1950s was the year of independence for North Africa.

1950s was the year of independence for North Africa. Libya won independence in 1951, followed by Egypt in 1952, Tunisia 1956 and Morocco in 1956. There was even hope for Sudan in 1956 when it sent the British packing; it would take brothers and sisters in southern Sudan another 55 years to assert their right to be. The plight of Sub-Saharan Africa appeared dim in the 1950s; so it seemed. It took the lone start of Africa, the coast of gold, almost one hundred years to send the British back home: Ghana became the first sub-Saharan country to win independence in March 6, 1957. The events taking place in West Africa would have a profound impact on the struggle in East, Central, and Southern Africa.

Ghana’s independence was a turning point for the struggle for freedom and independence in Africa. Africans still under the colonial yoke turned to Ghana for inspiration in 1957. Kwame Nkrumah understood the importance of Ghana’s independence for Africa; he proclaimed eloquently in March of 1957 that Ghana’s independence was nothing if the rest of Africa remained under colonial rule. It was a powerful statement at one of the most important moments in the continent’s history. The 35 year-old leader from Tanganyika, Julius K. Nyerere was in Ghana to witness this momentous occasion in 1957; it would shape his future vision of Africa!

Nkrumah used Ghana’s first independence celebration of March 1958 as an opportunity to bring together leaders from various parts of Africa and the African Diaspora. Nkrumah sent an invitation to a 36 year-old rising politician from Tanzania (then Tanganyika), Julius K. Nyerere once again. The invitation was sent by Nkrumah’s Secretary and it offered to pay for all the expenses for the trip. Nkrumah had identified Nyerere as one of the most important rising stars in Africa; he accommodated Nyerere at his home in Accra for almost two weeks. Nyerere was the only leader who stayed in Nkrumah’s home during Ghana’s first independence celebrations in 1958.

The experience had a profound impact on the 36 year-old politician from East Africa. Nyerere had followed events in the Gold Coast (Ghana) as a student in Edinburg, Scotland. He studied Ghana’s CPP constitution closely when he sat down to draft TANU’s constitution in 1954. While Kenya was burning during the Mau Mau rebellion, Nyerere steered Tanganyika in the direction of Ghana's "Positive Action." Yet both leaders would put their full weight behind the armed struggle in the first half of the 1960s when all peaceful avenues were shut down.

Nkrumah and Nyerere were committed to the struggle for freedom and independence. The two leaders shared the ultimate goal of freeing and uniting Africa. Scholars will continue to debate the differences in their approaches to achieving Pan-African unity; but their ultimate determination to support the struggle for freedom and unity was the same and their efforts remains unparalleled to this day.

As I reflect on the work of these two African giants, I marvel at the advances we have made and remain hopeful at the challenging work that confronts us at this important juncture. From Cape to Cairo, from Dakar to Mogadishu, the African, whether it be in Africa or the Diaspora, in Rio de Janeiro or London, Bandar Abbas or Karnataka, Canberra or Port Moresby, is yet to assert their rightful place under the Sun. This is a struggle for humanity!

By Azaria C. Mbughuni