For a long time, colonial rule was in place in Africa. Here are some of the African Freedom Fighters that brought their nations’ independence.
African Freedom Fighters
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela is hailed as the “African Gandhi.” He was lovingly known as Madiba. Mandela was the president of the African National Congress (ANC). He resisted apartheid and was imprisoned for 27 years straight.
His resistance, however, put an end to the whites’ 350-year colonial control. After his release in 1994, he was elected South Africa’s first black president.
He served the country for 5 years. He was the first Black President of the country. Mandela won the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1993 along with erstwhile South African President FW de Clerk. He passed away in 2013.
Julius Nyerere
Tanzania’s national father is Julius Nyerere. He spent years fighting for his country’s independence from the British empire. In 1961, he was appointed Premier of the country, then known as Zanzibar. In 1962, he took office as President of the newly created republic. He went away in 1999.
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Kwame Nkrumah
Kwame Nkrumah was a Ghanaian nationalist leader and the first Premier of Ghana, formerly known as Gold Coast. Nkrumah was born in 1909. He was instrumental in winning Ghana’s independence from the UK in 1957. He became President of the country in 1960 but soon was ousted in a military coup. He exiled after the coup. He ppassed away in 1972.
Jomo Kenyatta
Jomo Kenyatta was the first President of independent Kenya. He was born in 1891. His original name was Kamau Ngengi. He became the leader of Kenyan African Union in 1947, but was jailed by the British in 1952. He served imprisonment for nine years. He negotiated with Britain after he was released and became the President in 1964. He served at the position for 15 years till he passed away in 1978.
Kenneth Kaunda
Kenneth Kaunda was born in 1924. He was the leader of Rhodesian freedom movement. He had been formerly a teacher and co-founded the Africal National Congress. The country became independent in 1964 and assumed the name Zambia. He became the first President of the nation. Kenneth Kaunda retired from office in 1991. He was a follower of Gandhian principles.
Patrice Lumumba
Patrice Lumumba was a Congolese freedom fighter and the first elected Prime Minister of Congo (Zaire). He was born in 1925. His real name was Élias Okit’Asombo. He fought for a united Congo but was ousted and murdered in 1961. His assassination is considered to be one of the most brutal in history.
SOURCE: Knowafricaofficial.com
