Africa History Review

Imperialism

• Stronger nations take over weaker countries.

Pan-Africanism

• A movement aimed at uniting people of African descent to improve living conditions for Africans worldwide.

Triangular Trade

• Trade network involving Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

• The Middle Passage refers to the route between Africa and the Americas, central to the slave trade.

Scramble for Africa

• The race among European countries to exert control over African territories.

Berlin Conference

• An 1884 conference where European powers divided Africa among themselves.

• The division almost led to war; critical point: there was no African representation at the conference.

Nationalism

• A sense of pride, love, and devotion to one’s home country.

Religious and Ethnic Groups

• Consideration of diverse religious and ethnic groups was largely ignored when Europe divided Africa.

Factors Influencing Interest in Africa:

1. Trade routes

2. Strategic pit stops for maritime trade

3. Abundant natural resources

4. The lucrative slave trade

5. Avoidance of taxes imposed by the Ottoman Empire.

The Legacy of the Scramble for Africa

• The 'Scramble for Africa' continues to create conflicts, divisions, and civil wars within the continent.

British Colonies in Africa

• Significant colonies included Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria, and Sudan.

Nigeria Independence Movement

• Initially colonized by Great Britain, Nigeria gained independence in 1960.

• The movement began peacefully but eventually led to civil war and military coups, resulting in an unstable government.

Key Figures:

• Jomo Kenyatta: Independence leader and first president of Kenya.

• Mau Mau: A secret society of guerrilla fighters in Kenya who played a crucial role in the fight for independence from Great Britain.

Sudan Independence Movement

• Great Britain colonized Sudan, which eventually gained independence in 1956.

• British governance promoted Arab individuals in power, leading to ongoing conflict with southern Sudanese people.

• South Sudan was established in 2011 due to these conflicts, notably the crisis involving the "Lost Boys of Sudan" and the Janjaweed militia.

• Janjaweed: Armed groups known for their brutal tactics, including village torching and forced displacements.

Apartheid

• A system of racial segregation implemented in South Africa.

• African National Congress (ANC): Political party established to combat apartheid.

• Bantu Authorities Act: Legislation that created designated homelands for black South Africans, referred to as "Bantustans."

• Nelson Mandela: A prominent figure from the ANC who was imprisoned for treason and sabotage; later pardoned, he worked with F.W. de Klerk to end apartheid, resulting in a new constitution and Mandela becoming the first black president of South Africa.

• F.W. de Klerk: The last State President of apartheid-era South Africa who dismantled apartheid laws and facilitated the release of political prisoners.

Sharpeville Massacre

• A tragic event where a peaceful protest against apartheid turned violent due to police intervention.

Famine

• Extended periods of extreme food scarcity.

Genocide

• Systematic mass killings motivated by race, religion, ethnicity, or political differences.

• Hutu: An ethnic group in Rwanda that was discriminated against by the Belgian colonial regime. They perpetrated genocide against the Tutsi population.

• Tutsi: An ethnic group in Rwanda targeted by the Hutu-led genocide, with approximately 800,000 killed within 100 days because they appeared more European.

Sudan and Genocide

• Particularly in the Darfur region, instances of ethnic cleansing perpetrated by Arab Africans in pursuit of control over oil and water resources.

HIV/AIDS

• HIV is a virus that can remain dormant, while AIDS is the final, terminal stage of HIV infection.

• There are insufficient financial resources to provide widespread treatment in various regions.

• Botswana has implemented policies for free antiretroviral drugs for HIV-positive individuals, benefiting from a stable government.

Literacy in Africa

• Literacy rates for girls are generally lower than for boys; urban areas exhibit better literacy levels compared to rural regions.