Decolonization of Africa

1. Decolonization of Africa Independence for Africa World Cultures

2. Decolonization • Anti-colonial nationalism surged after WWII • Major Reasons • Negritude – Movement to value African Heritage • Leopold Senghor; 1st president of Senegal and poet • Pan-Africa – Unifying all of Africa and making “Africa for the Africans” • Bob Marley – “Africa Unite” • WWII Ends– Many Europeans are left with war torn countries and they do not have the time or energy to rule over their colonized African countries • ColdWar – U.S. and U.S.S.R. support independence for their own government

5. Africa after Independence • Biggest Challenges facing African countries • Arbitrary borders caused ethnic divisions that made national unity difficult • Difficulties reducing economic dependence • Poverty of African people increased tensions • Nations could not acquire capital needed to build sound infrastructure • Growing population with half under age 15 • Organization of African Unity (1963) • Created to recognize and prevent conflicts that might lead to Western intervention • Replaced by African Union on July 9, 2002 The OAU had two primary aims: • To promote the unity and solidarity of the African states and act as a collective voice for the African continent. • The OAU was also dedicated to the eradication of all forms of colonialism, as, when it was established, there was still a number of states that had not yet won their independence or were minority-ruled.