How important was the role of key individuals and groups and how were they affected by developments: 1947-1967

Question 1

Kwame Nkrumah

Answer 1

Nationalist - Gold Coast:
Helped organise the fifth Pan-African (political union of all the indigenous inhabitants of Africa) Congress in 1945

CPP - created CPP and used them to progress towards independence 1949

Led ‘peaceful action’ against British control but was jailed when it turned violent in 1950

Served as PM following GC independence in 1957

Question 2

Sir Charles Arden-Clarke

Answer 2

Administrator - Gold Coast:
Served as Governor of the GC in 1949, seeing his role to be a facilitator for self-rule and independence

Acted as a go-between for Nkrumah and the Asante politicians

He had a good relationship with Nkrumah, securing his release from gaol in 1951 and bringing him into government

Appeared to want the best for the country as he delayed independence to allow for a 3rd General Election, giving Nkrumah a chance to demonstrate he had support

Question 3

Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe

Answer 3

Nationalist - Nigeria:
Had a western Education

Believed a federal solution was necessary for the creation of an independent Nigeria as one nation

Worked with nationalist rivals & the British

1940s: Championed Nigerian nationalism

1944: Founds the NCNC (National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons)

1960: Established Nigeria’s first government with himself as President

Question 4

Sir John Macpherson

Answer 4

Administrator - Nigeria:

• Governor-General of Nigeria 1948-1955 who looked to move colonial administration towards reform seen in how he gave a high level of administration towards Nigerians
• Initiated conference in 1951 to discuss the constitution however the nationalists were unhappy with his power to hold a veto
  Macpherson Constitution in 1951 led to the
• Lyttleton Constitution in 1954 which gave more regional autonomy
• He helped manage transition towards an independent Nigeria

Question 5

Jomo Kenyatta

Answer 5

Nationalist - Kenya:
Kenya Africa Union (KAU) and toured from 1948-1951, lecturing the country campaigning for the return of land given to settlers by the British and for independence within three years

Kenyatta was elected as president of the Kenya African National Union (KANU) , successor to KAU, in 1960 when imprisoned

Began negotiations with the British which led to Kenya gaining independence in December 1963

Question 6

Onn bin Ja’afar

Answer 6

Nationalist - Malaya:
Edited several Malay newspapers in the 1920s and 30s and was initially pro-Malayan ethnic nationalist (seen by support for Federation of Malaya), later embraced a more inclusive outlook and cooperation with non-Malay political organisations

Rejected British-proposed Malay Union (equal citizenship for all ethnic groups) but later urged cooperation with other ethnic groups towards overall independence and 1951: Resigned from UMNO after their rejection of membership for all races