1. The Rise of African Nationalism
HI177 | A History of Africa since 1800
Term 2 | Week 4 | Dr Sacha Hepburn

3. Dates of African Independence

4. Nationalism(s) French Assimilation British Accommodation
West Central Africa
Algeria
British Accommodation
West African inclusion
East African co-option
Central African federation
African Constitutionalists
Afrikaner Nationalism in South Africa

5. Nationalist Politics Political leaders Political parties Campaigning
Conservatives v radicals
Traditionalists v modernisers
Political parties
Elite or mass?
Local or national? Or international
Campaigning
Ideology and programme?
Development & anti-colonialism
How funded? Who votes?
Elections
What system? What constitution?

6. The New African,
March 1946
Pan-African Congress, Manchester,
October 1945

7. Nationalist Politics Political leaders Political parties Campaigning
Conservatives v radicals
Traditionalists v modernisers
Political parties
Elite or mass?
Local or national? Or international?
Campaigning
Ideology and programme?
Development & anti-colonialism
How funded? Who votes?
Elections
What system? What constitution?

8. Paths to Independence Various paths to independence…
Election (e.g. Ghana)
Negotiation (e.g. Sudan, Nigeria)
Violence
Urban unrest, labour militancy (e.g. Belgian Congo)
Liberation wars (e.g. Algeria, Mozambique, Angola)
Role of guerrilla struggle (e.g. Zimbabwe)
Often a combination of these…

9. Case 1: Gold Coast to Ghana
Legislative elections, won by UGCC
UGCC: United Gold Coast Convention (Danquah)
Old-fashioned, elite party, led by traditional chiefs and educated urban businessmen
CPP: Convention People’s Party (Nkrumah)
Radical mass party, led by younger activists and graduates. INC as model (Gandhi) Mobilised youth groups, urban and rural
Positive Action Campaign, 1950: Imprisonment of Nkrumah and others

10. Case 1: Gold Coast to Ghana
Legislative elections, 1951: won by CPP, Nkrumah becomes ‘leader of govt business’
6 March 1957 – elections, full independence
Nkrumah first Prime Minister

11. Case 2: Mau Mau and Kenya Emergent Nationalist politics, 1945-
KAU: Kenya African Union
Moderates v Militants
Constitutionalists v Direct Action
State of Emergency, October 1952
Arrest of Kenyatta & KAU leaders
Capture of Dedan Kimathi, Oct 1956
Detention camps ( )

12. Suspected Mau Mau members at a detention camp in Nairobi, 1952
The arrest of Dedan Kimathi, 1956
Searching for Mau Mau, Karoibangi, 1954

13. Case 2: Mau Mau and Kenya Rebuilding politics National parties
Local parties, November 1956
New constitution, elected Africans
National parties
KANU – centralist (Kenyatta)
KADU – federalist (Moi)
Independence – 12 December 1963
Mau Mau – victory or defeat?

14. Conclusions
The paths and processes towards independence were not inevitable…
Avoid ‘reading history backwards’ (Cooper)
Different visions of independence
’Winds of change’ not felt with the same strength everywhere
Portuguese hold on to their colonies (until 1975)
White settlers resist change (Algeria, Kenya, Southern Rhodesia, South Africa)

15. Email: s.hepburn@warwick.ac.uk Office hours:
Questions?
Office hours:
Monday 3-4pm and Friday 11am-12pm
H3.31, third floor Humanities