Introduction
Nationalism is the political will of African people to unite together as a nation and fight against the foreign rule, with the intention of ruling themselves Or Is an express of political unity with an aim of regaining independence. Or Are patriotic feelings or consciousness of people who regard themselves as one.
In African context Nationalism is a desire of African people to terminate all form of foreign rule. Nationalism in Africa gained its momentum immediately after the Second World War in 1945. It is the Second World War that influenced the African Nationalism.
The Origin of African Nationalism
The development of African nationalism can be expressed into three main phases, namely;
· 1st PHASE (1880’s to 1900’s)
This phase was characterized by wars of resistance which intended to prevent the colonial invasion or an effort to regain their lost independence. Example, Hehe resistance under Mkwawa against German, Nama and Herero in Namibia against German and Nandi resistance in Kenya against British.
· 2nd PHASE (1900’s to 1945)
This sometimes known as Pre-Nationalism interwar period, the struggle of this phase was wagged through various protest movement such as;
a. Social and welfare
b. Independent church movement
c. Trade and cooperatives union
The aim of this struggle was mainly to make reforms in the colonial government instead of overthrowing it.
· 3rd PHASE (after the second world war in 1945)
This was the period when the whole nation was mobilized to fight against colonialism. It was the period of Mass nationalism (Modern Nationalism) which finally led to independence in most states in Africa in the late 1960’s. This period was characterized by the rise of Nationalistic movement and political parties.
The Importance of African Nationalism
African nationalism had the following importance to the continent;
1. African nationalism opposed imperial occupation and therefore enabled the Africans to achieve political independence (African self-rule in 20th century)
2. It was a means by which Africans showed political awareness against the economic exploitation by the white men in Africa during the 19th century and the 20th centuries. African strongly opposed land alienation, forced labour and taxation imposed by the white men.
3. African nationalism united African ethnic groups through the formation of political movements to press for the formation of Modern African Nations under a single government.
4. It dismantled the evils of European capitalism on Africa soil during the early years of national independence.
5. It was pro-African culture. All political movements which began sought Africans to be able to govern themselves and carry out their daily activities according to their needs under African leadership.
6. It taught the Africans that the efforts to liberate themselves lay within their hands and that Europeans only valued their own interests.
The Rise of Social and Welfare Associations
Social and welfare associations are prominent community or social groups associations formed by Africans to protest colonial exploitation, oppression and humiliation. However, many social and welfare association were forced in order to meet the immediate demand or need of members. These were group created by African who worked in different sectors of colonial system such as;
a. Skilled and unskilled workers
This was social gathering where the workers interacted and were the forums to express their grievances. This association comprised of elite who lived in poor areas and houses and have no good health and education services compared to Europeans.
b. African traders
These were petty traders in urban areas. They formed their associations to address their grievances. Africans traders were discriminated while Asians and Europeans traders were favored much by colonial government.
c. Peasants and cooperatives societies
These were mainly peasant’s cooperative unions. Example of such association was the Kilimanjaro Native Association of Tanganyika. Peasants in many parts of Africa during the colonial rule were forced to grow cash crops in their areas. Examples of Social and welfare Associations in Africa;
A. In East Africa
· Tanganyika Territory Civil Service Association (TTCSA) formed in 1922 by Martin Kayamba. In 1929 it was transformed to Tanganyika African Association based on Dar es Salaam.
· The Bataka Movement and Young Baganda Association formed in 1920 which aimed at opposing the Buganda agreement of 1900.
· The East African Association formed in 1930 in Kenya.
· The Young Kavirondo Tax Paying Association in Kenya formed by Henry Thuku in 1930, formed for opposing land alienation, forced labour, prohibition of Africa from growing cash crops.
B. In Central Africa
· The Momera Native Association in Nyasaland
· South Rhodesia Native Association in Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe)
· Industrial and Commercial Union in South Rhodesia
C. In West Africa
· The Arbergis Rights Protection Society (ARPS) formed in 1808 to oppose the British land Bill in Gold Coast (Ghana)
· The People Union formed in 1908 in Lagos (Nigeria) by Herbert Macaulay to protest against the heavy of water rate.
