NATIONALISM AND POLITICS OF LAND REFORMS IN KENYA
DEFINITION OF NATIONALISM
Nationalism can be defined as the desire for Africans to end
all forms of foreign control and influence so as to be able to take charge of
their political, social and economic affairs. During the colonial era Africans
were not only exploited economically, but their political and socio-culture
institutions were also interfered with. This exploitation and oppression gave
rise to Nationalism.
Nationalism can also be defined as the desire for
independence and self-determination among a group of people.
In Africa, Nationalism was a gradual process that grew out
of the determination of different African communities to rid themselves of the
oppressive colonial rule they were subjected to resistance movements that
spread all over the continent at the onset of colonialism were part of the
early African Nationalism. They included the maji maji rebellion in Tanganyika,
the murenga war in southern Rhodesia now Zimbabwe, the Nandi uprising in Kenya
and the mandi revolt in the Sudan.
Historically Nationalism in Kenya started after the arrival
of colonialist in Africa but increased after the first world war (from
1920s-1930s) however after second world war Nationalism in Africa gained
momentum where the idea of Nationalism spread in Africa. From 1945 the African
Continent was full of nationalists strangers. These were caused by internal and
external factors.
The internal factors are those factors that prevailed within
the continent of Africa and eventually contributed to the rise and development
of African Nationalism. These factors included:-
Colonial exploitation. The main objective of colonialists
was economic gain from colonies Africans were badly exploited in terms of
Natural and human resources. The Africans were subjected to low wages, long
working hours, low prices for their cash crops, poor working conditions,
taxation, land alienation and so on. This exploitation was intensified in all
colonies soon after the second world war. The colonialists launched various
colonial development plans and schemes in Africa to facilitate the recovery of
their economy. Colonies were to share the cost of rehabilitation capitalists
economies. They established schemes and plans sparked high spread resistance in
all colonies as Africans could no longer
tolerate exploitations, forced cash crops cultivation and so on. In some
colonies Africans were forced to grow cash crops instead of food crops for
example in Kenya. This resulted in persistent hunger and famine. Worst still
peasants were paid very low prices for their crops hence this one stimulated
them to rise and fight for their rights amongst the colonial dominion hence
leading to the rise of African nationalism. The role played by African elites. Colonial Education
produced various African elites. Among others were kwame nkruma (Ghana)
Julius Nyerere (Tanganyika) Nandi Azikiwe (Nigeria), Sam
Nujoma (Namibia), Patrice Emery Lumumba (Republic of Congo) Nelson Mandela
(South Africa) Jomo Kenyatta (Kenya) Milton Obote (Uganda) Keneth Kannda
(Zambia) Joaguim Albert Chissano (Mozambique) Hastings Kamuzu Banda (Malawi)
Leopold Seder senghor (Senegal ), Frantz Fahon (Algeria) Robert Mugabe
(Zimbabwe among others who used that
education to fight for nationalism. These elites organized their people
to unite mass nationalism movement to fight for their rights.
The influence of Liberia and Ethiopia. The presence of
independent states in Africa such as Ethiopia and Liberia also influenced the
growth of nationalism in Africa. This showed other Africans to rule their own countries.
This as a result influenced the rise of nationalism in Africa.
The formation of political parties. The formation of
political parties encouraged the growth of nationalism in Africa. In east
Africa parties like KANU and KADU (Kenya), TANU (Tanganyika)., KY (Uganda)
mobilized the people together to fight for their independence hence the rise of
nationalism in Africa.
The influence of mass media. After world war II Africa
nationalists adapted the use of newspapers to spread anti-colonialism grievances.
The elites used newspapers to expose colonial exploitation and mobilize the fellow Africans for
nationalist struggle.
Improvement of transport network and urbanization enhance
Africa nationalism. For instance improved transport led to concentration of
population in mining centers, cash crops growing and processing areas and port
cities. People of different culture background shared their experiences. They
suffered the same problems of racial discrimination, unemployment and poor
living conditions. This led to the desire of people to unite and fight for
their independence leading to the rise of nationalism.
