Influencing Factors Leading Up to Independent
African States
Leading up to African Independence
• For the first half of the 20th century, most of Africa was not free and formed the empires of European colonial
powers.
• After WW2, African nationalists fought for freedom from colonial rule.
• 1957: Ghana was the first country to gain independence.
• By 1960s: Most of Africa was independent (except Mozambique, Angola, Zimbabwe and Namibia).
Post-Independence
• Different approaches were taken to improve nation-building and economic development.
• African states were not wealthy at time of independence as colonial powers had done nothing to develop the
economic self-sufficiency of their colonies: Few secondary industries and universities and the countries were
mainly used for exporting unprocessed minerals.
Different Forms of Government - Political and Economical Ideologies
African Socialism
• System based on the belief in sharing economic resources in a traditionally African way instead of classic
European socialism.
• Nyerere argued that traditional African society had no class divisions, making it different from European socialism,
which relied on one class to lead the nation.
• Emphasised community, communal development and land-ownership, classlessness, collective decision-making over
European ideas of a working class revolution.
Capitalism
• Economic system based on private ownership emphasing profit-making through production and labour.
• African capitalist countries relied on foreign investment and economic ties with Western countries.
Democracy
• A system of government run by elected representatives on behalf of the whole population.
• Those elected are meant to ensure the respect of human rights and safeguard individual and civil liberties.
One-Party State
• Political system where only one party is allowed in a country by banning all opposition.
Kleptocracy
• The government exists to increase the personal wealth and political power of its leader, ruling officials and ruling
class at the expense of the wider population.
, Tanzania: Pre-Independence
Colonial Timeline
• 1885-1919: German control
• 1920-1961: British control of Tanganyika (140 ethnic groups and non-African minorities).
• 1890-1963: Zanzibar was a British protectorate and ruled through the Sultan.
Tanganyika: Leading Up to Independence: Zanzibar: Leading Up to Independence:
• 1954: The Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) was organised • Dec 19, 1963: Zanzibar received its independence as a
by Nyerere (1 of 2 Tanganyikans who went to University) constitutional monarchy under the Sultan.
• 1958: Internal self-government achieved. • Jan 12, 1964: African majority revolted against the
• 1960: TANU won elections. Sultan and a new government was formed with the
• Dec 9 1961: Tanganyika became an autonomous Commonwealth Afro-Shirazi Party (ASP) leader Abeid Karume as
country under a TANU government and Nyerere as Prime Minister. President of Zanzibar and Chairman of the
• Dec 9, 1962: Nyerere became president and a new republican Revolutionary Council.
constitution took effect.
Unification
• April 26, 1964: Tanganyika united with Zanzibar to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar.
• Oct 29, 1964: Renamed to the United Republic of Tanzania.
Colonial Legacy
• British colony before independence.
• Economically and Politically:
• Africans were barely involved in the administration of the colony:
○ 1950s: Local administration replaced 'native authorities' (chiefs) making some Africans play a limited role in local government,
○ After 1945: Limited African representation on the Central Legislative Council and the colonial government still controlled all institutions.
• Seen as one of the most underdeveloped economies in Africa at time of independence:
○ Lack of technical and administrative capacity, uneven development, poverty and ethnic divisions.
○ Left with almost no capital to spend on development - making it hard to avoid dependence on foreign aid.
○ Most people were peasant/subsistence farmers who practiced strip farming and did not produce much surplus.
○ Lack of infrastructure like schools, clinics and roads. There were also few manufacturing industries.
○ Shortage of skilled workers with very few people literate.
• Economy was based on cash crops to benefit Britain instead of benefitting local producers (e.g. sisal, coffee, tea and groundnuts).
• Culturally:
○ Colonial rule placed value on Western values, education & culture, undermining African systems, cultures and beliefs.
○ Western legal systems replaced local customs and laws.
○ Missionaries promoted Christianity over indigenous belief systems.
• Educationally:
○ Education was based on European curricula (e.g. European languages and history).
○ During colonial rule, very few Africans received formal education and there were high illiteracy rates.
○ Many African nationalist leaders came from the elite educated middle class, schooled to reject their own culture.
○ Shortage of skilled teachers & managers.
