss behavior in the community
in the community that resented him and forced him to organize violent rebellion
against British colonial government for example , one day he met a boy in mission
school and asked his name At his amazement the boy replied ‘john Abdullah ‘
another day the sheikh met another group of boys from the middle school he asked
what clan do they belong to then they replied we belong to clan of fathers
 In 1898 Sayid Mohamed begun to gather weapon mainly spears and bows with
arrows, collected donation of live –stock and money to support his campaign

 In 1899 the British consul- general received a letter from Sayid Mohamed accusing
British of oppressing Islam and denouncing those who obeyed and cooperated with
administration as liars. The letter contained challenge (now if you want war accept it
and if you want peace pay the fine) the general replied by proclaiming Sayid
Mohamed Hassan as rebel and urged his government to prepare expedition against
dervish.

 The scene was now set for the twenty year of dervish struggle against British,
Ethiopians and Italian colonizers who established themselves in Somali territory
Fig 26:- Sayid Mohamed Abdulla Hassan (The big nationalist in Somaliland?

The wars of Sayid Mohamed Abdullah Hassan)

The operation against Sayid Mohamed was soon dubbed the mad mullah had begun, which out
broke of great war kept by British Italian and Ethiopian which dervishes greatly succeed the
status and value at the Battle of Dul Madoba, sayid mahamed killed soldiers including
Colonel Richard Corfield. Hassan memorialized this action in his poem simply entitled "The
Death of Richard Corfield." In the same year, the Dervish sacked Berbera. In 1914,
the Somaliland Camel Corps was founded as an expanded and improved version of the
constabulary British force was gathering against the Dervishes when they were interrupted by the
outbreak of World War I.

Finally Sayid’s power reduced after many sides of attacks by Britain, Italian and Ethiopian and
then signed with the following treaty

1. That he should have fixed residence on Italian territory

2. That he should govern his followers

3. That he should enjoy religious liberty

4. That he should have freedom to trade

In the beginning of 1920, the British struck the Dervish settlements with a well-coordinated air
and land attack and inflicted a stunning defeat. The forts of Hassan were damaged and his army
suffered great losses. They hastily fled to Ogaden region

Causes of dervish defeat

1. Internal clan rivalries

2. Division of between opposing religious orders

3. Confusion and chaos situation in the country

4. Some dervish stations were captured

5. British blockade of the coast reduced dervish supply of arms and ammunition

6. Taleh- the base of dervish forces was bombed and Sayid fled to Ogaden region

7. In 1920 s careful planed combined air, sea and land attack on dervish routes

Achievement of Sayid Mohamed Abdullah Hassan

1) He organized a large forces of non- clan basis

2) He became popular leader applying his administration on Islamic law

3) He became national here

 4) Enriched controlling the political and military conduct

Nationalism of Ghana – road of independence

Ghana is the British colony was originated the gold coast, nationalism in Ghana can be traced
back to about the year 1868 when the font confederation was formed in the reaction to the
policies of the Britain agents on the cast. However the confederation ceased in 1872. In 1897
Africans in the territory established right protection organization’’ the aim of the organization
was to stop Britain colonial government from taking over the land right of the people of gold
coast.

The more effective nationalists in the gold coast formed in 1940 s J.B Danquah and kwame
Nkrumah were the main persons behind the formation of these organizations . 1n 1946 danquah
formed united gold coast convection (UGCC) In reaction of the constitutional development that
were

Introduced in the gold coast by the British governors. The organization objected the constitution
and an election arrangement as they felt that they did not give enough powers to Africans.

Nkrumah joined the organization in 1947 as its secretary-general. In addition to the constitution
also the organization refused the destruction of cocoa plantation by the colonial government to
prevent spread of diseases. Their actions gained support from the people who joined boycott they
organized. These entire problem led to riots in 1948 many lives were lost and lots of property
destroyed also Africans leaders including Danquah and Nkrumah were arrested.

The riot led the British government to consider seriously the nationalist demanded which now
included participation by the Africans in the government and better economic condition.

Mean while arift had developed between the two nationalists. Nkrumah was more radical than
danquah anhe d regarded the UGCC’S call for “self rule’ as soon as possible . Nkrumah wanted
to press for immediate independence while the UGCC was more moderate and called for
gradual reform.

