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From: Berhane Habtemariam (Berhane.Habtemariam@gmx.de)
Date: Fri Sep 03 2010 - 13:28:16 EDT
Africa ... states of independence
This year 17 African nations mark 50 years of independence from a
resource-hungry Europe.
Last Modified: 02 Sep 2010 18:02
Video:
http://english.aljazeera.net/programmes/2010/08/2010831112927318164.html
Whether in bustling cities or remote villages, the 1880s and 1890s were
years of terrifying upheaval for Africans. Fleet upon fleet of foreign
soldiers armed with new weaponry - and a sense of entitlement - descended,
seemingly overnight.
In the space of just 20 years, 90 per cent of Africa was brought under
European occupation. Europe had captured a continent.
Europe was in the throes of the Industrial Revolution. The advent of the
machine was transforming the cities there into the workshop of the world - a
workshop in need of raw materials. It was the dawn of industrial-scale
production, modern capitalist economies and mass international trade. And in
this new industrial era the value of Africa rocketed - not only for its
materials and as a strategic trade route, but also as a market for the goods
Europe now produced in bulk.
But the scramble for Africa was not just about economics. Colonialism had
become the fast-track to political supremacy in Europe. Rival European
powers convened in the German capital and in February 1885 signed the Act of
Berlin - an agreement to abolish slavery and allow free trade. The act also
drew new borders on the map of Africa, awarding territory to each European
power - thus legalising the scramble for Africa.
But with the Second World War - which saw the peak of Europe's dependency on
African troops - a powerful genie was released from a bottle - African
nationalism. The tipping point came on February 3, 1960, when Harold
Macmillan, the British prime minister, gave his 'wind of change' speech.
Within 10 months, Britain had surrendered two key African territories and
France 14. The rate of decolonisation when it arrived was breathtaking.
Seventeen African nations gained their independence in 1960, but the dreams
of the independence era were short-lived. Africa ... states of independence
tells the story of some of those countries - stories of mass exploitation,
of the ecstasy of independence and of how - with liberation - a new, covert
scramble for resources was born.
Watch Africa ... states of independence at the following times:
Episode One - The Scramble for Africa
Wednesday, September 1: 1900GMT; Thursday, September 2: 0300GMT, 1400GMT;
Friday, September 3: 0600GMT; Saturday, September 4: 1900GMT; Sunday,
September 5: 0300GMT.
Episode Two - Cote d'Ivoire
Monday, September 6: 0230GMT, 1130GMT; Tuesday, September 7: 0030GMT,
1400GMT, 2330GMT; Wednesday, September 8: 0630GMT; Friday, September 10:
0530GMT; Saturday, September 11: 1930GMT; Sunday, September 12: 1030GMT.
Episode Three - Chad
Monday, September 13: 0230GMT, 1130GMT; Tuesday, September 14: 0030GMT,
1400GMT, 2330GMT; Wednesday, September 15: 0630GMT; Friday, September 17:
0530GMT; Saturday, September 18: 1930GMT; Sunday, September 19: 1030GMT.
Episode Four - Senegal
Monday, September 20: 0230GMT, 1130GMT; Tuesday, September 21: 0030GMT,
1400GMT, 2330GMT; Wednesday, September 22: 0630GMT; Friday, September 24:
0530GMT; Saturday, September 25: 1930GMT; Sunday, September 26: 1030GMT.
Episode Five - Nigeria
Monday, September 27: 0230GMT, 1130GMT; Tuesday, September 28: 0030GMT,
1400GMT, 2330GMT; Wednesday, September 29: 0630GMT; Friday, October 1:
0530GMT; Saturday, October 2: 1930GMT; Sunday, October 3: 1030GMT.
Episode Six - DR Congo
Monday, October 4: 0230GMT, 1130GMT; Tuesday, October 5: 0030GMT, 1400GMT,
2330GMT; Wednesday, October 6: 0630GMT; Friday, October 8: 0530GMT;
Saturday, October 9: 1930GMT; Sunday, October 10: 1030GMT.
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