INTRODUCTION
According to
Ndabaningi Sithole (1963)
AFRICA NATIONALISM
is the desire of
African people to
rule themselves and.
It is their
desire to terminate
all foreign rule
. basically African
nationalism is the
political will of
the African people
in opposition to
foreign domination but
in favour of
African rule. It represents
the African’s struggle
against western colonialism and
imperialism”
According to
Michael Crowder: Nationalism
is the feeling of
national consciousness or
awareness by the
people that they
are members of
nation state and
desire freedom from
colonial rule.
According to
Mwl Kato; African
nationalism was literally to
the desire, love
or spirit from
one nation. Nationalism
in Africa has
been used to
signify the struggle
for independence or
self determination.
All in all
we can
define nationalism as
a political will
of Africans to
fight against colonial
exploitations and oppressions
for the intention
of ruling themselves
participated by all
Africans.
OBJECTIVES OF
NATIONALISM STRUGGLE IN AFRICA
struggle
for self determination
had different aims
and objectives as
follows;
To struggle for
self independence of
Africans from colonial
masters. For example
Tanganyika struggled for
self rule from
Britain.
Intended to
help workers to fight
their rights through
forming trade unions
of the workers so
as to remove
exploitations.
To put
away all forms
of segregation among
the masses and to promote
development in African
countries. For example
racial segregation in
south Africa.
Another is
gain African freedom
against injustice and
enequalities of the colonialists.
Last but
not least is
to promote unity
and solidarity among
the people of
Africa against colonialism
in African continent.
FACTORS OR
REASONS FOR AFRICAN
NATIONALISM.
The following
are the internal reasons
for the rise
of African nationalism.
These includes;
Independence of
governments like Liberia
and Ethiopia which
escape from being under
colonialism. They therefore
become source of
inspiration to the
emergency of nationalists.
The
role of
African education in
the colonies. This
was crucial in
the rise of
nationalism and the
called decolonization. Education
was given to
some Africans in
the missionaries and
government schools.
Education shaped the
thought of Africans
and made them to
be familiar with
their rights. Example
of these elite
are like Nandi
Azikiwe, Kwame Nkrumah,
Jomo Kenyatta and
the late J.K
Nyerere who altogether
played a significant
role in the
formation of political
parties.
“The nationalist
leaders tried to do this
by mobilizing mass
support and by
expressing popular demands.
They intended to use
their centre power
mass support to
write all people
of the country into
a single nation in
which they would
be economic”
FEATURES OF
AFRICAN NATIONALISM
Educated and
charismatic people were
the leaders of
the struggle who
focused on behalf
of the African
masses. Example of
these leaders are
like Kwame Nkrumah of
Ghana Jomo Kenyatta
of Kenya and
Julius K Nyerere of
Tanganyika.
It was
also based on political
matters as a
gear to other issues of
African societies
It was
motivated by both
external and internal
factors unlike those
before 1945 which
were motivated by
internal factors.
Those struggle
were well organized
and well planned
by the African educated
leaders by the
African educated leaders,
for example the late
Nyerere of Tanganyika.
Basically it
was national wide
that covered the
whole of Africa
through formation of
political parties which
operated rural and
urban areas
There had
formation of social
welfare association which a
great role in
African nationalism. These
aimed eliminating poor
working condition, discrimination and
colonial exploitation that
include taxation ,
forced labour ,
low wages and
land alienation for
Example kikuyu people
of Kenya highland
lost their land
settlers. There African
association in Tanganyika.
“The
association aimed to improve
the working conditions
of African workers discrimination and
colonial abuse in
African such association
largely based in
urban centre and
comprised colonial civil
servants in Kenya
formed by Herry
Thuku”
Another factor
for African nationalism
is the formation of
independent churches. These churches by
the Africans to
challenges Europeans church
leaders. The movement
were not for
religious but addressed
social and political
discontents.
“The church
that were lead
by Africans breaking
away from main
streams which challenged
their misdeeds over
the African. They
were addressed not
only religions but
also political, social and
economic grievance of
African. Example the
African national church
in Tanganyika hence
they openly criticize
the colonialists and
encouraged their follower
to fight their
independence”
Europeans also
exercised intensive exploitation
in the colonies,
this was after
the second world
war whereby African
resources were very
much exported in
Europe.
