Africa's Long Road Since Independence: The Many Histories of a Continent

by Keith Somerville

Over the last half century, sub-Saharan Africa has not had one history, but many - histories that have intertwined, converged and diverged. They have involved a continuing saga of decolonization and state-building, conflict, economic problems, but also progress. This new view of those histories looks in particular at the relationship between territorial, economic, political and societal structures and human agency in the complex and sometimes confusing development of an independent Africa. The story starts well before the granting of independence to Ghana in 1957, with an introductory chapter about pre-colonial societies, slavery and colonial occupation. But the thrust of the book looks at Africa in the closing decades of the old millennium and the beginning of the new millennium. While this book examines post-colonial conflicts within and between new states, it also considers the history of the peoples of Africa - their struggle for economic development in the context of harsh
local environments and the economic straitjacket into which they were strapped by colonial rule is charted in detail. The importance of imposed or inherited structures, whether the global capitalist system, of which Africa is a subordinate part, or the artificial and often inappropriate state borders and political systems set up by colonial powers will be examined in the light of the exercise of agency by African peoples, political movements and leaders.

Genres: Africa, History, Nonfiction, Politics

408 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2015

Reviews

[Geevee · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a single volume of recent African history Keith Somerville's Africa's Long Road Since Independence is quite an achievement. It is readable yet detailed and to my mind a very fair and balanced appraisal of what, why and how Africa as a continent is in terms of its journey from independence since the 1960s and 70s.

Mr Somerville tackles this large and complex subject using four key themes as described in his biographical note as the end of the book. I should also say that the main emphasis on this study is the sub-Saharan African states. In brief these are:
1. Boundaries and the shape of states.
2. Weak states and institutions.
3. Formation of dominant elites and informal networks of power.
4. Extraverted economic systems.

These themes then allow Mr Somerville to describe how Africa was in 1950 with the near majority of states under some form of colonial/external African powers rule or protection. From here we read of the moves to independence and how these journeys were made. Each state moving through a different trajectory as elections, revolts, partnerships and wars/conflicts and alliances developed or broke down.

There is much on the road to independence and then how African states adapted or failed to adapt to post-colonial rule. These struggles were often created or influenced by colonialism from artificial borders for example but Mr Somerville does not shy away from African agency and the behaviours and failings of leading tribes, social/political elites and how these few but influential parties and personalities used power, war, overseas aid and trade to oppress or simply ignore their own countrymen. Vast wealth was - and still is - being hived off into personal fiefdoms and accounts often protected by vast national or private armies and militias.

This aspect (a country's financial wealth) is then used in the above themes to show how infrastructure, education, medicine/healthcare and food security are very often sacrificed and corrupted away by the elites and their lackeys. The different journeys of these states, especially as many are blessed with huge natural resources and ability to grow and trade cash crops is in the main a tragedy that often leads many to view Africa as a basket-case cum failed continent. However, in a continent so vast and varied there are successes and differences. For example I learned much about Botswana and how this nation is seen as a growing success. Likewise, Kenya, Nigeria, Angola and Ethiopia as examples have many positives yet still suffer from and see difficulties via tribal differences, religion or cultural beliefs, violent extremists (Militant Islam and independence and breakaway organisations and groups), and hegemony and military power.

Alongside this, is the background of famine, lowering of GDP and worsening food security and waste through corruption and through to overseas aid, the World Trade Organisation, the International Criminal Court and the International Monetary Fund. The Cold War obviously plays its part in where and who sought and received aid, weapons and other support; likewise to the War on Terror, the Financial Crisis of 2007/2008 and the Chinese Belt and Road. It will be very interesting for an updated edition that would look at Covid and indeed how Belt and Road and Chinese financial agreements with nations has seen natural resources and territory ceded owing to debt repayment problems.

The book closes by discussing "Africa Rising", and if this is possible: short answer yes but there are, naturally many challenges that are in essence wrapped around the four key themes.

Where readers may find some challenges with this book is simply keeping track of the vast number of groups involved in each state and across state boundaries as we read of for example SWAPO, ANC, CONAKAT, MNC, PSA, MPLA, ZANU, ZAPU, CCM, AU, OAU, PNDC, PNC, MVA, SADF, EPLF, IMF, WTO, ICC and more. This small list is not to put readers off but to say that a notebook or Post-It note will be very handy. Also, I was disappointed at only two maps. Whilst these two are clear and good (Africa 1950 and Africa 2016), given the sheer amount of border disputes, regions, tribes and areas mentioned more would have benefitted the reader. Note this is a publisher problem not an author problem, which seems to be more and more standard with non-fiction books.

In closing, I would heartily recommend to anyone with an interest in Africa today and how it came to be the group of nations it is and where each state's journey may be leading it.

[C M · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Africa's Long Road Since Independence" is the tour de force of the British former BBC World Service reporter and current Journalism Professor Keith Somerville. It aims to provide an honest account of Africa's post-colonial period, doing justice to the agency and complexity of the continent. The chapters are ordered chronologically, and within each chapter groups of countries are clustered on the basis of geographical proximity or political similarity.

While the book is impressive in its detail and scope, it is also quite hard to get through. Because of Somerville's dedication to complexity and detail, it is difficult for anyone but the most initiated to keep up with the dizzying array of countries, ethnic groups, parties, and politicians. At the same time, I assume anyone familiar enough with Africa to be able to keep track, won't learn too much form this book, because it doesn't really provide deep analytical insights. Hence, I am a bit puzzled about its ideal audience and can therefore not really recommend it to anyone. That said, I don't know whether better introduction into Africa's postcolonial history, which describe the major developments but don't get lost in details, are available.