· Nigerian Youth Movement
· Ashanti Cocoa Federation
D. In South Africa
· South African Native Congress (SANC) formed in 1912 later in 1935 it was transformed into ANS.
Reasons for the rise Social and Welfare Association
1. Difficult living and working condition
2. Low wages
3. Forced labour and taxation
4. Land alienation
5. Racial and social segregation
6. Prohibition from growing cash crops
7. They demanded fair prices for what their members were producing.
8. Demand for the security of peasants land and better methods of growing commercial crops.
9. They looked for agricultural implements for the farmers.
Strength and the Contributions or Roles played by Social and Welfare Association to Modern Nationalism.
The following are the strength and contributions of Social and Welfare associations to modern African nationalism;
i. They promoted unity among the various groups and raised the demand which went beyond the ethnic interests.
ii. They contributed to the rise of awareness or consciousness among the colonizing people.
iii. It forms the associations that the later nationalist leader came from and who became real political leaders. Example Jommo Kenyatta was a member of Kikuyu Central Association.
iv. They facilitated communication among the people
v. They supported morality and materially in terms memberships of this later political parties.
vi. Many of them transformed into political parties which demanded independence. Example, SANN into ANC, TAA into TANU, ZAA into ASP e.tc.
vii. Their infrastructure such as offices came to be used by the Nationalistic leaders.
The Rise of Protest and Religious Movement
Protest is often a reaction against those who mistreat or humiliate others, indicating that their treatment cannot be taken anymore. It can be through active physical reaction such as fighting or striking, passive protest could be done through boycotts and other silent reactions.
Religious movement refers to the churches which were formed by Missionaries. At this period they emerged as an independent churches movement led by Africans. It prevailed in the early 20th century among the Africans communities. Took the form of either indigenous protest movement and includes the following;
a. The Native Baptist church Movement led by Africa in Nigeria.
b. Kimbanguism Church formed by Simon Kimbangu in 1920 (Congo)
c. Dini ya Msambwa in Kenya
d. The providence Industrial Mission formed in 1906 in Nyasaland by John Chilebwe
e. Abamalack Church Movement in Uganda
f. The Watch Tour (1906) in Malawi which later spread to another area i.e. Rhodesia and Belgium Congo.
g. The Kikuyu Independent Church formed in 1929 by Daud Maina
h. The African National Church
Reasons for the rise of Protest and Religious Movements
1. Dissatisfaction with Christians Missionaries acts of westernizing them, making them denounces their African values and culture. Example white Missionaries talked negatively about polygamy and female circumcision among Kikuyu society.
2. African disapproval to the Missionary education system. They considered it to be inadequate as it only taught Africans reading, writing and arithmetic (the 3Rs) which enabled Africans to occupy low position in administration structure.
3. Africans perceived Missionaries as colonial agents, as many of them acquired labour, farms and exploited them just like white settlers.
4. Involvement of Africans in European wars
Characteristics of independent Churches movement
Independent churches movements had the following common characteristics;
a) They worked hand with hand with the African political associations
b) They were against some aspects of the western culture
c) They were led by Africans.
Strengths and Contributions of protest and religious movement during the struggle for independence.
The following are some of the strengths and contributions of protests and religious movements during the struggle for independence.
i. They established their own school in which African children were taught their culture and the evils of colonialism. Later, those who received education in these schools became political activists.
ii. The independent churches taught reformism. They taught African that the missionaries were mere agents of colonialism and not full evangelical as they preached.
iii. The protest pressed the colonial governments through active demonstrations, boycotts and strikes. All these led to the increase of consciousness, particularly when the colonial government used force to put an end to protests.
iv. They instructed Africans not to pay tax and also not to be involved in the imperialist wars because Africans were not beneficiaries of these.
v. They were not merely religious but also they expressed economic, social and political discontent.
vi. They laid the foundation towards unity, that for the first time people from diverse social and cultural background come together.
vii. They were the first organized manifestation of the Africans determination to regain their independence.
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