Posted by Chester Morton / Sunday, 4 December 2016 / No comments
The effects of radical nationalism in British West Africa
Definition of Nationalism
Nationalism can be described as the African’s quest to free
his country from the influence and domination of colonial rule and to become an
independent state. Nationalism is classified into two; Proto-nationalism and
Modern-nationalism.
Proto-nationalism refers to the activities geared
toward inclusiveness in the administration of the colonies before the
commencement of the Second World War.
Modern-nationalism on the other hand refers to the quest,
after the Second World War, for the absolute removal of colonial rule and the
granting of independence.
THE IMPACT
Emergence of political parties
One of the effects of the activities of modern nationalism is
that it led to the emergence of political parties in the West African sub-region.
The political parties became the tools which were used to drive home the demand
for reforms in the colonial system and later the agitation for independence.
It led to constitutional reforms
Another effect of the militant agitations after the Second
World War was that many constitutional reforms were introduced in West Africa by
the colonial powers. The elective principle, which was first introduced in 1925,
was extended to Kumasi under the 1946 Burns constitution. In that same
constitution, an African majority was introduced into the Legislative Council.
Increased social amenities
The agitations after the Second World War by the modern
nationalists led to the increased provision of the social amenities that were
needed in the colonies. New educational facilities were built, including the
then University College of the Gold Coast. The road network was increased and
hospitals were also constructed.
Self-government
The modern nationalists’ activities after the Second World
War led to the attainment of independence, at various points, in the various
colonies.
It broke the myth around the white man
Up until the Second World War, the black Africans held their
white counterparts in a very high esteem. When the black men were recruited to
fight alongside the British soldiers, they realized that the white man was human
after all. The white men were frightened on the battlefield like any normal
human being. The blacks did not therefore see why the white man should continue
to be in the helm of affairs.
More Africans in colonial administration
With the piled up pressure to Africanize colonial
administration, more and more Africans were appointed to play a major role in
colonial administration. In the 1946 Burns constitutions, more Africans were
introduced into the Legislative Council. Also more and more Africans were appointed
to the upper echelons of the African Civil Service.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
1. a. Explain the term ‘modern nationalist”? [3 marks]
b. explain six
reasons why nationalist activities were aggressive after the Second World War.
[12 marks]
