Forging of National Identities
 Unity against alien rulers by people of diverse
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culture, without common history e.g. Nigeria-371
tribes (158m) Kenya-42(43m), Tanzania 120 tribes
(40M),Cameron-250 tribes (19m)
Role of the artificial boundaries imposed on
Africans by colonialism had divided some
communities e.g. the Ewe divided among 3 countriesGhana, Togo & Benin
The rise of nationalism was desire to;
Create new identities
Forge unity to fight against colonialism
Factors that influenced the
Rise
1. New leadership in Africa- Pan- Africanist and nationalist as
opposed to traditionalists
 2. Education- produced the grave diggers of
colonialism- emergence of elite among the colonized
societies who were engaged in various means like
accommodation or struggle for sovereignty
 Educated Africans opposed employment in inferior
positions
 Were against neglect on education- dissatisfied with the
3Rs
 Non existence of secondary education in colonies like
Chad, Angola, and Mozambique,
3. Role of ex-soldiers frustrated after the World War II
question of pension, treatment, unemployment
rewards-land- e.g. Kenya- Soldier settlement schemea preserve of Europeans
4. Economic and financial hardships e.g. European
powers made colonies pay for the wars and
administration
Second colonization- excessive exploitation to pay for
war expenses
The Ethiopian invasion
5. Ethiopian example- Africans united and rallied
against attack by Mussolini
 They saw Fascism(Italy) and Nazism as a racial
nature of colonialism
 6. Disappointment by the League of Nations- led to
the desire to protect the pride of Africa- led to
resurgence of Pan-Africanism & Negritude
 Therefore, forging of national identities was
influenced by both local and international scene
Methods used-inclusive
People started seeing themselves as a with same
problems -not only on the tribal lines
1.Women- acted as spies, spread information (use of
babies in Kenya and S.A) transported food to
meeting places
2. Youth Leagues- Starts in West Africa- forging
national identity- were conceived in the womb of
Youth leagues.-activities of J. B. Danguah and
Wallace Johnson, 1925-1934. Youth came together
 South Africa- Youth leagues led by Steve Biko Meant to unite people change things but within the
system.
Forging of national identity
3. Religion.-Rise of independent churches that rejected
western churches, taught unity, and need to dislodge
colonialism
 Congo-Kimbanguism (Simon Kimbangu)
 Uganda-Bamalaki- (James Mungema
 Kenya- Mumboism- (Onyango Dunde)
 Malawi- Chilembe (John Chilembe)
 Ivory Coast -Harris movement. William Harris
 Nigeria- Islamized region forged unity- Jami yya
Mutanen Arewa
 These churches/ religions preached solidarity & exposed
the selective bible teachings. Use same teaching for
solidarity- Kenyatta's sayings. Kwame’s prayer
Forging an identity
4. Language used to forge unity- Use of Kiswahili
in East Africa e.g. in Tanganyika and Kenya
Nyerere used Kiswahili to forge unity successfully in TZ.
Arabic in Maghreb/ Magrib
Yolof & Yoruba in West Africa - sign of identity
Luganda in Uganda
Kikokngo in Zaire
5. Use of Symbols were diverse and different
Use of caps, belt, fly whisks, clothing, handkerchiefs etc
Songs most powerful tool
6. Songs- used for solidarity and strength amidst adversity
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga
“Natoaa madonda Africa” - I remove wounds from Africa
Natoaa madonda Africa na.. “ toaa madonda Africa na Nasser”
Nasser –
Kwame
Kenyatta
Kaunda
Nyerere
Obote
Cabral
Lumumba
Samaro
Azikiwe
Senghor
Toure
Savimbi
Mandela
Egypt
Ghana
Kenya
Zambia
Tanganyika
Uganda
Cape Verde
Congo
Mozambique
Nigeria
Senegal
Guinea
Angola
South Africa
Winnie Mandela
Other forms of Solidarity
6. Peasants protests – coca farmers- Ghana, coffee farmers
in Uganda withdrawal from market/exit option- solidarity.
7. workers unions e.g. dock workers and mine workers
Exploited as masses under domination not tribes
8. Role of Pan Africanism organized by Africans in
Diaspora “Africa for Africans”
Created self –confidence, led by Dubois & Marcus
Garvey- “President of United States of Africa.”
Many Pan- African conferences took place;
1919- London, 1921- Paris,
1922- Lisbon, 1927 New York,
1945–Manchester- the biggest
9.Psychological Liberation- new ideology
sweeping across Africa
Negritude -“Black is beautiful” started by
by Sedar Senghor and Aime Cesaire (Senegal)Franz Fanon- wrote“the wretched of the earth”
10. Media- newspapers and radio e.g. Sauti ya
Mwafirika, Accra post, West African Pilot
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga