How Did African Nationalism Develop?

  • WEST AFRICA:
    • Colonies of Nigeria, Gambia, Sierra Leone and Gold Coast had legislative councils by 1914, though powers limited and African representation minimal. Prompted group of political activists from all territories to hold meeting in Accra to found National Congress of West Africa in 1919 à dominated by educated elite in Gold Coast and movement supported by middle class lawyers, teachers and doctors who had Western educations.
    • Congress demands for greater representation initially ignored though some concessions granted in 1920s. However, nationalists outnumbered by appointed (rather than elected) African chiefs from interior of colonies on councils.
    • Growth of ‘trusteeship’ approach to colonial administration, radical group of West African Students’ Union (WASU) founded in 1925 bringing students from West African countries at time of growing Indian nationalism. Amongst members were Nnadmi Azikiwe and Kwame Nkrumah from Gold Coast, both who emerged as post-colonial figures.
    • Second World War accelerated these trends and brought faster economic development to colonies. In 1945, Pan-African Congress convened in Manchester and called for ‘autonomy and independence’ of black Africa, inspiring black people all the way to South Africa.
    • Organisation for African Unity in 1963 built on this and Nkrumah became a cornerstone for independence movements across Africa.
  • EAST AFRICA:
    • Harry Thuku, an influential Kikuyu who was missionary educated, developed Young Kikuyu, a non-militant organisation set up to recover Kikuyu lands that were lost when Kenya became British Crown Colony in 1920.
    • In 1921, went on to found East African Association, a larger and more representative organisation. Jomo Kenyatta joined in 1922 and movement gradually broadened.

Second World War had radicalising effect and Thuku helped establish Kenya African Study Union, which in 1946 became Kenya African Union. Kenyatta became president in 1947 and became a key role in decolonisation