Loss of independence colonialism interfered with Africans
political institutions. The colonial officials disregarded traditional rulers
such as council of elders in the decentralized societies and in their places
appointed chiefs. Those appointed were rejected by the elders who regarded them
as mere instruments of colonial oppression.
Unfair taxation. The colonial government introduced a system
of taxation which was unfair to Africans for example hut tax, poll ‘tax and
breast tax’ . Breast tax was payable by every mature women. Hut tax was levied
on every African hut in Kenya while poll tax was paid by every adult man. The
taxes were collected with a lot of brutality and ruthlessness. Due to this
Africans started to resist and opposed that system of government rising essence
of nationalism.
Forced labour. The colonial government forced Africans to
provide labour in the European settler farms and in government projects.
Africans were paid low wages only enough to pay taxes to the colonial
government. This policy made Africans to form federations against forced labour
between 1930-1960. This resulted in African nationalism.
Loss of land back for example in Kenya, southern Rhodesia,
south Africa, Mozambique and Ghana between 1930-1960 the colonial
administration started to enact a land commission aimed at taking African
highlands and making them white settler farms. They succeeded in taking the
African highlands. Africans were therefore made squatters in their own land.
This agitated Africans hence nationalism.
Africans were against the introduction of the kipande system
registration. The colonial government introduced the kipande system mainly to restrict
African movement from one working area to places where they could find well
paying job this led to Africa nationalism
Religion also played an important role in nationalism. The
Ethiopian movement, a religion which was inspired by Biblical references, that
Africa and black people would dominate the world politically, socially and
economically. Due to the domination of the whites in church leadership the
Africans started African independent churches which they led. This was a sign
of nationalism between 1930s and 1940s .
Discrimination of Africans on the provision of social
services in most parts of the continent social amenities such as schools,
hospitals, clubs and other recreational facilities were provided a long racial
lines. The Africans had the worst service while the best were reserved for
Europeans. This fuelled nationalism since the Africans wanted to enjoy better
services as well.
It should be noted that African nationalism did not emerge
solely due to internal factors in the colonies. It could also be attributed to external
factors.
The role of ex-soldiers also led to African nationalism many
Africans participated in world war I both
as carriers and combatants. The experience acquired in the war had a
profound impact on the ex-soldiers. During the war, they interacted with
Europeans and Asians. This in itself enabled them to break the myth of European
superiority. They returned from the war with confidence and spirit to unite
their fellow Africans to fight for independence. To a large extend the
ex-soldiers were in front line to influence nationalism and to struggle for
independence in their respective countries.
Some of them were Dedan Kimathi in Kenya Iddi Abdalla Pengo
in Tanganyika, Ndabawingi sithole in Zimbabwe among others.
The role of pan African movements.
A philosophy that is based on the belief that African people
share common bonds and objectives it advocated for unity to achieve these
Objectives. The idea originated in U.S.A by black African as a movement against
slavery, discrimination and other injustices. These objectives were later
extended towards the total liberation of all blacks in the world. In the
mid20th century activities in African adopted pan African sought to unite the
continental pan-Africanism, which advocated for the unity of states and people
within Africa. in its other broader form –Diaspora pan-Africanism related to
solidarity among all black Africans and people of black African decent outside
the African continent pan-Africanism remains a significant force on global
politics. In the early 1940s kwame Nkurume from Ghana founded the African
student organisation (ASO) in the US where he was a student. The organization
worked with fellow Africans to demand for independence and hence the rise of
nationalism in Ghana. The Pan-Africans federation (PAF) was a multinational
pan-African organization founded in Manchester UK in 1944 under peter Millard
General Secretary. The objectives of PAF among others was to demand for self
determination and independence of African people. In 1957 Ghana became the
first sub-savanna African state to gain independence and Nkruma Became its
prime minister. He held Pan Africanist view that the “independence of Ghana
would be incomplete without the independence of all of Africa” the statement boosted
African nationalism. The pan African congress was a series of fire melting in
1919,1921, 1927 and 1945 that were intended to address the issues
facing Africa due to European colonisation. One of these demands was to end
colonial rule and racial discrimination. The first pan African congress in Paris
France in 1919 was organized by more than 57 delegates representing is
countries. It demanded that African be granted home rule and Africans should
take part in governing their countries.
