Ethnic Solidarity

1. What kinds of African Nationalism developed?C aim – to explain the different kinds of African nationalism and the impact they had B aim – to explain why different kinds of African nationalism developed and what impact this had A/A* aim – to explain why different kinds of African nationalism developed and how this impacted decolonisation Look at your notes from last week and write down reasons for the emergence of African nationalism.

2. “How far do you agree that the changing attitudes of the British government towards independence was the main reason for the growth of African nationalism from the late 1950s?”

4. Ethnic Solidarity Following World War II, in response to the growth of Nigerian nationalism and demands for independence, successive constitutions legislated by the British government moved Nigeria toward self-government on a representative and increasingly federal basis. By the middle of the 20th century, the great wave for independence was sweeping across Africa. Nigeria became independent in 1960. Independence On 1 October 1960, Nigeria gained its independence from the United Kingdom. Nigeria's government was a coalition of conservative parties: the Nigerian People's Congress (NPC), a party dominated by Northerners and those of the Islamic faith; and the Igbo and Christian-dominated National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) led by Nnamdi Azikiwe, who became Nigeria's maiden Governor-General in 1960. Forming the opposition was the comparatively liberal Action Group (AG), which was largely dominated by the Yoruba and led by Obafemi Awolowo.The cultural and political differences among Nigeria's dominant ethnic groups: the Hausa ('Northerners'), Igbo ('Easterners') and Yoruba ('Westerners'), were sharp. Nigeria experienced ethnic Solidarity as these different ethnic groups felt that they were strong communities and wanted to break away from British rule. However, the different ethnic groups could not work with each other. An imbalance was created in the polity by the result of the 1961 plebiscite. Southern Cameroon opted to join the Republic of Cameroon while northern Cameroon chose to remain in Nigeria. The northern part of the country was now far larger than the southern part. The nation parted with its British legacy in 1963 by declaring itself a Federal Republic, with Azikiwe as its firstpresident. When elections were held in 1965, the Nigerian National Democratic Party came to power in Nigeria's Western Region. Civil war The disequilibrium and perceived corruption of the electoral and political process led in 1966 to several back-to-back military coups. The first was in January and led by a collection of young leftists under Major Emmanuel Ifeajuna and Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu. It was partially successful; the coup plotters murdered Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Premier Ahmadu Bello of the Northern Region and Premier Ladoke Akintola of the Western Region. Despite this, they could not set up a central government. President Nwafor Orizu was then pressured to hand over government to the Nigeria Army, under the command of General JTU Aguyi-Ironsi. The coup was counter-acted by another successful plot, supported primarily by Northern military officers and Northerners who favoured the NPC, it was engineered by Northern officers, which allowed Lt Colonel Yakubu Gowon to become head of state. This sequence of events led to an increase in ethnic tension and violence. The Northern coup, motivated by ethnic and religious reasons, resulted in the deaths of many military officers and civilians, especially those of Igbo descent.[citation needed] The violence against the Igbo increased their desire for autonomy. By May 1967, the Eastern Region voted to declare independence as a state called the Republic of Biafra, under the leadership of Lt Colonel Emeka Ojukwu.The Nigerian Civil War began as the Nigerian (Western and Northern) side attacked Biafra (South-eastern) on 6 July 1967 at Garkem. The 30 month war, with a long siege of Biafra and its isolation from trade and supplies, ended in January 1970.[ Estimates of the number of dead in the former Eastern Region are between 1 and 3 million people, from warfare, disease, and starvation, during the 30-month civil war .