“In the colonies,
the colonizers wanted
to revamp their
economies which were
havy damaged by
the war, large
scale colonization was
carried out. New
measures to increase production in
the colonies and
to reduce the
metro pole expenditure on
the colonies were
introduced like land
alienation to establish
more plantation for
the while settlers,
forced labour, to
work on the
plantation”
Independence of
Ghana was another
factors for nationalism.
The independence of
Ghana in 1957
was stimulated African
nationalism towards the
struggle for independence.
“In April
1958, all independence
state include Ethiopia,
Egypt, Morocco and
Tunisia et at
Accra in Ghana.
In 1960 their
meeting continued and
they developed plans to
assist in the
liberation struggle of
other countries”
The role
of Italo-Ethiopia conflict.
The war fought
from 1935-1941 between
Italy and Ethiopia
under Musolin and
Haile Selasie and
Ras Imru respectively
pumped the rise of
African nationalism. The war
helped African countries
to boost African
to fight against
the enemity of
colonialism and attain
their independence.
EXTERNAL FACTORS
FOR AFRICAN NATIONALISM
The rise
of Pan Africanism
since 1900. This
was a movement
which opposed the
oppression for all
the Black people
in the world. It
was founded in
America by the
people of African
origin, the most
important were William
Dubois and Marcus
Garvey. These people
argued that African
was for the
Africans and encouraged
people to struggle
for self rule
and later from
the united state
of America through
the creation of
political parties to
fight against colonial rule.
Pan africanism provided
moral and material
support.
“Pan
– Africanism movement declared
that African had
to be independent. Most of
Africans were inspired
by the declaration
and started struggle
for independence. It provided moral
and material support
to the nationalist.
Moral support helped
growing ideas and
advice in the
struggle which had
to be used
by the African
to eradicate colonialism.
Pan-Africanism gave fund
to assist the
leaders during the
struggle for independence”
The impact
of the first
and second word wars
led to African
nationalism.
“African soldiers
developed a deeper
political consciousness as
a result of
travelling widely and other
participation in the
war. They saw
many lands and
many people experienced
new technical skill
in advanced weapon
and driving military
vehicle, many received
institution on European
language, French and
English learn both
newspapers and listen
wireless bulletin, also they
came to conditised
other African”
Another factors
is the rise
of united nation
(UN) and the
power of world
open also led
to the open
also led to
the rise of
African nationalism.
“A new
vector in international
policies, word opinion
emerged with the
period between the
Banding conference in
1955 and the
year of African
independence from 1960.
World opinion crystallized
in the united
nation, which become
a fore most agency
for listerning
decolonization even at its inception
in San Fransisco
1945, the UN had an
ant-colonial that provoked
deep foreboding in
delogoles representing colonial
interest”
The open
door policy of
united state of
America also contributed
a lot to
the African Nationalistic
struggle.
“The
USA reinforced its open door policy and supported
decolonization since it
need centres for raw
materials, markets and
areas for investment.
The colonies could
gain their independence
(Neo-colonialism)”
The returning
soldiers from first
and second world
war widened the
political horizon of
African who involved
in the war.
African came to
know the meeting
of freedom. Self
determination and democracy.
This stimulated political
feeling and struggle
for their independence.
Socialism opposed
exploitation of one
man by another.
The rise of
USSR as a
socialist leading country
made it arrange
for destruction of
colonialism. Socialist ideology
which was archieved
in USSR in
1917, china in
1958. Since she
was against exploitation
declared to support
all nationalist movement
morally and materially.
PROBLEM FACED NATIONALISTIC IN STRUGGLE
FOR INDEPENDENT:-
SOCIAL
PROBLEMS
High
number of illiteracy among Tanzania since large number of Tanzania’s was unable
even to read and write. During that time
colonial education was mostly seggregative and more discriminative only son’s
of chiefs and Jumbes were allowed to get that education but the majority were
unable even to read and write. Through newspaper and magazine with ideas of
nationalism was only for those know to read only which were very few in
Tanzania.
