Introduction
The decolonisation of Africa was a series of political developments that spanned from the mid-1950s to 1975, during the Cold War. Colonial governments gave way to sovereign states in a process often marred by violence, political turmoil, widespread unrest, and organised revolts.
*Key Events in Decolonisation*
- _Mau Mau Rebellion_: Kenya's fight for independence
- _Algerian War_: Algeria's struggle for freedom
- _Congo Crisis_: Post-independence turmoil in the DRC
- _Angolan War of Independence_: Angola's path to freedom
- _Zanzibar Revolution_: Zanzibar's pivotal moment
- Kwame Nkrumah (Ghana)
- Jomo Kenyatta (Kenya)
- Julius Nyerere (Tanzania)
- Léopold Sédar Senghor (Senegal)
- Patrice Lumumba (DRC)
*Impact of Decolonisation*
- Africa gained independence and self-governance
- Pan-Africanism movement emerged, promoting unity among African nations
- Challenges included civil wars, ethnic disputes, and economic struggles
*Timeline*
- 1957: Ghana gained independence, becoming the first sub-Saharan African country to do so
- 1960: "Year of Africa" with 17 countries gaining independence
- 1975: Most African countries had achieved Independence.