5. Territorial Nationalism Throughout the gains of Ghanaian independence the Ghanaians were very nationalistic, they were proud of Ghana. There was some opposition from the Northern based Asante to the more Southern CPP. However, they did back down to Nkrumah and did work with him in the early 1950s. 1947 The United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) founded by Kofi Kwame Nkrumah, Dr Joseph B Danquah and E Akuffo-Addo, call for self-government within the British colonial system. Kofi Kwame Nkrumah is elected as the party's General-Secretary. 1948 Kofi Kwame Nkrumah leads a boycott of British and Asian owned businesses. Police open fire at an anti-colonial demonstration in Accra. During the ensuing riot 29 are killed and several hundred injured. Nkrumah confesses to instigating the demonstration and is briefly imprisoned. 1949 Kofi Kwame Nkrumah leaves the UGCC and forms the Convention People's Party (CPP). Membership is drawn from across the whole colony, including the north. The CPP becomes the main party advocating for independence. 1950 Kofi Kwame Nkrumah calls for a national strike and is arrested. A constitution is granted which gives indigenous people positions in the colony's government for the first time. 1951 Kofi Kwame Nkrumah released from prison when the CPP wins its first elections for the legislature. The British authorities allow Nkrumah to form a government. 1952CPP wins significant electoral victory, Kofi Kwame Nkrumah becomes Prime Minister of a 'self-governing' Crown Colony. Britain still retains administration. 1954Kofi Kwame Nkrumah, for the Convention People's Party (CPP), is re-elected as Prime Minister. The CPP overwhelms the 'opposition' National Liberation Movement, which is centered amongst the Asante cocoa farmers in the north. 1956 British administered Togoland, which had been awarded to Britain as a League of Nations mandate, votes to join the Gold Coast when it becomes independent (the referendum was sponsored by the United Nations). The union of the two states will be known as Ghana, for the medieval kingdom which once existed far to the north-west. 1956 Kofi Kwame Nkrumah is elected as Prime Minister for a third time. 1957 Former British African colony of the Gold Coast and Togoland gains independence within the British Commonwealth as Ghana, Nkrumah continues as prime minister. Charles Arden-Clarke is Governor-General representing the British Queen as head of state. Ghana is the first sub-Saharan country to gain independence and is an inspiration to the whole continent. The independence ceremony is attended by Martin Luther King and the US Vice President Richard Milhous Nixon

6. Pan-Africanism This was the belief that the whole of Africa must get independence and work together. Nkrumah was one of its most outspoken supporters. In 1957 when Ghana gained independence he said that it was nothing unless the whole of Africa followed and worked together. It was thought that by supporting each other and working together Africa could overcome the problems that arose from colonisation. Nkrumah organised conferences and meetings to pursue his Pan-Africanism. He persuaded Guinea and Mali to join the Organisation of African Unity. However, the movement never materialised into actual political alliances and merging of countries as African countries argued over other issues. It did however encourage them to work together and strengthen through trade and to share ideas and motives on gaining independence in the conferences.

7. What kinds of African Nationalism developed?C aim – to explain the different kinds of African nationalism and the impact they had B aim – to explain why different kinds of African nationalism developed and what impact this had A/A* aim – to explain why different kinds of African nationalism developed and how this impacted decolonisation Look at your notes from last week and write down reasons for the emergence of African nationalism.

8. Was Kwame Nkrumah the ‘Father of African Nationalism?’C aim – to know for and against arguments and reach an overall judgement with reasonsB/A aim – to link examples of African nationalism to support for and against arguments to reach a justified conclusion Do you agree with the title of this book? If you had to adjust it, how would you adjust it?

9. Read the information about Ghana’s independence. • How far did nationalism cause the decolonisation of Ghana from this information? • Highlight where Nkrumah drove the decolonisation of Ghana. • Highlight where other factors caused the decolonisation of Ghana. • How far did Nkrumah cause the decolonisation of Ghana?

10. Look at the examples of African nationalism around the room and fill in the table.

11. Was Kwame Nkrumah the ‘Father of African Nationalism?’C aim – to know for and against arguments and reach an overall judgement with reasonsB/A aim – to link examples of African nationalism to support for and against arguments to reach a justified conclusion Do you agree with the title of this book? If you had to adjust it, how would you adjust it? Give a fact to support your answer.

13. Homework – Due Monday 24th Feb • Write an essay to answer this past exam question How far do you agree that the main reason for British decolonisation in Africa from 1957 was the changing attitude of the British public towards Empire? (Total for Question 14 = 30 marks) 2. Create a flow diagram showing the steps to the independence of Ghana using your hand out from today. Label it with the different causes. 3. Revise and recap all lesson work.