History 247-20th Century History 247-20th Century AfricaAfrica

“Where settlers were many … the road to independence was soaked in blood.”[B Davidson, Modern Africa, p. 148]

“…there is something else you should bear in mind and that is:… You cannot serve two masters.”[from letter from Mau Mau fighters to teacher Karai Njama, cited B Freund, Contemporary Africa, p. 167]

Nationalism: settler societiesNationalism: settler societies

Four Case Studies:

• Kenya

• Rhodesia

• Congo

• South Africa

Post World War II Environment: impact no less than in West Africa but ‘settler’ factor significant in shaping that impact

Settler Societies: Whose Settler Societies: Whose Africa?Africa?

Shared characteristics (to varying degrees):

- significant number of European settlers

- some degree of self-government in hands of settlers

- continuing tension between settler and colonial governments

Settler Societies: Whose Settler Societies: Whose Africa?Africa?

- tension within colonial government as to ‘priorities’: settler or African interests?

- local racism, segregation discrimination in law and in custom

- local tension both between Africans and Settlers, and between different groups of Africans (‘ethinic’ or ‘tribal’ conflicts/competition)

Settler Societies: East, Settler Societies: East, Central, SouthCentral, South

All were regions of potential mineral and agricultural wealth with attractive climates.

- since late 19th century, attracting large numbers of European settlers.

Post WWII:- new population influxes into most of

these regions.- seeking opportunity outside of warn-

torn, impoverished Europe- clashed with expectations/demands

Africans

Settler Societies: East & Settler Societies: East & CentralCentral

Colonies made attempts 1930s to unify in order to consolidate white power:

- East (Kenya, Tanganyika, Uganda) failed

- Central (Northern and Southern Rhodesia, Nyasaland) failed

- second attempt 1953 successful (Central African Federation endured until 1963)

Settler SocietiesSettler Societies

Histories interconnected, especially in post-war era. - each characterized by:

- strong resistance by settler community

- African political action evolving from non-violence into violence

- protracted (civil) war

- legacies of war (both military and civil) affecting nature of post-independence society

Settler Societies: Whose Settler Societies: Whose Nation?Nation?

Conceptualizing the ‘nation’:

- for ‘Europeans’ in settler colonies, ‘nation’ implied freedom from Europe, but

continued domination over Africans [Belgians an exception in that they did not seek autonomy at all]

Settler Societies: Whose Settler Societies: Whose Nation?Nation?

Conceptualizing the ‘nation’:

- For ‘Africans’ in settler colonies, options very different from their colleagues in West Africa:

- no political voice, little opportunity for negotiating with Europe

- no option to conceptualize – let alone create – a nation.

Settler Societies: Whose Settler Societies: Whose Nation?Nation?

Case Study 1—Kenya

Video ExcerptBasil Davidson

‘The Rise of Nationalism’

KenyaKenya

As in West Africa, post-WWII era saw liberalizing of restrictions on African political and union activities: both flourished in Kenya

-union activities saw large strikes 1947-50

- Kenya African Union (KAU) formed in 1946 (initially led by Harry Thuku of former Young Kikuyu Association)

KenyaKenya

-needed more ‘modern’, less ethnically based leadership

- Jomo Kenyatta: returned from 17 years in England

- among same group that produced West Africa’s politically active educated elite (Nkrumah, Azikiwe etc)- participated (with Nkrumah and others) in Pan-Africanist Congress UK, 1945

Jomo KenyattaJomo Kenyatta

KenyaKenya

Kenyatta as leader of KAU toured country, attempting to:

- politicize and attract members

- overcome ethnic divisions

- gain support of disadvantaged groups

- create political base

Ultimate Goal: to negotiate with settlers

KenyaKenya

Settlers refused to negotiate (1950), resulting in:

- sporadic clashes, increasing violence- KAU leaders arrested (including

Kenyatta)-1000s fleeing to hills and forests - creating “Land and Freedom Army”

(‘Mau Mau’ as known to the British)

1952 ‘State of Emergency’ Declared

Settler Societies: whose Settler Societies: whose nation?nation?

Case Study 2—Rhodesia (Zimbabwe)

Video ExcerptBasil Davidson

‘The Rise of Nationalism

RhodesiaRhodesia

Southern Rhodesia in 1923 virtually self-governed:

-best land reserved for Europeans

-Africans taxed off the land to work for settlers and in mines Africans had no

political rights;

- Africans educated to be ‘Africans,’ i.e., to serve Europeans

RhodesiaRhodesia

Land Apportionment, 1930(above)

Land Apportionment, 1970(below)

Land Reserve System

RhodesiaRhodesia

Education:Africans given

clear sense of where

they belonged

RhodesiaRhodesia

Post WWII:

- emerged strong economically (import substitution industry; cash-crops)

- dominated Central African Federation from 1953 (milked Northern Rhodesia through taxes)

RhodesiaRhodesia

Post WWII:

- links with South Africa strong

- legacy Rhodes ‘Pioneer Column’, mining interests

- cultural similarities

Rhodesia Rhodesia

Political movements continued to build throughout Federation era (1953-63):

- political activities in North, Nyasaland supported by Britain- independence 1963-64 ( Zambia,

Malawi)- Southern Rhodesia left to negotiate

with Colonial government-Britain refused to grant independence

until Black majority rule agreed to

Rhodesia Rhodesia

1961 “compromise constitution”:

- awarded Africans small role in government

- pleased neither Africans nor Settlers - emergence strong, right wing group led by Ian Smith (supported and encouraged by South Africa)- continued to demand full

independence: Britain continued to refuse-1965 Smith announced Unilateral

Declaration of Independence (UDI)

Rhodesia Rhodesia

UDI couched in terms of freedom:“In the course of human affairs, history has shown that it may become necessary for a people to resolve the political affiliations which have connected them with another people, and to assume amongst other nations a separate and equal status to which they are entitled” [Ian Smith, 11 Nov. 1965]

[listen audio: Ian Smith ’South Africa- clinging on’ http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/specials/1624_story_of_africa/page30.shtml ]