History Lesson Note For Grade 12
History Lesson Note For Grade 12
History Lesson Note For Grade 12
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UNIT SEVEN
AFRICA SINCE THE 1960S
Economy and Society in Independent Africa
Activity 7.4
1. Why did Southern Rhodesia change its name to Zimbabwe after independence?
2. Which African state provided valuable military support for the freedom fighters of Zimbabwe?
The End of Apartheid in South Africa
The Afrikaner National Party
Dominated by the South African white rulers in Won the 1948 general election in South Africa
which launched A strong anti-black racist propaganda
Strengthened a system of segregation that was imposed for four decades in South Africa.
The government came up with extremely racist rules and regulations.
The blatant racist policy of to make the minority white rule perpetual was known as „apartheid
„which means „separateness‟.
Black population of South Africa considered as alien and foreigners in their own land.
Black populations were forced to live in relatively backward areas
In 1950, racist policy introduced known as „Population Registration Act‟. Divided the people
of South Africa, based on race into whites and non-whites.
The non-whites group included the majority blacks, Asians, and peoples with mixed races.
The native black populations divided Zulu, Xhosa, Tswana, Venda and Sotho.
In the same year, law „The Group Areas Act‟, allowed to reside, and work based on race.
These acts prevented sexual relations between different races.
Separate public places, buses and schools were arranged for the whites and non-white peoples in
South Africa.
Although the blacks were allowed to work in factories with meager pays and under bad
working conditions, their rights as employees were not recognized.
The Bantu Education Act‟ which was issued in the year 1953. This act prevented black South
Africans from learning in the missionary schools. Allowed to join government owned schools
The blacks were trained just to servants of their white „masters‟.
Marcus Garvey
Formation of OAU
The Manchester Conference of 1945 laid the foundation for the emergence of a continental
organization in Africa.
After the Manchester Conference, however there was a division among the then African leaders
and politicians over the issue of creating a single politically united Africa.
Some nationalist African leaders considered the creation of nation states as the first step
towards creating a larger United States of Africa.
Among the advocates of this idea, we can mention President Julious Nyerere of Tanzania and
President Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana.
These African nationalists insisted that pan-Africanism should be materialized better after the
African countries first achieve independence and underlined that Pan-Africanism should not
be allowed to weaken the position and sovereignty of the emerging individual African nation
states.
This division in Pan–Africanism became a source of problem, which continued to trouble the unity
of African nations in the post-independence period.
The OAU was founded in May 1963 in Addis Ababa, by 32 African states with the main aim of
bringing the African nations together and resolving the issues within the continent. Its first ever
conference was held on May 1, 1963 in Addis Ababa.
The OAU had the following primary aims:
To coordinate and intensify the co-operation of African states in order to achieve a better life for
the peoples of Africa;
To defend the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of African states.
To eradicate of all forms of colonialism and white minority rule.
The OAU proposed two ways of solving the problems of colonialism and white minority rule in
some parts of Africa.
First, it would defend the interests of independent African states and help the independence
struggle waged by African peoples.
Secondly, it would remain neutral in terms of world affairs, preventing its members from being
controlled once more by outside powers.
A Liberation Committee was established to aid independence movements and look after the
interests of already-independent states.
The OAU also aimed to stay neutral in terms of global politics, taking the Cold War into
consideration.
Most of the newly emerging independent African states were in favor of the creation of continental
organization.
Casablanca Group
• Ghana Guinea Algeria Egypt Morocco
led by Kwame Nkrumah
Regarded Anti-western
Since 1963, Addis Ababa is serving as the headquarters of OAU and then the African Union (AU).
Thirty-two independent African states established the OAU by signing its charter.
The OAU has helped African countries under colonial rule to achieve independence.
Almost all the African states had joined the OAU.
In fact, one member i.e., Morocco has left the OAU in November 1984 in protest against the
OAU‟s decision to admit the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic as Western Saharan state two
years earlier i.e., 1982.
The OAU was criticized for being a bureaucratic forum of the African oppressive rulers rather than
an organization that is much concerned about the peoples of Africa.
Some call the OAU “Dictators‟ Club” or “Dictator‟s Trade Union”. The OAU had neither a strong
agency to enforce its decisions nor a military wing or armed force of its own. Attempts were made
by the OAU to mediate disputes between member states,
but they were not always successful.
Ethiopia has given military training to the ANC leader Nelson Mandela in Addis Ababa.
Colonel Mengestu Haile Mariam too, has supported the Zimbabweans in their struggle for
independence.
Ethiopia has trained thousands of Zimbabwean freedom fighters.
Success of the OAU
Decolonization in the continent
B. Tackling conflicts
Ethnic oppression
II. Border conflicts
III. Civil wars
IV. Political and economic injustice from 1958 to 1969 there were 38 coup d'état.
V. Economic dependency on industrialized world VI. Involvements of foreign power
Establishment of the African Union
The new African continental union, the African Union (AU) that officially replaced the
Organization of African Union (OAU) was officially inaugurated in July 2002 in the South
African city of Durban.
The establishment of AU was the outcome of the September 1999 decision of OAU members in a
gathering at Sirte, Libya to dissolve the first organization of African independent states
Now the African leaders had come to realize the significance of focusing on greater economic and
political integration of the states in the continent of Africa.
In order to materialize its objectives, the African Union has established six agencies like that of the
United Nations Organization (UNO) to enforce its decisions. These AU organs included:
I. The Assembly of Heads of States and Governments
II. The Executive Council
III. The Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC)
IV. Specialized Technical Committees (STCs)
V. The Peace and Security Council and;
VI. The African Union Commission
UNIT EIGHT
POST 1991 DEVELOPMENTS IN ETHIOPIA
Objective
Activity 8.1
1. Why did the EPRDF armed groups defeat the professional Ethiopian army under the Derg ?
2. List the fourteen regions that were established by the Transitional Government of Ethiopia in
1991.
Activity 8.2
What makes the 1995 Constitution different from the previous constitutions in Ethiopia?
2. What are the fundamental principles of the 1995 Constitution?
Two treaties were signed between Great Britain and its colonies of Egypt and Sudan regarding the
utilization of the Nile River in 1929 and 1959.
Nevertheless, in both treaties, Ethiopia, which contributes more than 85% of the Blue Nile, was
not invited to take part. In fact, in the 1929 treaty, not even Sudan was consulted.
1959 Great Britain, Egypt, and Sudan was signed.
Again, in this treaty, Ethiopia was not only excluded but also got no share of the waters of the Blue
Nile.
Ethiopia beginning with the reign of Emperor Haile Selassie I made attempt to use the Nile but
were not successful as donors and international monetary
Finally, in the year 2011, the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Ato Meles Zenawi, laid the
foundation stone for the construction of the Ethiopia Renaissance Dam, which is today known as
the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, and which has a capacity of generating 6000 Mega
Watts of electric power
8.4. The Role of Ethiopia in Peace Keeping (Liberia, Rwanda, Sudan and Somalia)