Nationalism in Africa: Concepts, types and phases

Abstract

There is a lot of evidence suggesting that from as early as ad 900, invaders of the African continent received fierce resistance from the indigenous peoples. Indigenous peoples may not have had the musket or the Maxim gun, but resistance using spears and arrows was severe, as recorded in many oral traditions and histories. This chapter examines nationalism in Africa as an idea and movement, beginning with consciousness among people who share similar history, territory, culture, political and economic affiliation, hopes and aspirations in ways that see them as unique and different from others. The chapter looks at the various forms of expression of oneness and uniqueness of various African peoples in their migrations and settlement, through wars of resistance and liberation, culminating in independence in 1957 in Ghana and in the 1960s in the majority of African states.