History 247-20th Century Africa
“Where settlers were
many … the road to
independence was soaked
in blood.”
[B Davidson, Modern Africa,
p. 148]
“…there is something else
you should bear in mind
and that is:… You cannot
serve two masters.”
[from letter from Mau Mau
fighters to teacher Karai Njama,
cited B Freund, Contemporary
Africa, p. 167]
Nationalism: settler societies
Four Case Studies:
• Kenya
• Rhodesia
• Congo
• South Africa
Post World War II Environment: impact no
less than in West Africa but ‘settler’ factor
significant in shaping that impact
Settler Societies: Whose Africa?
Shared characteristics (to varying degrees):
- significant number of European settlers
- some degree of self-government in hands of
settlers
- continuing tension between settler and
colonial governments
Settler Societies: Whose Africa?
- tension within colonial government as to
‘priorities’: settler or African interests?
- local racism, segregation discrimination in
law and in custom
- local tension both between Africans and
Settlers, and between different groups of
Africans (‘ethinic’ or ‘tribal’
conflicts/competition)
Settler Societies: East, Central, South
All were regions of potential mineral and
agricultural wealth with attractive climates.
- since late 19th century, attracting large
numbers of European settlers.
Post WWII:
- new population influxes into most of
these regions.
- seeking opportunity outside of warntorn, impoverished Europe
- clashed with expectations/demands
Africans
Settler Societies: East & Central
Colonies made attempts 1930s to unify in
order to consolidate white power:
- East (Kenya, Tanganyika, Uganda) failed
- Central (Northern and Southern Rhodesia,
Nyasaland) failed
- second attempt 1953 successful (Central
African Federation endured until 1963)
Settler Societies
Histories interconnected, especially in postwar era.
- each characterized by:
- strong resistance by settler community
- African political action evolving from
non-violence into violence
- protracted (civil) war
- legacies of war (both military and
civil) affecting nature of postindependence society
Settler Societies: Whose Nation?
Conceptualizing the ‘nation’:
- for ‘Europeans’ in settler colonies, ‘nation’
implied freedom from Europe, but
continued domination over Africans
[Belgians an exception in that they did
not seek autonomy at all]
Settler Societies: Whose Nation?
Conceptualizing the ‘nation’:
- For ‘Africans’ in settler colonies, options
very different from their colleagues in
West Africa:
- no political voice, little opportunity for
negotiating with Europe
- no option to conceptualize – let alone
create – a nation.
Settler Societies: Whose Nation?
Case Study 1—Kenya
Video Excerpt
Basil Davidson
‘The Rise of Nationalism’
Kenya
As in West Africa, post-WWII era saw
liberalizing of restrictions on African political
and union activities: both flourished in Kenya
-union activities saw large strikes 1947-50
- Kenya African Union (KAU) formed in
1946 (initially led by Harry Thuku of former
Young Kikuyu Association)
Kenya
-needed more ‘modern’, less ethnically based
leadership
- Jomo Kenyatta: returned from 17 years in
England
- among same group that produced West
Africa’s politically active educated elite
(Nkrumah, Azikiwe etc)
- participated (with Nkrumah and others) in
Pan-Africanist Congress UK, 1945
Jomo Kenyatta
Kenya
Kenyatta as leader of KAU toured country,
attempting to:
- politicize and attract members
- overcome ethnic divisions
- gain support of disadvantaged groups
- create political base
Ultimate Goal: to negotiate with settlers
Kenya
Settlers refused to negotiate (1950), resulting
in:
- sporadic clashes, increasing violence
- KAU leaders arrested (including
Kenyatta)
-1000s fleeing to hills and forests
- creating “Land and Freedom Army”
(‘Mau Mau’ as known to the British)
1952 ‘State of Emergency’ Declared
Settler Societies: whose nation?
Case Study 2—Rhodesia
(Zimbabwe)
Video Excerpt
Basil Davidson
‘The Rise of Nationalism
Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia in 1923 virtually selfgoverned:
-best land reserved for Europeans
-Africans taxed off the land to work for
settlers and in mines Africans had no
political rights;
- Africans educated to be ‘Africans,’ i.e.,
to serve Europeans
Rhodesia
Land Apportionment,
1970
(below)
Land Apportionment,
1930
(above)
Land Reserve System
Rhodesia
Education:
Africans given clear
sense of where they
belonged
Rhodesia
Post WWII:
- emerged strong economically (import
substitution industry; cash-crops)
- dominated Central African Federation from
1953 (milked Northern Rhodesia through
taxes)
Rhodesia
Post WWII:
- links with South Africa strong
- legacy Rhodes ‘Pioneer Column’, mining
interests
- cultural similarities
Rhodesia
Political movements continued to build
throughout Federation era (1953-63):
- political activities in North, Nyasaland
supported by Britain
- independence 1963-64 ( Zambia,
Malawi)
- Southern Rhodesia left to negotiate
with Colonial government
-Britain refused to grant independence
until Black majority rule agreed to
Rhodesia
1961 “compromise constitution”:
- awarded Africans small role in
government
- pleased neither Africans nor Settlers
- emergence strong, right wing group led
by Ian Smith (supported and encouraged
by South Africa)
- continued to demand full
independence: Britain continued to refuse
-1965 Smith announced Unilateral
Declaration of Independence (UDI)
Rhodesia
 UDI couched in terms of freedom:
“In the course of human affairs, history has
shown that it may become necessary for a
people to resolve the political affiliations
which have connected them with another
people, and to assume amongst other nations a
separate and equal status to which they are
entitled” [Ian Smith, 11 Nov. 1965]
[listen audio: Ian Smith ’South Africa- clinging on’
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/specials/1624_story_of_africa/page30.shtml ]