Africa and the Middle East Post-Colonial Africa Preview • Main Idea / Reading Focus • Political Challenges • Quick Facts: Political Trends in Post-Colonial Africa • Economic and Environmental Challenges • Revival of African Culture Section 2 Africa and the Middle East Section 2 Post-Colonial Africa Main Idea Newly independent African nations struggled with poverty, conflict and ineffective governments. In recent years, some countries sought better government by holding democratic elections. Reading Focus • What political challenges did Africans face after independence? • What economic and environmental challenges did Africans face after independence? • How did Africans revive their culture after independence? Section 2 Africa and the Middle East Political Challenges • 1950s–1960s, many former European colonies ruled by dictators • Some nations fell into civil war • 1990s brought renewed hope with the return of democracy; end of the apartheid system in South Africa Protesting Apartheid • Early 1900s, African National Congress formed in South Africa • ANC petitioned government, held peaceful protests against apartheid • 1940s, younger, radical members joined, including Nelson Mandela Change of Philosophy • 1952, Mandela organized campaign urging blacks in South Africa to break apartheid laws • 1960, changed from peaceful philosophy after police killed demonstrators in Sharpeville The Sharpeville Massacre was a turning point in the anti-apartheid movement. Africa and the Middle East Section 2 Protesting Apartheid Meeting Violence with Violence • Mandela, other ANC leaders decided to meet violence with violence • Government banned ANC, jailed Mandela • 1976, major student protest movement in township of Soweto Soweto Uprising • Soweto Uprising set off by decree for black schools to teach Afrikaans— language of white South Africans • Police killed protesting student; peaceful march turned into revolt Trade Sanctions • Police crushed uprising, but over 600 killed, 4,000 wounded • ANC fought to end apartheid; violence erupted in many black townships • International community imposed trade sanctions on South Africa Africa and the Middle East Section 2 Democracy in South Africa • 1990, President F.W. de Klerk legalized ANC, began negotiations to enact new constitution, end apartheid – Released Mandela from prison – Lifted long-standing ban on African National Congress • De Klerk also abolished homelands, held South Africa’s first democratic elections – ANC swept elections – Mandela became first black president of a democratic South Africa Section 2 Africa and the Middle East Military Dictatorships One–Party System • End of 1960s, nearly all newly independent African nations adopted one-party system • Single political party controls government – Elections rarely competitive – Opposition parties outlawed in many countries • Dictators ruled many nations, maintained power through patronage, giving loyal followers well-paid positions in government Bribery and Corruption • Some corrupt officials required bribes for government contracts, licenses • Also ran government enterprises for personal profit • New generation of dictators robbed countries of wealth – Mobutu Sese Seko, dictator of Congo, amassed personal fortune of about $5 billion, while his people fell into poverty Africa and the Middle East Section 2 Ethnic Conflicts and Civil War When the European powers divided Africa into colonies, preexisting political units were not maintained. Ethnic Conflicts • After independence, rival ethnic groups competed for control, some by destructive civil wars • 1967, Igbo-speaking group of eastern Nigeria proclaimed independent state of Biafra • Bloody civil war erupted; 2 million died from fighting, another 2 million from starvation Civil Wars • 1992, civil war, drought led to suffering in Somalia • Hundreds of thousands of Somalis died when warring militias stole food sent from international relief agencies • 1990s, tensions between Hutu, Tutsi erupted in violence • 1994, 1 million Tutsi, moderate Hutus massacred in Hutu-led government genocide Section 2 Africa and the Middle East Democracy for Some • Despite conflicts, war throughout late 1900s, many African countries still dictatorships • Cold War: U.S., Soviets gave large amounts of money to dictators friendly to their side • Cold War ended, money dried up; weakened some dictators’ governments Elections • Many Africans saw weakness as opportunity to create democratic governments, demanded elections • By 2005, more than 30 African countries had abandoned one-party systems, held elections Results • Election results mixed • Some former dictators resorted to fraud, intimidation to win elections • Others elected because people preferred them to alternatives Africa and the Middle East Section 2 Africa and the Middle East Section 2 Draw Conclusions Why did most African states adopt a oneparty system? Answer(s): U.S. and Soviet Union each provided large amounts of money to dictators friendly to their side. Africa and the Middle East Section 2 Economic and Environmental Challenges After achieving independence, many African nations faced economic challenges that came with their new status. In addition, Africans had to combat the spread of disease and environmental problems. Struggling Economies Farming, Mining Development Loans • After independence most African nations’ economies fragile • African nations not industrialized, depended on farming, mining raw materials • For loans, turned to international organizations, like World Bank; bad planning, corrupt leaders left nations with huge debts, no infrastructure • Depended on only one, two exports for support • Example: Ghana depended on cocoa; Nigeria, oil Africa and the Middle East Section 2 Disease • African nations also challenged by management of deadly diseases • Malaria continues to be one of most common causes of death today • 1980s, new disease, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) spread rapidly throughout Africa AIDS • HIV virus that causes AIDS weakens body’s immune system, results in death • Social costs in sub-Saharan Africa staggering; millions of orphaned children because parents died from AIDS • Only small percentage of infected Africans receiving AIDS treatment Section 2 Africa and the Middle East Desertification Environmental Challenges Desertlike Conditions • Scarcity of fertile farmland, pastures for livestock challenge for many Africans today • Result: soil in these areas dries out, natural grasses cannot grow • Farmers must plant crops in poor soil • Sahara, Sahel deserts expanding due to desertification, spread of desertlike conditions • Herders have to graze animals in extremely dry regions • Desertification contributes to cycles of drought, famine that plague many African countries today Africa and the Middle East Section 2 Identify Cause and Effect What causes desertification in Africa? Answer(s): planting crops in poor soil and grazing animals in dry areas, causing soil to dry out even more Africa and the Middle East Section 2 Revival of African Culture • In spite of the challenges African countries have faced since independence, Africans have experienced a cultural revival. • A new generation of African writers, artists, and musicians has emerged to establish a powerful African identity. Language and Literature • During colonial rule Africans preserved culture, used as means of expressing dissatisfaction with colonial rule • Many East Africans continued to study Swahili language Change of Philosophy • Early 1960s, after independence, Swahili became national language in Kenya, Tanzania • Swahili writers maintained strong tradition of poetry, plays, novels Meanwhile a new type of African literature developed in the Frenchspeaking colonies of West Africa. Africa and the Middle East Section 2 Revival of African Culture Changes in Literature • 1930s, group of African, Caribbean students living in Paris founded negritude movement • Writings rejected European culture, focused on African culture, identity • After independence, African writers shifted from criticism of European colonialism to criticism of African leaders Censorship, Harassment • Many writers faced censorship, harassment by African governments they ridiculed • Writers like Wole Soyinka spent time in prison for opposing Nigerian government • Other African writers fled Africa to escape possible imprisonment Section 2 Africa and the Middle East Art, Music, and Dance • Traditional arts like sculpture, music, dance also became new means of expressing African identity • Artists began to produce traditional pieces like masks, musical instruments, sculptures carved from wood, cast in bronze • Artists incorporated new ideas, materials into work, revival of African art with new vitality, creativity—highly valued on world market today Tradition • Musicians traditionally played to honor history, mark special occasions • Traditional dances performed to celebrate specific events, special ceremonies Blending Styles • 1960s, began to blend traditional African with Western music styles • Used common Western instruments in addition to African • 1980s, Afro-Pop music became popular; many African musicians internationally known today Africa and the Middle East Section 2 Find the Main Idea What subject did many African writers focus on after independence? Answer(s): criticism of African leaders