The 1960s euphoria of independence in Africa lasted a short decade. Natural and man-made disasters as well as internal and external setbacks delayed the dividends of political independence and dampened the excitement about decolonization. As a result, pessimism set in although pockets of optimism persisted against pervasive cynicism. This seminar is designed to examine the rollercoaster decades of African independence and explore how African nationalist movements (armed as well as non-violent ones) braved the perils of wresting decolonization only to falter in-dependence. Or did they?
