Chapter 5
Africa in Transition
Section 1 – Winning Independence
African Nationalism
By the early 1900s, nationalism had taken root in Africa
Colonial powers had drawn boundaries that included diverse ethnic groups
Many nationalists embraced the idea of Pan-Africanism
Called for unifying all of Africa
“Africa for Africans”
New Nations Emerge
As WWII ended, independence movements gained strength in both Africa and Asia
Soviet Union condemned imperialism and aided some nationalist movements
1950 – Africa contained only for independent nations
Liberia, Ethiopia, Egypt, and South Africa
In South Africa a white minority ruled
Ghana
Gained independence through mostly peaceful means
Kwame Nkrumah organized strikes and boycotts to protest British rule
Boycotts – refusal to buy certain goods or services
In 1957, Ghana became the first black African nation to win independence
North Africa
During the 1950s, Libya, Tunisia, and Morocco won independence through mostly
peaceful means
Algerians fought a bitter was with the French
In 1962 Algerian gained their independence
Kenya
Fighting broke out in Kenya
In 1964, the British agreed to withdraw
Southern Africa
Portugal refused to give up its colonies of Angola and Mozambique
Nationalist in both colonies waged guerrilla war
Guerrilla war – small bands of fighters stage hit-and-run attacks against a
larger power
Angola and Mozambique finally won independence in 1975
The Colonial Legacy
The effects of colonial rule lasted long after African nations won independence
While creating high expectations, colonial rulers did little prepare Africans for independence
Section 2 – Steps Toward Development
Building Governments
After independence, African governments faced the challenge of building national unity
Economic differences created further divisions
In 1960, the Congo won independence from Belgium
Regional rivalries plunged the Congo into civil war
Province of Katanga tried to secede from the Congo
Secede – break away
From 1965 to 1997 Mobutu Sese Seko held power
In 1997, after Seko was ousted from power, civil war resumed
Civil war left the Congo deeply divided and economically weak
Civil war disrupted Ethiopia and Somalia
Lead to widespread famine
In 1994, ethnic tensions in Rwanda resulted in the massacre of 800,000 people
In West Africa, civil wars left thousand dead and hurt the economies of Liberia and
Sierra Leone
To build national unity, some African leaders set up one-party rule
Believed competing political parties would create divisions in society
Also reflected the tradition African values as discussion and consensus
In some nations the military stepped in to restore order and get rid of corrupt leaders
Once in power some military leaders became corrupt
In the late 1980s, some African nations joined the worldwide trend toward democratization
Democratization – moving toward a free system of government
Economic Systems
Independent nations experimented with various economic systems
African Socialism
Socialism – government owns and operates major business and controls other parts
of the economy
Mixed economies
Today most African nations have mixed economies
A major goal is to build factories and produce goods for their own use
To gain capital countries have turned to multinational corporations
Multinational corporations – huge enterprises with branches in many countries
Some people see the multinational corps as simply replace colonial powers in the
economic system
Multinationals make a profit by exporting crops and commodities
Most of the profits flow out of Africa
Economic Choices and Challenges
Need to develop agriculture
Nations often neglect the needs of subsistence farmers
Most government programs focus on cash crops for export
Rapid population growth and unpredictable rainfall also cause problems for farmers
A major goal of nations is to reduce economic dependence
By relying on a single crop for export, economies are at the mercy of world market prices
Attempting to limit costly imports
Because of the unequal distribution of natural resources some nations must import
Debt, drought, disease, civil war, and international conflict work against economic progress
The Population Explosion
Since independence, birth rates have risen
In 2000, Africa’s population was about 800 million
Current growth rate will more than double by 2050
African traditions encourage large families
Children are seen as a valuable resource to the family
Almost half the people in Africa are less than 15 years old
Section 3 – Changing Patterns of Life
Growth of Cities
The population explosion and the growth of industry have contributed to rapid urbanization
In 1990, 22% of Africans lived in cities
By 2025, about 54% of Africans will live in urban areas
Rural poverty is driving millions of people to give up farming
Effects of Urbanization
Growth of cities is helping to reshape African societies
A new urban elite has emerged
Wealth, education, and power set them apart from others
Most cities have a small middle class
Great majority of city dwellers are poor workers who can barely get by
Urbanization is changing family life
The longer people live in cities, the less attached they feel to their ancestors and the
land
Among the wealthier and more educated marriage customers are changing
Choosing their own mates and not agreeing to arranged marriages
Further weakens family ties
Western technology is welcomed but people are warned against westernization
Since the 1980s a religious revival has swept across the Islamic areas of Africa
Since the early 1900s many independent Christian churches have grown up in Africa
Blend of Christian and local African religious beliefs
Women’s Lives
Women continue to gain rights
But women’s lives have changed little
Conditions continue to deteriorate because of wars, conflict, and the spread of AIDS
African women are organizing politically to change attitudes
Rural Patterns
Many Africans still live in rural areas
Many farmers continue to use non-mechanized farming tools
Some herders sell their cattle for cash
Many refuse, cattle is seen as a symbol of wealth
Fishing societies are using motorized boats
Refrigeration allows them to send their catch to distant markets
Schools and Universities
School is another force for cultural change
Leaders hope to encourage a sense of national unity
