Decolonization
Decolonization was a process through which colonialism was uprooted from African soil.
Decolonization in Africa took different forms at different times and places.
FORMS OF DECOLONIZATION
A Form of Decolonization refers to a mode through which independence was granted to a particular colony {country}. A Form of Decolonization depended on the nature of African struggles and the response towards those struggles from the colonial government.
1. Decolonization through constitutional or Peaceful also called Dialogue Means (Ghana, Malawi, Zambia Tanganyika, Nigeria, Botswana, Uganda, sierra Leone Congo, Ivory coast, Senegal and all French colonies of West Africa etc.)
2. Armed Struggle (Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, Angola, Algeria, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya etc.)
3. Revolution. (Zanzibar 1964 the revolution was led by John Tito Okello and Egypt in 1952 the revolution was led by Gamal Abdel Nasser)
4. Combination of both Dialogue and armed struggle. They involved both, armed struggles and diplomatic struggles of different kind. They were applicable in the colonies in which the Africans were allowed to form political parties but not allowed to claim for political independence. The diplomatic struggles were led by the political parties while the Armed struggles by the native soldiers. Examples in Kenya, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Namibia.
PEACEFUL MEANS
This refers to the struggle of African countries to attain independence through negotiation and discussion with colonial masters. Refers to the process of independence struggle through peaceful means mainly without the use of force or violence. This method involved dialogue between African nationalistic leaders and colonial government. This method took place mainly in Ghana and Tanganyika and other countries such as Nigeria, Zambia, Malawi Botswana, etc.
The conditions which facilitated constitutional struggle for independence
1. The colonial status. African colonies were entitled to different categories, some were protectorates and trusteeship territories while others were grade as overseas provinces or settler dominated countries. It was possible for the indigenous people in the protectorate and trusteeship territories to participate in politics. The colonies which were categorized as trusteeship territories were ruled by colonial powers on behalf of UNO. Such status precipitated nationalist to campaign for their independence through the UNO forums. The colonial masters did not intensify their control as it were in their crow colonies or protectorates. The territories which attained independence as trusteeship included Tanganyika, Togo and Cameroons.
2. The nature of colonial economy. For example, where agriculture was controlled by African peasants, political policies encouraged advancement and promotion of the indigenous to govern themselves. In all peasant dominated colonies independence was achieved peacefully. The states which fall in this category included Gold Coast (Ghana), Uganda, Zambia etc.
3. The provision of social services especially education. In colonies where education facilities were well provided to the Africans, a substantial class of elites developed. This was a class of people like Kwame Nkrumah, Kenneth Kaunda, J.K Nyerere, Milton Obote, Nnamdi Azikiwe and many others. These educated people helped Africans to form political parties.
4. The nature of colonial masters (The readiness of the colonial power to decolonize). Up to the 1950’s most of powers were under pressure from USA, mainly basing on the economic problems caused by the second world war.
Since then Africans had shown every indication that they were ready for self-rule. In 1958, Tanganyika received Richard Turnbull as the new governor who became a personal friend to J. K Nyerere and supported TANU. The colonial government did not engage in any tricky or rigging elections in Tanganyika. The same case applied in Ghana whereby Nkrumah became a prime minister in 1951 and won Ghana's independence in 1957.
5. The colonial policies. In the colonies where the colonial masters allowed Africans to govern their fellow African, the colonialists succeeded create an African puppet class. That class of Africans was trusted and granted independence. The colonialists were hopping that group of puppet leaders could still fulfill the interest of the former colonial master and independence to Africans was not a threat but a relief to European mother countries.
6. Lack of resources and investments / less developed colonies. The colonies which had little resources were also less developed. Since Europeans had not invested strongly in colonies which had little resources, the colonial master granted independence easily due to less profit expected. In contrary, the colonies which were more developed passed long and tough situation to achieve their independence and ultimately opted use of force to attain their independence.
7. Absence of strong opposition from political parties. The opposition parties in these countries were not as popular as the ruling parties e.g. Ghana had no strong political party to complete with CCP and in Tanganyika the only strong part was TANU. Angola engage in armed struggle partly due to ideological conflicts between MPLA and UNITA.
8. Absence of tribalism. The absence of opposition from among tribes in the society among Africa ns led different tribes to join together and demand for the independence with their political parties.
