Modern Africa Chapter 36 Colonial LegacyWhy is Africa

Modern Africa Chapter 36

Colonial Legacy…Why is Africa the Way it is? ? ? • Africans were dependent upon colonial economic help…even after independence • Africans had little knowledge of modern government • Healthcare and education were severely lacking (not modeled by colonial powers) • Boarder disputes raged after colonial powers vacated Africa abruptly after WWII.

“The Great Liberation” “The Great Freedom” • Post WWII many African nations gained independence from European powers. • More than 50 nations gained independence into the 1960 s (Known as the “Great Freedom”) • Nationalist leaders were crucial to the successful independence of African Nations. – Nelson Mandela, Leopold Senghor, Kwame Nkrumah, Jomo Kenyatta…

• Ghana: Formerly the Gold Coast, Kwame Nkrumah was its first prime minister after its independence in 1957. • Kenya: Independence was led by Jomo Kenyatta from about WWII (1949) until he became the prime minister in 1963. In 1964, Kenya became a republic and Kenyatta became president. • Senghor: led independence in Senegal, later becoming its president.

The Many Problems of Modern Africa: 1. Weak/Corrupt Governments, including dictatorship: Sudan, Somalia, Mali, Tanzania… 2. Cultural/Traditional differences: many different languages, belief systems, ethnicities… 3. Civil War/Child Soldiers: Congo, Nigeria, Uganda… Kony 2012 Link

More Problems 4. Economic Instability: experimentation with mixed economies, continued exploitation… 5. Agricultural Problems: lack of resources, fresh water… 6. Desertification: nutrient depleted soil, overgrazing and improper farming techniques have led to an increase in desertification

There are still more… • Lack of Education: There is still little funding for even an elementary level education… • DISEASE: lack of education and resources have led to an increase in disease and death from disease…Especially AIDS. WHY? ? ?

Last One…I Promise • Woman’s Rights: Some progress in Africa. However, the traditional role still exists for many African women. WHY? ? ? _______________________________________

South Africa • Nation was controlled by the Afrikaners (the white minority) • Apartheid, legal separation based on race, was a national policy of South Africa. • Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress worked tirelessly to rid South Africa of legalized racism. • Mandela spent 27 years in prison for his role in Anti. Apartheid movements. • Mandela, with the help of Bishop Desmond Tutu, and South African leader F. W. De Klerk, helped end Apartheid and won the nations first presidential election in 1994

Outlook In Africa • Many African nations continue to see progress. • There are more schools, hospitals, stable governments and economies, as well as more medical technologies and resources… • However, this is progressive, and many Africans still live a traditional life.

YA KEN