Despite these achievement Nkrumah did not enjoy support through out the country, he was
particulary an popular in northern part of the country and among ashanti and these peoples
feared that they would be dominated by the people of the coast from were Nkrumah . They
there for wanted to protect the arrest of their people even if this meant breaking away from
Ghana. Each of the two group formed its own political part , the ashante formed the national
liberation movement (NLM) in 1954. It called for the federation constitutional arrangement.

In the same year the people of the north formed the northern people’s party. However these parts
did not constitute much of threat to Nkrumah and his CPP. When independence elections were
held in July 1956 the CPP won decisively and went ahead to form an independent government in
march with Nkrumah as head of state and government

Problems facing Ghanaian nationalist

1. Disunity among Africans.

2. Rivalry among political party.

3. Imprisonment and arrests of African nationalists.

4. Luck of funds to finance their funds.

5. Brutal killings of Africans

6. Poor means of communication and transport.

7. Differences in ideologies, policies.

Reasons why Ghana achieved independence earlier than other African countries

1. There were present of few Europeans settlers in the country compared to the other countries
like in south Africa

2. There were rapid economic and social changes which were caused by extensive cultivation
of cocoa

3. Ghana was small country in size

4. There were large group of educated elites

5. Kwame nkrumah’s populist leaderships provided unity

Nationalism in Algeria

Algeria was the first the African countries to be colonized by European powers. the French
invaded Algeria in 1830s and established effective colonial rule which was later opposed
violently by the Algerians, their struggle was one of the most violent in Africa . the French
regarded Algeria as provinces of their country thus discouraged Algerian participation in the
government.

The important issues led for rise of Algerian struggle

Many issues generated the resentment of Algerians by the colonial French including:-

1. Oppressive and harsh rule by the French administrator who showed no respect for the
Algerians

2. The Algerian were discouraged to participate the government

3. Land was alienated from the indigenous Algerian by French

4. Indigenous Algerian were not allowed to participate in economic issues of their mother
land

5. Heavy taxation was imposed by Algerian citizen

6. French colonial government attempted to generate Islamic faith by catholic faith of

Christianity

7. Discrimination of Algerians by French colonial government in terms of health , education

and employment

Nationalism parties on Algeria

The main nationalism figure behind Algerian nationalism were Abdal-qaddir, Massah al- Haji,
fehrat abbas, and Mohamed Ahmed ben bella. Messah haji founded the north african star and
organization that was initially established as workers union later haji used it to articulate
political grievances, the organization demanded immediate Algerian independence in 1937 haji
founded an other political part known as part popularize Algerian. How ever the part was
prescribed in 1941 and Haji was sent to prison . hajji was radical and enjoyed massive support
among Algerian the majority were Muslims that is why he and his supporter were harassed by
colonial authority.

An other political parties formed by nationalists at the end of the second world war included
democratic union for Algerian manifesto its leader was Fahrat Abbas, he was so moderate in his
view and approach that he enjoyed the support of the colonial government, The government
wanted to use him against radical . Abbas abandoned violent as the method of fighting for the
right and freedom of Algerians political

In 1954 nation-wide violent broke out under the leader ship of new part national liberation front’
the colonial government reacted very ruthlessly, the leader of the military wing political party
was Mohamed Ahmed ben bella- a military officers who began his national activities in 1940. In
1947 had been arrested in 1950 he escaped Cairo in Egypt from where he continued to support
anti- colonial government and he was recaptured in 1956. How ever French president de Gaulle
conducted referendum which he clearly indicated that Algerian wanted independent with
Mohamed Ahmed ben balla its president

Nationalism in Tanganyika

Tanzania comes into exist in 1964 as a result of union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar which
became independent in 1961 and 1963 respectively. This territory was ruled by first German and
later by Britain. German rule was harsh led to protest and war like maji maji uprising .
nationalism in Tanganyika was fuelled by the cruel and unjust manner in which the colonial
government particularly German ruled the indigenous people of Tanganyika . later the British
colonial government showed a little change but it was not until the 1950s that people of
Tanganyika to demand full independence.
Julius Nye ere and TANU Party

Nationalism in Tanganyika revolved around the Julius Nayerere who became the president of
Tanganyika African association” he opened braches of the parts of each district from where
members recruited. In 1954 the name of the party was changed into Tanganyika African union
(TANU)

The organization had following aims

1. To unite all nationalist in the country

2. To eradicate tribalism

3. To promote and protect the political, economy and social interest of the people of
Tanganyika

4. To work for self government

End