THE NORTHERN ADVOCATE Registered for transmission through the Post as a newspaper SATURDAY AUGUST 6, 1949. West Africans' National Stirrings

Northern Advocate, 6 August 1949, Page 4

THE NORTHERN ADVOCATE Registered for transmission through the Post as a newspaper SATURDAY AUGUST 6, 1949. West Africans' National Stirrings

Writing in June last, a special correspondent cf The Times in West. Africa discussed a subject of farreaching importance when changes which are taking place in the outlook of African peoples are being so widely discussed.

According to the correspondent West Africa presents today a challenge to British statesmanship, for the huge territory is the most recent part of the colonial Empire to awake to political consciousness, and, in terms of population, earning capacity and strategy it is the most important.

These facts, it is urged, present Britain with an opportunity to guide West Africa to its proper place in the Commonwealth without the strife that befel India. Palestine and Burma, whereas, as the Gold Coast gave a warning last year, clumsy handling can only lead to a melancholy repetition of those stories. West Africa’s rapid outstripping of the rest of British Africa is attributed to two causes: (1) The peoples of the west coast have had continuous commerce with Europeans, mostly on terms of equality, since the loth century; (24 the war sent large numbers of West African troops abroad and brought equally large numbers of British and American troops into the country. This has caused an impact of new

ideas, -which has fallen unevenly, having affected most deeply communities where the social structure is weakest—the populations of the coastal towns who do not live according to old tribal customs —and, at the other extreme, the forest tribes of eastern Nigeria, whose political capacity is rudimentary.

It is to be noted that the stages reached by the two principal territories—Nigeria and the Gold Coast — vary considerably. Nigeria has a population of almost 27,000.000. of whom perhaps barely 5 per cent are likely to be susceptible to political ideas, whereas on the Gold Coast, with the smaller population of between 4,000,000 and 5,000,000, probably 20 per cent or more are potentially susceptible, though in neither ease are there more than 100,000 who take continuous interest in political questions. Again it is to be noted that in Nigeria there has ’ been no strife between races to prevent progress in a constructive spirit, while on the Gold Coast riots have created an atmosphere of frustration and opposition to existing rule.

In spite of these differences Ihe correspondent of The Times says the political problems facing each are remarkably similar. The most urgent of these problems, because 95 per cent of Africans live on the land, is the modernising of government in the village and district, where administration is at the lowest level. A chering feature is that although there has been no popular demand for it, reforms are being put in hand, on the principle, too often disregarded in most relationships, that it is better to forestall the day when popular demand would come. In Northern Nigeria, where Moslem emirs rule great areas, there is a system more centralised and autocratic than is usual in Africa, village and district councils are being formid around the Hausa headmen to assist in devolution of authority. The councils which have been started have so far proved successful, and in some cases the emirs arcpressing for more, realising that only thus can the north compete with the pressure, of non-Moslem democracy from further south. In Eastern Nigeria, which is ultrademocratic, the case is different, for there the backward Ibo tribes have no recognisable political unit larger than what is called the extended family.

However, these tribes have made, during the past 10 years, rapid strides towards taking the lead in politics, commerce and industry.

The intention in this area, it is stated, is to start next year a system of parish and county councils on the English model adapted to local conditions.

It is believed good results will follow, for experience at one settlement has already shown' that a high degree of communal self-help can be evoked among the villagers when given continuous and imaginative leadership.

Throughout West Africa there are definite stirrings to bring about a large measure of self-government in respect of villages and districts,and, as has been said, the authorities are taking steps to gratify the aspirations of the people so far as that can be done.

Apparently there is no wish that Britain should evacuate West Africa; inded, it is asserted that, with the exception of a few embittered individuals, the African masses as a whole, and most educated Africans, would not desire it.