How did nationalism help shape modern africa?

Question: How did nationalism help shape modern africa!?
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

There were many nationalist movements that helped shape Africa today!.
Some examples are:

Nigeria
Algeria (breaking away from French rule)

This is just off the top of my head!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Nationalism was the force that drove out the colonial European powers from Africa and established the self-ruled independent nations of Africa that exist today!.

Sounds great, doesn't it!?

The truth of the matter is that Nationalism resulted most frequently in corrupt and incompetently run despotic regimes whereby those who took power after independence felt they were entitled to hold onto that power for the rest of their lives!. also, most of the African peoples were basically from tribal societies that had no real concept of an overriding concept of a nation!. Many of the leaders of African nations have demonstrated policies of favoritism towards their own tribe when it comes to who gets the good jobs with the money and the power!.

The question you asked thus has two answers!.

1) It played a big role as a tool to obtain independence and create the Africa we know today!.

2) It was not a true force when shaping Africa for even those who used it as a galvanizing and propaganda tool were more interested in promoting their own personal agendas and ensuring "their people" remained in control of their nation!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

There really is no such thing as an Africa or an African because if you were to ask someone who came from the continent of Africa what their heritage was tey would reply with the name of a country such as south africa or algeria!. This gives them a seperate identity from each other and then in turn creates many different regions of the continent that is based on the different languages spoken and also different religions that are practiced!. They have given rise to the African Union which is like a spinoff of the European Union!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

They are incapable of forming cohesive alliances or organising themselves!. As long as they stay over there, I will be happy!.Www@QuestionHome@Com