Africa

The Diaspora, Imperialism, and Independence: 1550-1964

Shaka warred againstBritish imperialists

The Diaspora, Imperialism, and Independence: 1550-1964

SlaverySlavery and and ColonizationColonization

Themes in African History Impact of the Slave Trade

loss of people; impact on state behavior and formation

Scramble for Africaformal imperialism and incorporation into European System

Independencelegacy of arbitrary states and continued interference during the Cold War

Slave Trade

Total Africans Kidnapped into slavery and where they were taken

1650-1700 497,500 1700-1750 2,261,600 1750-1800 3,828,100 1800-1850 3,186,800 1850-1900 231,700 Total 10,005,700

Brazil 35.4% Sp. Emp. 22.1% Br. Indies 17.7% Br. N. Am. 4.4%

EMANCIPATION

Enlightenmentslavery violates natural law

Industrialization —owners need to be able to fire workers when needed

Evangelicalism— “Am I not a man and a brother?”

Emancipation did not end Africa’s or Africans’ woes

Imperialism

White Man’s BurdenDesire to Christianize the Heathen

Need to secure Markets and Materials

Strategic Rivalries and competition

Scramble for Africa 1880—90% of Africa ruled by Africans 1900—almost all ruled by Europeans 1884—Berlin West Africa Conference

—Africa carved up by diplomats to prevent European war over spoils of conquest

Brutality characterized the so-called “civilizing mission”

African Independence

Sped up by WWII Britain recognized independence of

its colonies—all by 1964 Problem between European long-

time residents and Africans periisted Apartheid in South Africa (racial

segregation) Cold War exacerbated African

politics

Kwame Nkrumah 1909-1972 (President of Ghana from 1957-1966)

“For centuries, Europeans dominated the African continent. The white man arrogated to himself the right to rule and to be obeyed by the non-white; his mission, he claimed, was to "civilize" Africa. Under this cloak, the Europeans robbed the continent of vast riches and inflicted unimaginable suffering on the African people.

All this makes a sad story, but now we must be prepared to bury the past with its unpleasant memories and look to the future. All we ask of the former colonial powers is their goodwill and co-operation to remedy past mistakes and injustices and to grant independence to the colonies in Africa….

It is clear that we must find an African solution to our problems, and that this can only be found in African unity. Divided we are weak; united, Africa could become one of the greatest forces for good in the world.”

--Nkrumah, “I speak of freedom”--1961

African Literature

1. PERIODS

1.1 Pre-colonial era1.2 Colonial era1.3 Liberation Struggle and Independence Era

1.4 Postcolonial African literature1.5 African poetry today

1.1 PRE-COLONIAL ERAscripts documenting the kings of Ethiopian and Ghanaian empires

folklore manuscripts of TumbuktuArabic and Swahili literature

1.2 COLONIAL ERApro- and anti-slavery: poems, novels,

plays, histories, sermons, speeches, newspaper columns and letters, travelogues, medical treatises, handbills, broadsides, songs, children's books

relation of British Romanticism to colonialism and slavery

Themes of liberation, independence and négritude

1.3 LIBERATION STRUGGLE AND INDEPENDENCE ERA

It is the political, economic, social and cultural events of a society that shape its literature.

In his essay "Homecoming" (1972), Kenyan writer Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o makes this stance very clear when he says:

Literature does not grow or develop in a vacuum; it is given impetus, shape, direction and even area of concern by the social, political and economic forces in a particular society. The relationship between creative literature and other forces cannot be ignored especially in Africa, where modern literature has grown against the gory background of European imperialism and its changing manifestations: slavery, colonialism and neo-colonialism. Our culture over the last hundred years has developed against the same stunting, dwarfing background

1.4 POSTCOLONIAL AFRICAN LITERATURE “To have any sense of evolving African

poetics, one must be aware of the socio-political significance of literary expression and the ideological character of literary theory.”

1.4 POSTCOLONIAL AFRICAN LITERATURE Ali A. Mazrui and others mention seven

conflicts as themes: 1. the clash between Africa's past and

present, 2. between tradition and modernity,

between indigenous and foreign, 3. between individualism and community, 4. between socialism and capitalism, 5. between development and self-reliance 6. and between Africanity and humanity.

1.4 POSTCOLONIAL AFRICAN LITERATURE Other themes in this period include:

1. social problems such as corruption, 2. the economic disparities in newly

independent countries, 3. and the rights and roles of women

1.5 AFRICAN LITERATURE TODAY works that focus on the healing and

purging of the country and families faced issues in ways that not only

explain how indigenous cultures are absorbed by western standards but also how limiting in vision their leaders have been.

celebrating the vitality of African languages and literatures and affirming their potential.

WHAT TO DO? Idealism vs. Realism Proportionalism Birth control, education of women,

clean water Nation building has not worked and

Africans deeply resent—for good reason—external experts who “know what’s best.”

In conclusion: The Sunset is Hope In Africa, everyone is a fighter. The African spirit is a spirit that is

constantly seeking, always searching, always roaming, constantly restless.

Many poets have chronicled the passion and soul of a continent that has fought herself out of wars, colonialism, apartheid and is now warring against neo-colonialism.

Claiming Tomorrow There is no disputing the fact that Africa is

seen by Africans as a Nation: The Motherland.

But Africans don’t only write about their struggles, after all, great love stories await the warriors who come from the battle. The most beautiful words have been woven for unnamed damsels who have represented the African woman. Sometimes, even the continent itself has been eulogised as a woman. The affection that Africans attach to their home is intense.