African States
Leading up to African Independence
• For the first half of the 20th century, most of Africa was not free and formed the empires of European colonial
powers.
• After WW2, African nationalists fought for freedom from colonial rule.
• 1957: Ghana was the first country to gain independence.
• By 1960s: Most of Africa was independent (except Mozambique, Angola, Zimbabwe and Namibia).
Post-Independence
• Different approaches were taken to improve nation-building and economic development.
• African states were not wealthy at time of independence as colonial powers had done nothing to develop the
economic self-sufficiency of their colonies: Few secondary industries and universities and the countries were
mainly used for exporting unprocessed minerals.
Different Forms of Government - Political and Economical Ideologies
African Socialism
• System based on the belief in sharing economic resources in a traditionally African way instead of classic
European socialism.
• Nyerere argued that traditional African society had no class divisions, making it different from European socialism,
which relied on one class to lead the nation.
• Emphasised community, communal development and land-ownership, classlessness, collective decision-making over
European ideas of a working class revolution.
Capitalism
• Economic system based on private ownership emphasing profit-making through production and labour.
• African capitalist countries relied on foreign investment and economic ties with Western countries.
Democracy
• A system of government run by elected representatives on behalf of the whole population.
• Those elected are meant to ensure the respect of human rights and safeguard individual and civil liberties.
One-Party State
• Political system where only one party is allowed in a country by banning all opposition.
Kleptocracy
• The government exists to increase the personal wealth and political power of its leader, ruling officials and ruling
class at the expense of the wider population.
, Tanzania: Pre-Independence
Colonial Timeline
• 1885-1919: German control
• 1920-1961: British control of Tanganyika (140 ethnic groups and non-African minorities).
• 1890-1963: Zanzibar was a British protectorate and ruled through the Sultan.
Tanganyika: Leading Up to Independence: Zanzibar: Leading Up to Independence:
• 1954: The Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) was organised • Dec 19, 1963: Zanzibar received its independence as a
by Nyerere (1 of 2 Tanganyikans who went to University) constitutional monarchy under the Sultan.
• 1958: Internal self-government achieved. • Jan 12, 1964: African majority revolted against the
• 1960: TANU won elections. Sultan and a new government was formed with the
• Dec 9 1961: Tanganyika became an autonomous Commonwealth Afro-Shirazi Party (ASP) leader Abeid Karume as
country under a TANU government and Nyerere as Prime Minister. President of Zanzibar and Chairman of the
• Dec 9, 1962: Nyerere became president and a new republican Revolutionary Council.
constitution took effect.
Unification
• April 26, 1964: Tanganyika united with Zanzibar to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar.
• Oct 29, 1964: Renamed to the United Republic of Tanzania.
Colonial Legacy
• British colony before independence.
• Economically and Politically:
• Africans were barely involved in the administration of the colony:
○ 1950s: Local administration replaced 'native authorities' (chiefs) making some Africans play a limited role in local government,
○ After 1945: Limited African representation on the Central Legislative Council and the colonial government still controlled all institutions.
• Seen as one of the most underdeveloped economies in Africa at time of independence:
○ Lack of technical and administrative capacity, uneven development, poverty and ethnic divisions.
○ Left with almost no capital to spend on development - making it hard to avoid dependence on foreign aid.
○ Most people were peasant/subsistence farmers who practiced strip farming and did not produce much surplus.
○ Lack of infrastructure like schools, clinics and roads. There were also few manufacturing industries.
○ Shortage of skilled workers with very few people literate.
• Economy was based on cash crops to benefit Britain instead of benefitting local producers (e.g. sisal, coffee, tea and groundnuts).
• Culturally:
○ Colonial rule placed value on Western values, education & culture, undermining African systems, cultures and beliefs.
○ Western legal systems replaced local customs and laws.
○ Missionaries promoted Christianity over indigenous belief systems.
• Educationally:
○ Education was based on European curricula (e.g. European languages and history).
○ During colonial rule, very few Africans received formal education and there were high illiteracy rates.
○ Many African nationalist leaders came from the elite educated middle class, schooled to reject their own culture.
○ Shortage of skilled teachers & managers.