The second was in 1921, organization in several sessions in London,
Paris and Brussels in 1923. The third pan-African congress was held in London, and
Lisbon.
Among other things it demanded for the minority to dominate a
black majority in Kenya, Rwandesia and south Africa. in 1927. The fourth pan
African congress was held in new York and adopted resolutions similar to the
third pan-africa congress meetings.
The fifth pan-African congress was held in Manchester UK in
1945. It is widely considered to be the most important of all. It was dominated
by leaders from the African continent for example Jomo Kenyatta of Kenya, Julius
nyerere of Tanzania, mhamdi Azikiwe of Nigeria, kwame Nkurumah of Ghana, Leopold
seder Senghor of Senegal and kamuzu banda of Malawi. It was organized by the influential
frinidadran pan Africanist George padmore and kwame Nkurume. It was attended by
an American left-wing activist and academic W.E.B Dubai as well as many
scholars, intellectuals, trade colonists and political activists who would
later go on to become influential leaders in various African independent
movements for example Jomo Kenyatta, Nigerian statesman Jaja wachuku, Hastings
Kamuzu banda, obafemi owolowo among others. He contributed to nationalism was
its declaration on racial discrimination as a criminal offence and ending
imperialism in Africa pan African secretariat was established which pursued two goals. Total African independence
and continental political which in two series of international conference, held
to stimulate independence movement in other African colonies second , Nkruma
organized the conference of independent African states to establish a
diplomatic framework for the political union of Africa by initiating representatives
from independent North Africa states to the conference and by holding the 1961
all African people conference.
After 1945 some prominent pan Africanists leaders such as William
Dubois and Marcus Garvey fought and argued for Africa to self rule and unity. There
was also the formation of several pan African organization in the US in the
late 1960s and early 1970s. one of these was the African liberation support committee
(ALSC) headed by poet Amiri Baraka. It worked to increase support within the
united states for liberation movement in Africa.
The sixth pan African congress of June 3rd to 13th
1974 held in Dar es salaam Tanzania was headed by Julius Nyerere and organized
by Mrs. Amy Jaques Garvey, Mrs. Shirley G. Dubois, Dr C.LB James Vincent Harding.
It drew an international delegation of more than 5000 Africans and people of
African descent including hundreds from the U.S.A. the congress discussed about
total liberation of couthern African teritiries including Majority rule in
south Africa. in general the major role of pan Africanism was to create African
unity to demand for free national states.
The independence of
other nations
The independence of India and Pakistan in 1947 and Burma in
1948 helped to inspire other African countries to fight for these victories
inspired Africans to fight against colonial rule.
The alternate charter of 1941. This charter helped
nationalism to gain momentum in Africa. the charter was written by Winston Churchill
(British Prime Minister) and Franklin Delano Roosevelt (U.S president) who
called for the respect of people rights to choose a government of their will. This
increased the desire for nationalism and independence in Africa.
The Banding conference of 1955. This was an international
conference of 22 Asians and seven African countries, held in the capital of Banding
Indonesia. It demonstrated the determination of those 29 nations which had
recently freed themselves from colonialism to have an independent voice in
international affairs. It was an
important milestone in the liberation of Africa. the conference was organized
and sponsored by the prime ministers of Burma (Now Myanmar), Ceylon (Now Sri
Lanka), India, Indonesia and Pakistan. It took place from 18th to 24th
April 1955. The conference was under president Josip Broz Tito of Yugoslavia as
a conference chairperson. Some of the
African leaders who attended were kwame Nkuruma Gamal Abdel Nasser, Kaunda,
Mandela, Patrice Lumumba, Jomo Kenyatta just to mention a few. One of the
agendas was largely symbolic. It forced the great power to recognize the
potential power of non-aligned nations in world politics.
