20th century – 20th century
British West Africa
The Second World War stimulated pre-existing forces in West African nationalism rather than creating them. Wartime inflation and restrictions intensified urban and rural discontent, while political activists, trade unionists, and emerging mass parties gained greater scope. The war also exposed the limited constitutional representation available in Nigeria, the Gold Coast, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia before the conflict.
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The Story
Leading nationalists in English-speaking West Africa generally did not claim that the 1939–45 war fundamentally transformed their political outlook. Many instead emphasized the significance of Mussolini’s invasion of Ethiopia in 1935. Kwame Nkrumah’s autobiography gave little attention to the war, while Obafemi Awolowo’s political manifesto mentioned it only briefly. Nnamdi Azikiwe’s political philosophy had already been formed before the conflict, as shown by his 1937 work Renascent Africa.
The war nevertheless stimulated forces already active in West African politics and gave them greater scope. Before the conflict, political activity in British West Africa was still frequently framed in terms of reform rather than self-government. Wartime inflation and restrictions aggravated existing urban and rural discontent, helping Azikiwe, Awolowo, and Nkrumah later build political parties with mass support and demand self-government.
Economic protest had already appeared before the war. In the Gold Coast, a 1938 cocoa hold-up challenged the expatriate firms controlling the “pool,” while a similar action in Western Nigeria was less effective. These episodes connected nationalist politics to commercial grievances and showed that popular discontent had roots in pre-war conditions rather than being produced solely by wartime mobilization.
At the outbreak of war, many West Africans expressed loyalty to the Allied cause: thousands volunteered for military service, funds were raised for war charities, and prayers were offered for an Allied victory. Yet constitutional power remained severely restricted. Nigeria’s Legislative Council had an official majority and only four elected African members; the Gold Coast had three elected members and limited jurisdiction; Sierra Leone also had only three elected African members; and political activity in The Gambia was confined largely to Bathurst’s municipal offices.
20th century – 20th century
British West Africa
The Second World War stimulated pre-existing forces in West African nationalism rather than creating them. Wartime inflation and restrictions intensified urban and rural discontent, while political activists, trade unionists, and emerging mass parties gained greater scope. The war also exposed the limited constitutional representation available in Nigeria, the Gold Coast, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia before the conflict.
Continue exploring
The Story
Leading nationalists in English-speaking West Africa generally did not claim that the 1939–45 war fundamentally transformed their political outlook. Many instead emphasized the significance of Mussolini’s invasion of Ethiopia in 1935. Kwame Nkrumah’s autobiography gave little attention to the war, while Obafemi Awolowo’s political manifesto mentioned it only briefly. Nnamdi Azikiwe’s political philosophy had already been formed before the conflict, as shown by his 1937 work Renascent Africa.
The war nevertheless stimulated forces already active in West African politics and gave them greater scope. Before the conflict, political activity in British West Africa was still frequently framed in terms of reform rather than self-government. Wartime inflation and restrictions aggravated existing urban and rural discontent, helping Azikiwe, Awolowo, and Nkrumah later build political parties with mass support and demand self-government.
Economic protest had already appeared before the war. In the Gold Coast, a 1938 cocoa hold-up challenged the expatriate firms controlling the “pool,” while a similar action in Western Nigeria was less effective. These episodes connected nationalist politics to commercial grievances and showed that popular discontent had roots in pre-war conditions rather than being produced solely by wartime mobilization.
At the outbreak of war, many West Africans expressed loyalty to the Allied cause: thousands volunteered for military service, funds were raised for war charities, and prayers were offered for an Allied victory. Yet constitutional power remained severely restricted. Nigeria’s Legislative Council had an official majority and only four elected African members; the Gold Coast had three elected members and limited jurisdiction; Sierra Leone also had only three elected African members; and political activity in The Gambia was confined largely to Bathurst’s municipal offices.