Preview Main Idea / Reading Focus Political Challenges Quick Facts: Political Trends in Post-Colonial Africa Economic an

1. Preview Main Idea / Reading Focus Political Challenges Quick Facts: Political Trends in Post-Colonial Africa Economic and Environmental Challenges Revival of African Culture Post-Colonial Africa

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?

3. Protesting Apartheid Change of Philosophy • 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 • 1952, Mandela organized campaign urging blacks in South Africa to break apartheid laws • 1960, changed from peaceful philosophy after police killed demonstrators in Sharpeville 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 The Sharpeville Massacre was a turning point in the anti-apartheid movement.

4. 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

5. 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 Democracy in South Africa

6. Bribery and Corruption One–Party System • 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 • 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 Military Dictatorships

7. Ethnic Conflicts Civil Wars • 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 • 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 Ethnic Conflicts and Civil War When the European powers divided Africa into colonies, preexisting political units were not maintained.

8. Elections Results • 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 • Election results mixed • Some former dictators resorted to fraud, intimidation to win elections • Others elected because people preferred them to alternatives 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

10. Draw Conclusions Why did most African states adopt a one-party system? Answer(s): U.S. and Soviet Union each provided large amounts of money to dictators friendly to their side.

11. Struggling Economies Farming, Mining Development Loans • After independence most African nations’ economies fragile • Depended on only one, two exports for support • African nations not industrialized, depended on farming, mining raw materials • Example: Ghana depended on cocoa; Nigeria, oil • For loans, turned to international organizations, like World Bank; bad planning, corrupt leaders left nations with huge debts, no infrastructure 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.

12. 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

13. Desertlike Conditions Environmental Challenges • Result: soil in these areas dries out, natural grasses cannot grow • Sahara, Sahel deserts expanding due to desertification, spread of desertlike conditions • Desertification contributes to cycles of drought, famine that plague many African countries today • Scarcity of fertile farmland, pastures for livestock challenge for many Africans today • Farmers must plant crops in poor soil • Herders have to graze animals in extremely dry regions Desertification

14. 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

15. Language and Literature Change of Philosophy • During colonial rule Africans preserved culture, used as means of expressing dissatisfaction with colonial rule • Many East Africans continued to study Swahili language • Early 1960s, after independence, Swahili became national language in Kenya, Tanzania • Swahili writers maintained strong tradition of poetry, plays, novels 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. Meanwhile a new type of African literature developed in the French-speaking colonies of West Africa.

16. Censorship, Harassment Changes in Literature • 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 • 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 Revival of African Culture

17. Tradition Blending Styles • Musicians traditionally played to honor history, mark special occasions • Traditional dances performed to celebrate specific events, special ceremonies • 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 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

18. Find the Main Idea What subject did many African writers focus on after independence? Answer(s): criticism of African leaders