The role and influence of U.N. the UN pressurized for
decolonization using the trusteeship council in which the UN chair stipulates
human right and the right of the colonized to self determination trustee
territories like Tanganyika, Ghana, Rwanda and Burundi were supported by UN in
their struggle for independence. The formation of United Nations organization favored
African states to continue with Nationist struggle. Nations organization put
pressure over the colonial powers to grant their colonies.
Independence for example pressurized Britain to grant
independence to Tanganyika, Uganda finally Kenya.
The role and influence of U.S.A emerged as a strong economic world power. Since
the war was not fought in U.S.A. U.S.A didn’t experience destruction of their
industries and infrastructure. U.S.A emerged as a world power because it was the
supplier of the war requirements in Europe hence made a great fortune. Thirdly European
economies were completely destroyed and could no longer maintain their colonies
though they still needed them. Thus USA through the “Open door policy” supported
decolonization through the decolonization commission of the UN. So as to get
access to exploit these colonies which up to that time had their trade
restricted to the colonial powers. Only to put this into success, USA put
decolonization as a condition for the European Economic recovery under the Marshall
plan. Thus using the UN USA championed the self determination principle from
the Wilson’s fourteen points. Also USA championed decolonization because by
then she had no colony hence for her there was nothing to lose.
Effects of second
world war.
Ex-soldiers who came
back brought a few outlook due to experience and political awareness that they
saw in other parts of the world. They spread new attitudes to their people
hence gave rise to the growth of African nationalism. The war also caused much
economic harm to Europeans a situation that forced them to intensify
exploitation of Africa. This then
accelerated demands for Africans self rule in addition the crumbling of European
economies as a result of the war made some Europeans to lose faith in capitalism.
Socialist parties emerged and in the UK, the labour party came into power. Being
socialists UK was granted independence became the values of socialism oppose
exploitation in all forms including colonialism.
The role played by USSR became very outspoken against
colonialism USSR strongly advocated for the liberation of Africa thus extending
support to the nationalist movement.
Morally, financially, military and materially. In addition
the idea of “proletarian internationalism” which advocated that all workers had
to unite and fight both imperialism and colonialism as they had nothing to look
at except their gains.
The emergence of new
super powers USA and USSR after the second world war in 1945.
These super powers
replaced Britain, France and Germany which failed to protect world peace. The new
powers wanted to be free to pursue their trading interests in Africa and wanted
to spread the ideology of capitalism. Also Russia wanted to spread communism. They
therefore put pressure on colonial powers to decolonise. In addition they
provided support scholarships for education. They also used their influence in
the UN to call for independence of Africa colonies. This encouraged the growth
of nationalist movement.
The role of the labour party in Britain after world war II. The
second world war led to the death, destruction of buildings and other property.
As a result the conservative party led by Clement Attee. The labour party, was
determined to grant independence to British colonies hence the rise of African
nationalism.
Herald Macmillan speech, “The wind of change.” In his speech
after visiting Africa he observed that a wind
of change was sweeping through Africa and that colonial powers had to
leave Africa to avoid fighting. This encouraged the demand for independence.
The spread of communism following the Bolsheik Revolution of
1917 in Russia in which capitalism was seen as evil. Colonialism was taken to
be an extension of capitalism and exploitation of the subjects which raised
African self-determination.
Africans studying abroad formed student groups/Organisations
that articulated African grievances. This gave rise to nationalism.
Conclusion
Having been subjected to exploitation, oppressive and
humiliating rule and conditions, Africans reaction to the colonial rule was
different from one county to another. Africa nationalism was therefore not
uniform across the continent. It was violent in some colonies especially where
the European settler farmers had been example for example Kenya, Zimbabwe, South
Africa, Mozambique and Algeria.
On the other hand, nationalism in some colonies was less
violent as the colonial powers were not as exploitative and harsh to Africans
for example in Tanganyika, Uganda and Nigeria. However there is no single
colony in Africa which obtained political independence without struggle.