“Many people during the nationalism movement
were illiterate and the colonialist never took the trouble to educate them”[1]
Religious differences. These situations
time nationalistic movement. For instance at the time of independence in
Tanganyika the opposition from the church missionary society. This rued that
any Christianity convert would not join political parties. As result the
process of liberation was very difficult.
Tribaism and ethnics. During the
nationalism movement most African were derived along tribal and ethnic friends.
It was intolerable. For instance to put together the Hausa and the Ibo in
Nigeria to fight against European colonization like wise a similar code
appeared in Uganda for Buganda and the Nyankole did not unite to fight European
imperialisms similar situation also appeared in Congo where the Kathi, Buluba
did not want to be ruled by Bune Luluia. For the case of Tanganyika some trible
nigleted to unite by the fearing of colonialism examples during the Majimaji
war some tribes joined the war like Ngoni Matumbi Zaramo and others but the
rest didn’t unite.
ECONOMIC PROBLEM
Poor techniques of fighting was also the problems
of nationalist in struggle for independence in Tanzania. They applied out
fashioned methods of fighting to resist colonialism like passive resistance
among peasant to work in plantation which were to work in plantations which
were very old methods of fighting to regain their right.
“Clearly it would have
been surprising if Tanzanian’s did not change their techniques for fighting for
their independence as one political failed to gain them their independence”[2]
Stagnation of agriculture production,
during the struggle for independence many people engaged in fighting for
liberation and issues of production failed result agriculture decrease.
POLITICAL PROBLEM
Lack
of political machinery people for a longtime. It was unlawful for Africans to found political party. Concequently it
became extremely hard to organize the
citizens for libration struggle. To worsen the situation at the time of
independence the freedom fighte like mwalimu Nyerere labled as te political
innovators hooligans and this was take to facts that had no specific party ay
first had organized like Tanganyika
territory Africa civil Servant Association (TTACSA) and Tanganyika African Associatiom (TAA) this based on legislative council but had no support
since based on a particular area J.K
Nyerere took trmendo role to mobilize people where here were also ANC where
Nyerere crushed both political parties and in Jully 1957 formed
Tanganyika. African Asssociation Union.
“that why it took longtime
for nationalistic like the late Jomo
Kenyata of Kenya the Late J.K.Nyerere to form a mass political party and gain
independence”[3]
Non of this was nationalistic
movement but they were the elements from which nationalist movement was
created” [4]
Opposition for colonial government to
introduce ethnicism. The colonial government attempted to divide the chiefs of
Tanganyika at the meeting of chiefs in 1957, the Governor Twinning attempted to
drive a wedge between traditional rulers and members of the nationalist
movement. He emphasized to the chiefs that they were the custodians of
traditions values. They propagated colour prejudices and racial segregation
among the people.
“The major aim of this
party (U.T.P) was generating propaganda in an attempt to rest the growth and
spread of TANU furthermore the aprty was intended to be an instrument of
European political domination in Tanganyika”[5]
CONCLUSION
The process
of African nationalism
took longtime and
it costed nationalist
morally and material
within Africa, the
new world as
well the world
at large. Long
term exploitation, humiliation,
discrimination, racial segregation
were among the
reason which forced
African to struggle
to the maximum
point for their
freedom and independence.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1)
Boahena. A. (1964)
TOPICS IN
WEST AFRICA; London
Clevendon
2)
IBID (1996)
ASPECT OF
AFRICA HISTORY, East
Africa seris
3)
Coleman S.
J Sular L,
R (1994) ; NATIONALISM AND
DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA
4)
Katto, A
92002) A MASTERING
THE ORIGIN AND
DEVELOPMENT OF MODERN
AFRICA STATE
5)
Louis L.S
(1968) ; THE NEW
NATION ;By Cornell
University
6)
Mwijage K,F
(2004) MAJOR EVENTS IN
AFRICAN HISTORY, Salvatorium
Morogoro
7)
Okoth, A
(2006) A HISTORY OF
AFRICA; AFRICA NATIONALISM AND
DECOLONIZATION
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