African Politics: The Politics of Contemporary Africa Study Guide

Study Guide Identification and Departmental Context

  • Official Title: African Politics: The Politics of Contemporary Africa.

  • Department: Department of Political Sciences.

  • Institution: University of South Africa, Pretoria (UNISA).

  • Course Code: APC1501.

  • Authorship:

    • Pierre Hugo

    • Phil Mtimkulu

    • Clive Napier

    • Kierin O'Malley

    • Stephina Motlhoki

Foundational Perspectives on Africa

  • Core Philosophical Premise: The text emphasizes overcoming external and internal misconceptions about the continent.

  • Key Citation: Kimble states: "The darkest thing about Africa has always been our ignorance of it."

  • Objective: The study guide serves as a definitive resource to replace original source materials for the contemporary study of political systems, histories, and structures across African nations.

Geographical and Political Landscape

Continental Survey (Nations and Territories)

The following entities are identified as central to the study of African political geography:

  • North Africa: Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Egypt.

  • West Africa: Western Sahara (claimed by Morocco), Mauritania, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Nigeria.

  • Central Africa: Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, São Tomé and Príncipe, Gabon, Central African Republic, Congo Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Burundi.

  • East Africa: Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda.

  • Southern Africa: Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, Republic of South Africa, Swaziland (now Eswatini), Lesotho, Mozambique.

  • Island Nations: Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius (inferred by context).

Cartographic Scales and Units

  • Geographic distances in political analysis are measured using scales of 500500, 10001000, and 1500 km1500\,km, corresponding to 500500 and 1000 miles1000\,miles.

Ethnographic and Tribal Complexity

Figure 4.1: Tribal Map of Africa (Source: Gann & Duignan, 1982:261982:26)

The guide recognizes the deep-reaching historical and political implications of tribal distributions across the continent. Key groups documented include:

  • Northern/Saharan Groups: Guanche, Regeibat, Moroccans, Beraber, Filala, Shluh, Tekna, Figig, Kabyle, Tunisians, Algerians, Shawia, Tuat, Ahaggaren, Sanusi, Ferzan, Teda.

  • Sahelian and West African Groups: Wolof, Serer, Tukulor, Songhai, Soninke, Malinke, Bambara, Dogon, Mossi, Hausa, Yoruba, Ashanti, Baule, Mende, Temne, Susu.

  • Nilotic and East African Groups: Dinka, Nuer, Anuak, Shilluk, Acholi, Lango, Iteso, Kikuyu, Masai, Ganda, Nyoro, Sukuma.

  • Central and Southern African Groups: Kongo, Luba, Lunda, Bemba, Yao, Shona, Ndebele, Tswana (Ngwato, Kwena), Sotho, Zulu, Xhosa (Xosa), Pondo, Swazi, Venda, Herero, Nama.

  • Horn of Africa Groups: Amhara, Tigre, Afar, Somali (Ishaak, Mijertein, Ogaden, Sab).

Case Study: Political Geography of Uganda (1962)

Independence Context

The guide provides a detailed analysis of Uganda at the time of its independence in 19621962. This includes the structural division of kingdoms and districts which influenced its post-colonial political trajectory.

Kingdom-Based Political Units:

  • Kingdom of Buganda

  • Kingdom of Bunyoro

  • Kingdom of Toro

  • Kingdom of Ankole

Major Administrative Districts:

  • Northern Region: West Nile (Arua), Madi (Moyo), Acholi (Gulu), Lango (Lira), Karamoja (Moroto).

  • Eastern Region: Teso (Soroti), Bukedi (Tororo), Bugisu (Mbale), Busoga (Jinja), Sebei (Kapchorwa).

  • Western/Central Region: Bunyoro (Hoima), Mubende, Mengo (Kampala/Entebbe), Masaka, Kigezi (Kabale).

Geographic Landmarks in Uganda:

  • Lakes: Lake Victoria (Victoria NyanzaVictoria\,Nyanza), Lake Albert, Lake Edward, Lake Rudolf (now Lake Turkana), Lake Kyoga.

  • Bordering Nations (1962): Sudanese Republic (North), Kenya (East), Tanganyika (South), Rwanda (Southwest), Congolese Republic (West).

Themes in Contemporary African Politics

  • Decolonization and Independence: The systematic transition from European colonial administration to sovereign statehood.

  • Nation-Building: The challenge of integrating diverse tribal groups (as categorized in the Gann & Duignan map) into a unified national identity.

  • Political Systems: Analysis of the evolution from multi-party systems to one-party states and military regimes, and the subsequent move toward democratization.

  • Intra-African Relations: The role of regional organizations and the pursuit of Pan-Africanism.

  • Socio-Economic Development: Addressing the political barriers to economic growth and the role of the state in development.

Questions and Discussion

  • The "Darkest Thing" Concept: Discussion of how ignorance (Western and internal) has historically shaped the "Dark Continent" myth and influenced political policy.

  • Cartographic Legitimacy: How colonial-era maps (like the 1962 Uganda map) created structural challenges for modern governance by overlapping or dividing ethnic territories.

  • Academic Responsibility: The role of the UNISA Department of Political Sciences in providing an objective, non-European-centric view of African political agency.