Decolonisation in East & West Africa

Decolonisation in West Africa

Decolonisation in West and East Africa happened after the British Empire gradually conceded power and independence groups seized upon the opportunity.

The Gold Coast (now Ghana)

The Burns Constitution of 1946 created a law-making Council that included the Governor of the Gold Coast, 6 British officials, 6 nominated members, and 18 elected representatives of the people. Then, in June 1946, the Gold Coast held elections.
In 1949, Kwame Nkrumah founded the Convention People’s Party. Local British officials were still derogatory to local nationalist movements, reportedly referring to Nkrumah's efforts for independence as 'our local Hitler'.

Ghanaian independence

There was violence and animosity between the Ashanti-based National Liberation Movement and Nkrumah's CPP. Nkrumah received a 3-year prison sentence for organising mass protests but still managed to orchestrate election victories from prison.
By 1957, the Gold Coast and Togoland were granted independence as a united Ghana.
"The chiefs with whom the British had traditionally dealt felt bitter and betrayed" by the Nkrumah-led transition of power (Kitchen, 1996).

Nigeria

The Richards Constitution of 1946 created similar representation and law-making powers as the Burns Constitution.
After World War Two, trade union leaders like Michael Imoudu and ex-soldiers began to campaign more strongly for independence.
The ethnic divisions between the Igbo, Yoruba, and Hausa made Britain hesitant to unite the country. However, nationalist momentum continued after the voting franchise grew after 1951.
In 1954, the area became the 'autonomous Federation of Nigeria'.
In 1958, the British government agreed to full Nigerian independence from 1960.

Decolonisation in East Africa

Decolonisation in West and East Africa happened after the British Empire gradually conceded power and independence groups seized upon the opportunity.

Tanganyika (Tanzania)

The British Colonial Development Corporation was tasked with investing £100 million in development projects across the Empire after World War Two.
The project aimed to farm food on 150,000 acres in Tanganyika, employing local people and creating cooking oil that could be exported to Britain.
The project employed 100,000 ex-soldiers in the 'ground-nut army'.
The project cost £49 million and ruined the land on which the nuts were grown.
Tanganyika became independent in 1961 with Queen Elizabeth II as the head of state. On the 29th of October 1964, after joining with the island of Zanzibar, the country was renamed Tanzania

Kenya

The cities of Mombasa and Nairobi were transformed by World War II.
- This was because they saw rapid urbanisation and nationalism.
Initially, in 1944, the Kenyan Kikuyu Central Association was prohibited from any operations because of its threat to the colonial government.
Living conditions in the newly urbanised cities were very crowded. Combined with the powerful nationalist sentiment, this created a recipe for revolution.

Mau Mau & Kenyatta in Kenya

An extremist branch within the Kikuyu (Mau Mau) began a series of high-profile and violent attacks on white settlers.
In 1952, Sir Evelyn Baring declared a state of emergency in Kenya and arrested Kenyatta, the nationalist leader. Despite little evidence, Kenyatta was convicted and sent to prison for 7 years. 17,000 Mau Mau suspects were arrested. 1,000 Kikuyu were hanged in response to the deaths of 70 Europeans.
Though Britain crushed this rebellion, their moral and political authority vanished and Kenya was granted independence in 1963. Kenyatta led Kenya with a message of forgiveness and appointed the judge who rejected his appeal as Chief Justice for the country.

