Nationalism and Political Independence in Africa

Abstract

Nationalism and the struggle for political independence in Africa have spanned the pre-colonial, colonial and postcolonial epochs, with the nature and character of struggle determined by the aspirations of the people and peculiarities of each period. On the eve of European imperialist incursion into Africa from the last quarter of the nineteenth century, pre-colonial African kingdoms and states staged resistance against the invaders in order to preserve their respective local independence. Nationalist struggle and eventual independence from colonial rule was achieved in some parts of Africa (such as British West Africa) through constitutional and relatively peaceful means, while the road to independence in Lusophone Africa and the Maghreb was marked by considerable violence and bloodshed. The chapter concludes that the nature and travails of colonialism, nationalism and independence in Africa have continuously negatively affected nation-building and national development in most postcolonial African states.