Ghana: The Black Star of Independece in Africa

Kwame Nkrumah (September 21, 1909 - April 27, 1972)
Led Ghana to Independence on March 6, 1957.

He emerged as one the most influential Pan-Africanist

of the 2oth Century.

Today marks the 5oth anniversary of Ghana's Independence from British rule. The achievements of Dr. Nkrumah and the support from the people of Ghana remains to be a Black Star in the history of liberation and freedom on the African continent. Ghana is known today as the first African country to gain it's independence. Egypt, Sudan, Tunisia, and Morocco became independent in previous years before Ghana in 1951-1956. They are not considered predominantly "Black" countries by the West so Ghana is considered the first "Black" African nation to achieve it's independence. However, the achievements of all of these African nations created a fervor and determination that spread throughout the continent.

Note: I had previously referred to Ghana as the first "Black" African nation. This term was something that I adopted in my research of this subject. However, as my best friend pointed out to me, the term "Black" African is redundant since Africa is just Africa. Yes, I know there are white, yellow and brown Africans, but I will just say African for the sake of Black Liberation.

Chronological History of African Independence

Liberia~1847

Egypt~1951
Sudan, Tunisia, Morocco~1956

Ghana~1957

Guinea~1958

Chad, Benin, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Central African Republic, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Togo, Zaire, Somalia, Congo, Gabon, Cameroon~1960

Sierra Leone~1961

Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda~1962

Kenya, Tanzania~1963

Malawi, Zambia~1964

Gambia~1965

Botswana, Lesotho~1966

Equatorial Guinea, Mauritius, Swaziland~1968

Guinea-Bissau, Libya~1969

Angola, Cape Verde, Comoros, Mozambique, Sao Tome~1975

Seychelles~1976

Djibouti~1977

Zimbabwe~1980

Namibia~1990

Honorable mention: From the 26th to 29th of April 1994, the South African population voted in the first universal suffrage general elections. The African National Congress won the election and Nelson Mandela became the first native South African president to be democratically elected by the "people" on May 9, 1994.