CHAPTER 8: Key Personalities in the History of East Africa Before Independence

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

1. know the background of and the East African problems caused by colonialists.
2. understand key personalities who struggled for the independence of East African states.
3. appreciate the impact of East African personalities in the struggle for independence.

Keywords

• colonialism
• insurgency
• independence
• personalities

Introduction

After studying this chapter, you will be able to understand and appreciate the Personalities who struggled for the independence of East African states.

With the help and the enlightenment resulting from World War II, some notable East Africans who had got education from missionary schools started mobilising the local masses to resist colonial rule. They began by forming political parties, which became a voice for the people.

Background of the Problems Caused by Colonialists in East Africa

Activity 8.1 Finding out the problems caused by colonialists in East Africa

1. Using ICT or the library, research and identify the problems that were created by the colonial administration in East Africa.
2. Explain the effects of these problems on the people of East Africa.
3. In groups, discuss the reaction of African leaders to the socio-economic problems of colonial administration. Present the ideas to the class.

Reasons for the Demand for Independence

The rise of nationalism happened after some East Africans had participated in the world wars. There were very many lessons learnt by Africans, which created a wave of change leading to the demand for self-rule.

The war veterans were not happy with the way Africans were being treated. They felt that they had a duty to mobilise Africans against colonial policies that did not favour the Africans. To achieve this aim, they formed political parties as platforms to mobilise mass support and advance their popular demands and representation on the legislative council.

All Figure 8.1: (personalities) Nyerere (Left), Kenyatta (middle) and Obote (right): These leaders influenced Africans to demand independence

The harsh mistreatment and exploitation of Africans by colonialists increased the hatred for colonialists. Africans lost land and were forced to pay taxes as well. The Africans were forced to work for low wages in order to pay the taxes. Africans were not paid fairly for their labour. They were even discriminated against in all areas of the economy.

Amidst these challenges, the Africans did not have a voice in the political management of their nations. Needless to say, the mistreatment of Africans united them around the resentment of colonial rule and demand for self-rule.

Figure 8.2: Africans demonstrating against mistreatment: They resented harsh treatment by colonialists

Before independence, some Africans had acquired western education and had been exposed to what was taking place around the world. The educated Africans were in a better position to provide leadership and sensitise the masses on the ills of the colonialists. They provided leadership to political organisations and mobilised people to agitate for self-rule. They negotiated with the colonialists until self-rule was granted to East Africans.

Figure 8.3: The Ethiopians resisted colonialism up to the end

By that time most parts of the world that had been under colonialism had attained independence. Countries like India and Ethiopia, which resisted colonialism, motivated East Africans to keep the struggle going. World War II influenced some countries, like the United States of America, to support the granting of independence to colonies. This was required by the United Nations Charter and Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The Cold War also influenced political directions in some countries. With these events happening in the world, the colonialists found themselves on the losing end. They had to give up control of territories and grant them independence. The political environment at the time was all favourable for East Africans to liberate themselves from colonial injustices. The struggle for liberation was led and guided by nationalists whose leadership was vital in the struggle for independence.

Activity 8.2 Finding out the challenges in the demand for independence in East Africa

1. Using ICT or the library, identify the challenges to nationalism in the struggle for independence.

2. In groups, discuss the challenges of pre-independence political parties in East Africa.

Key Personalities in Independence Struggles

Ignatius Musaazi

Musaazi was born in a village called Timuna, near Wobulenzi, in Uganda. He studied at King’s College Budo and later in the United Kingdom under a scholarship.

He taught at Makerere College but later left Makerere to help African farmers demand improvement in the prices of their products. He often landed in prison due to his political activism on charges of treason for mobilising Ugandans against the colonialists.
He formed the Uganda African Farmers Union (UAFU) in 1947 and it was blamed for the 1949 riots in Buganda. He later formed the Federation Figure 8.4: Ignatius Musaazi of Partnerships of Uganda African Farmers (FPUAF) following the ban of UAFU.

In 1952, he formed the Uganda National Congress (UNC), the first political party in Uganda, with other Ugandans and became its leader. His political activism created room for Africans to join the Legislative Council, paving the way for Uganda’s independence. Musaazi opened the way for other political parties to start and fight injustices committed by the colonial government.

Activity 8.3 Identifying key personalities in the struggle for independence in Uganda

1. Using ICT or the library books, research and find out about the career development and roles of the following

2. personalities in Uganda before independence:

(i) Muteesal

(ii) Kabalega

(iii) Semei Kakungulu

3. In groups, discuss the factors that favoured them to achieve the independence of Uganda.

Julius Nyerere

Figure 8.5: Julius Nyerere of Tanzania

Julius Nyerere was born in 1922 in Butiama in the then Tanganyika. He was educated at Tabora Secondary School and later Makerere College in Kampala, Uganda. After Makerere, he taught in several schools in Tanzania and later joined Edinburgh University for further education.

On return, he joined the Tanganyika African Association and became its president in 1953. The association later became Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) in 1954, as a p party. Through the party, he advocated for peaceful change, social a political equality and racial harmony. He rejected all forms of tribalism, racism and ethnic discrimination.

He became a member of the Tanganyikan Legislative Council nominated by the British. However, he resigned in 1957 in protest because of the slow progress towards attaining independence. He negotiated the roadmap with the Trusteeship Council for the independence of Tanganyika, which resulted a few years later. When Tanganyika gained self-government status in September 1960, Nyerere became Chief Minister.

Nyerere resigned from this position and put his views together in writing based on his philosophy of African socialism called Ujamaa. He used the Ujamaa philosophy to mobilise citizens around cooperative agriculture, literacy and free universal education, and self-reliance. He became president when Tanganyika became a republic in 1962.

Activity 8.4 Identifying key personalities in the struggle for Independence in Tanzania

1. Using ICT or the library, research and find out about the career development and role of Mukwawa towards the independence of Tanzania.

2. Explain how the Ujamma philosophy influenced the unity of Tanzanians.

Tom Mboya

Tom Mboya was born in 1930 in Kilimambogo, near Nairobi, Kenya. He attended mission schools. He worked as a sanitary inspector in Nairobi and later became a trade unionist and General Secretary of the Kenya Federation Labour (KFL) from 1953 to 1963. This was at a time when political organisations were not allowed in Kenya. He became a nationalist figure during the Mau Mau rebellion.

Figure 8.6: Tom Mboya of Kenya

Tom Mboya was one of the leaders who led the Kikuyu people to fight against European ownership of land. He was elected to the Legislative Council in 1957 and put up a spirited fight for multiracial political representation in the British colonial government.

He formed the Kenya Independence Movement in the Council and the People’s Convention Party in Nairobi. He sponsored East African university students to the United States through the African-American Students Foundation.

He was a founder-member of the Kenya African National Union (KANU) in 1960. KANU actively participated in the constitutional negotiations that paved the way for the independence of Kenya in 1963. He served in the post-independence government of Kenya in various posts as a minister. He was assassinated six years after Kenya’s independence.

Activity 8.5 Explaining the role of key personalities in the struggle for independence in Kenya

1. Using ICT or the library, research and find out about the career development and role of Jomo Kenyatta towards the independence of Kenya.

2. Explain the role of Mau Mau in the struggle for independence of Kenya.