Before 1960, only a small percentage of children went to school
Students often drop out because the system provides fewer classes at the higher level
Only a few students attend high school or university
In 1960, 6 universities in Africa
More than 100 universities today
Chapter 6
Africa in the World Today
Section 1 – Regional and Global Issues
Regional Cooperation
Although the goal of Pan-African unity was never reached, the dream never died
In 1963, independent nations formed the Organization of African Unity (OAU)
By 1991, all African nations joined, except South Africa
Supported independence movements and promoted peace
Many nations did not want the OAU meddling in internal affairs
2002, formed a new organization, African Union (AU)
Hoped to attract foreign investment by promoting good government and
human rights
Many African nations belong to regional groups
These groups encourage economic development
These groups help small nations strengthen their position
Nine-nation Southern African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC)
Helped members reduce their dependence on South Africa
16-nation Economic Community of West African States (ECWAS)
Helped members by ending customs duties
Support joint transportation and energy projects
International Ties
At independence each African nation joined the United Nations (UN)
Seek international cooperation on issues such as the environment, education,
and agricultural development
Algeria, Libya, and Nigeria are members of OPEC
Many African nations also have strong economic and cultural ties to former colonial powers
The Cold War and After
African nations won independence during the Cold Was
United States and the Soviet Union wanted to win allies among the new nations
Most African countries chose a policy of nonalignment
Nonalignment – policy that did not favor either side in the Cold War
Although they remained nonaligned, many African nations looked to the superpower
for aid
The superpowers often interfered in the internal affairs of African nations
Former colonial powers have also remained involved in African affairs
Debt and AIDS
Economic factors outside their control affect emerging nations in Africa
All are influenced by global trends
African nations spend billions each year to repay old loans
African nations are also seeking help from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and
the World Bank
Both lending agencies have demanded that debtor nations reform their economies before
receiving loans
Debt is linked to the AIDS epidemic that is sweeping across Africa
Estimates are that more than 25 million Africans have AIDS
AIDS is taking a terrible toll on the future of African nations
Ongoing Challenges
In dealing with AIDS and other problems, African nations are seeking solutions that are
appropriate to their societies
The population growth has put a strain on the economies of African nations
The UN and other groups are working with African governments to set up programs that
teach family planning
African nations are also finding ways to increase food production
Introduced dry-season farming
Allows farmers to produce two crops a year
Experts are developing new kinds of crops
Scientists are working with farmers to stop soil erosion
Nigerian farmers are trying “alley-cropping”
Alley-cropping – plant long rows (Alleys) of crops and plant fast-growing
trees and vines that can be harvested for firewood
Researchers have curbed tropical diseases such as malaria and sleeping sickness
Section 2 – The Republic of South Africa
In 1910, Britain granted South Africa self-rule
Until 1994, a small white minority governed the nation
70% of South Africans are black
In 1948, the Nationalist party came to power
Drew its support from conservative white farmers
Descended from Dutch settlers who held strong views on white superiority
Set up a strict legal system of apartheid
Apartheid – rigid separation of races by law in South Africa
Under apartheid, the government classified all South Africans as white, black, or “coloured”
Then passed laws to keep the races separate
Apartheid enforce a system of inequality
Apartheid extended to education
Black schools received much less money
Four fifths of South Africa, including its rich mineral resources and fertile farmlands,
remained in the hands of whites
To control movement, the government enacted pass laws
Required all blacks to carry a passbook that included a record of where they could
travel or work, their tax payments, and a record of criminal convictions
The passbook had to be carried at all times and shown upon demand
Pass laws divided families
Struggle Against Apartheid
From the start, blacks and some others South African opposed apartheid
Archbishop Desmond Tutu won the Nobel Peace Prize for his strong opposition to
apartheid and rejected violence in the fight
South African police and government forces used violence
At a 1960 protest in Sharpeville, a township near Johannesburg, turned violent
when the police opened fire killing more than 60
The “Sharpeville massacre” aroused anger world wide
Opposition groups were banned
Nelson Mandela, a leader of the African National Congress (ANC) was captured
and sentenced to life in prison in 1964
While South Africans demanded change from within, international pressure grew
UN placed an arms embargo on South Africa
The Olympic Committee barred South African athletes from competition
During the 1980s many nations imposed economic sanctions
Cut off trade in many items and ended financial dealings with businesses
Steps Toward Change
Protests and economic sanctions had an effect
As sanctions slowed South Africa’s economy, white business leaders pressed for
change
The government repealed the hated pass laws
Opened some segregated facilities to all South Africans
In 1989, South Africa’s president, F.W. de Klerk, lifted the ban on the ANC and other
groups opposed to apartheid
In 1990, Nelson Mandela and other ANC leaders were freed from prison
In early 1990s, a new constitution was written to guarantee blacks basic rights
In 1994, blacks voted for the first time, Nelson Mandela was elected South Africa’s president
Mandela faced many problems
The gap between rich and poor in South Africa was one of the largest in the world
Mandela retired in 1999