[Lance · Rating 4 out of 5]

A superb review of the continent's history since independence. Though the coverage of the Arab-African states like Egypt or Libya is lacking, he does a fairly good job of reviewing a huge range of political histories for the majority of the rest of the continent (with some absences).

However, in terms of style, Somerville tends towards the factual recount of what happened, sometimes avoiding creating a narrative for the sake of neutrality - but as result, many chapters are long, laborious recounts of enormously complicated political histories.

I've read extracts of The State of Africa by Martin Meredith and I found that one much more readable and better at helping you understand at least some of the personalities and motivations behind some of the biggest shifts in African history. The chapter on the Rwandan Genocide (at least for me) was stronger in helping you understand why these events happen.

If you were wanting to get a review of Africa's recent political history, both Somerville and Meredith offer great accounts, though I'd lean towards Meredith for the sake of readability.

[Magnus Godvik]

Highly recommended. Probably the best book I’ve read on the continent’s history since independence. Somerville doesn’t shy away from offering some general patterns which helps make sense of the similarities, and differences in each country’s history. Its commendable that he doesn’t fall for the temptation to reduce each country’political development soley to the wims of its leader, something I remember Martin Meredith was prone to in his "The State of Africa". Instead he shows how agency and structures are deeply intertwined. Note that this is political and economic history, so apart from some anecdotes about popular music, there is little to satisfy a hunger for socio-cultural perspectives. And while Sommerville does bring forth voices from below, his perspective remains mostly top-down. In the absence of a "People’s History of Africa" in thr tradition of Howard Zim, this is by far thr best account

[Richard Marney · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are all told the more time you spend researching and writing the more precise and incisive is the product. This book is a testimony to the saying. Simply said, the book is the best history of modern African history I’ve had the opportunity to read and reflects the author’s toils.

[Caleb Loh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting content but a little dry unfortunately

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Researcher and former journalist Keith Somerville provides an insightful and well written account of Sub-Saharan Africa’s diverse post-colonization experiences. Unlike other books on this period that I have read, Somerville takes a more thematic chapter approach rather than focusing on individual countries. The book is structured chronologically beginning just before the independence wave with specific sections of each chapter devoted to different countries.

Somerville’s narrative analysis is shaped by four themes: national boundaries, weak states and related institutions, the formation of dominant elites and corresponding informal networks of power, and economic systems that remain dependent on exports. He skillfully demonstrates how these 4 issues have dominated African even before the end of colonization.

The power players and gatekeepers may have become indigenous but they continue to focus on self-enrichment rather than impactful national development. With a few exceptions (Botswana, Namibia) the continent remains unable to fully unlock the potential of its people and resources. The growing soft-power of China provides a significant counterweight to Western aid (which has been misused and appropriated with few positive outcomes).

This is an excellent read to better understand the historical legacy, geopolitical impact and challenges of this vast continent. It will be interesting to witness how COVID-19 impacts the status quo within individual nations and with broader international actors such as China, U.S. and EU.

[Rob · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good update on what’s been happening in Africa in recent decades with a strong final chapter that explores the role of China in the region, the way views of the continent have been simplified in the wake of the War on Terror and Islamism and the influence of neoliberal economics (especially stultifying in the South African context). Wars in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Sudan along with the Rwandan genocide are all also afforded coverage. The author attempts to tease out some broad themes while also making sure that sweeping generalisations are cast into doubt – but therein lies a problem in that the text is dense at times, with too much of a rush to deploy an acronym. Somerville’s favourite word in the English language is clearly ‘irredentist’ while perhaps too much coverage is provided of countries which the author feels more comfortable writing about – notably Sudan, Kenya and Ethiopia.

[Josie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite quotes:

History can viewed like a river:
which to the shaping bed of the river? Where does the bed of the river decide the flow of history, and where does the flow itself wearing and eroding by its sheer unceasing power, shift the bed into a new direction? For there are two histories, the contingent and the structural ... deeper structural features build the river


Ethnicity is an easy explanation that makes complex historical, social and political processes more under-standable, but this mistakes it for the determinant rather than the product of those processes and of elite agency - it is a symptom not a cause. …Ethnicity is shaped by societal and economic factors and human action: it is not an identity set in stone.
-Africa’s Long Road Since Independence by Keith Somerville pgs. 383 and 397

[Marcus Löwgren]

Precis som Somervile antyder i titeln är det här en berättelse om de många och dystra ödena Afrikas länder gått till mötes sedan kolonialismens fall. Alltjämt läsvärd och intressant eftersom den analyserar hur både omvärlden och inhemska aktörer format förutsättningarna som vi ser idag.

… men helt ärligt, ibland blir det lite väl dystert — ett talande exempel: Botswanas otroligt framgångsrika ekonomiska utveckling tillägnas två sidor. Därefter går boken över till att på sju sidor diskutera landets problem med HIV.

[Susu · Rating 5 out of 5]

A BBC journalist gives an overview of developments in African countries starting with colonization - diving into specific examples, rounding out a more detailed picture of the continent.

[Amir Mwasamuli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four and a half stars. A good refresher to Martin Meredith's State of Africa.