1High Water Mark of the British Empire, 1857-1914

1.1Development of Imperialism, 1857-1890

1.1.1Empires over Time

1.1.2Key Questions About Empires

1.1.3Expansion into Africa

1.1.4History of Egypt

1.1.5Control of Egypt

1.1.6Control of Sudan

1.2Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1857-1890

1.2.1The British Empire & India

1.2.2The British Raj

1.2.3International Relations with other Powers

1.2.4Scramble for Africa

1.2.5The Informal Empire

1.3Trade & Commerce, 1857-1890

1.3.1Trade & Commerce in the Empire

1.3.2Infrastructure of Trade & Commerce

1.3.3Products of Trade & Commerce

1.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1857-1890

1.4.1Explorers

1.4.2Missionaries

1.4.3Traders & Colonial Administrators

1.4.4Government Attitudes Towards Imperialism

1.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1857-1890

1.5.1Relations with India

1.5.2Relations with South Africa

1.5.3British-Boer Relations

2Imperial Consolidation & Liberal Rule, 1890-1914

2.1Consolidation & Expansion in Africa, 1890-1914

2.1.1Consolidation & Expansion into Africa

2.1.2Consolidation & Expansion in South Africa

2.1.3Historical Interpretations: Expansion into Africa

2.2Imperial & Colonial Policy, 1890-1914

2.2.1Policy in India

2.2.2Policy in Egypt

2.2.3Native Policy in Colonies

2.2.4International Relations with Other Powers

2.3Trade & Commerce, 1890-1914

2.3.1The Benefits of Trade

2.3.2Costs of the Empire

2.3.3Debates Over Trade

2.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914

2.4.1Key Administrators - Chamberlain & Rhodes

2.4.2Key Administrators - Baring & Milner

2.4.3Key Administrators - Curzon

2.4.4Government Attitudes to the Empire

2.4.5National Efficiency & the Boer War

2.4.6Popular Attitudes Towards Imperialism

2.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1890-1914

2.5.1Challenges in India

2.5.2Challenges in Africa

2.5.3Challenges in South Africa

2.5.4Historical Interpretations of the Boer War

2.5.5Relations & Business with Iran

3Imperialism Challenged, 1914-1967

3.1Expansion & Contraction of Empire, 1914-1947

3.1.1Impact of WW1

3.1.2Palestine

3.1.3Ireland & WW1

3.1.4Impact of WW2 on the British Empire

3.2Colonial Policy & Administration, 1914-1947

3.2.1Administration in India & Palestine

3.2.2Administration in Iraq & the Dominions

3.2.3Imperial Defence

3.3Trade, Commerce & Economic Impact of War

3.3.1Economic Impact of WW1

3.3.2Inter-War Trade & Commerce

3.3.3Economic Impact of WW2

3.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1890-1914

3.4.1Colonial Administrators

3.4.2Trusteeship

3.4.3Gandhi

3.4.4Montagu, Haig & Linlithgow

3.4.5Cameron, Mitchell, Cohen & Furse - African Admins

3.4.6Imperialist Ideals

3.5Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1914-1947

3.5.1Ireland & India 1914-1947

3.5.2The Middle East and Africa

4The Wind of Change, 1947-1967

4.1Decolonisation in Africa & Asia, 1947-1967

4.1.1Reasons for Decolonisation

4.1.2Decolonisation in East & West Africa

4.1.3Decolonisation in Central & South Africa

4.1.4Decolonisation in Asia

4.2Colonial Policy & Administration, 1947-1967

4.2.1Relations & Business with Iran after WW2

4.2.2The 'Winds of Change'

4.2.3The Suez Canal Crisis - 1956

4.2.4International Relations 1947-1967

4.3Trade & Commerce, 1947-1967

4.3.1The Economic Impact of WW2

4.4Attitudes Towards the Empire, 1947-1967

4.4.1Colonial Administrators: Cohen & Arden-Clarke

4.4.2Local Leaders in the Independence Movement

4.4.3Pan-Africanism in Nationalism

4.5Post-Colonial Ties, 1947-1967

4.5.1Windrush & Immigration

4.5.2Commonwealth Immigrants Act

4.5.3Residual Impact of the Empire

4.6Relations with Indigenous Peoples, 1947-1967

4.6.1Challenges to Colonial Rule Post 1947

4.6.2Kenya & the Mau Mau Uprising

4.6.3Nigeria & Rhodesia

Jump to other topics