Lesson plan of Africa: Neocolonialism and Independence

Objectives (5 - 10 minutes)

1. Understand Neocolonialism in Africa: The main objective is for students to understand the concept of neocolonialism and how it manifested in Africa. They should be able to identify the characteristics of neocolonialism, such as economic exploitation and cultural imposition, and how these factors contributed to the continuation of foreign domination in the African continent.

2. Analyze the Process of African Independence: Students should be able to analyze the process of African independence and the main struggles and movements that contributed to African countries achieving their freedom. They should understand how these movements opposed neocolonialism and fought for the self-determination of African peoples.

3. Relate Neocolonialism and Independence: The goal is for students to be able to relate neocolonialism and the independence process. They should understand how neocolonialism was a factor that hindered the total independence of African countries and how the struggles against neocolonialism were intrinsically linked to the independence process.

Introduction (10 - 15 minutes)

1. Content Review: The teacher should begin the class by briefly reviewing previous classes that addressed European colonization in Africa, highlighting the economic exploitation, cultural imposition, and consequences of this process for the African population. This review will help set the stage for introducing the new topic - neocolonialism and independence.

2. Problem Situations: The teacher can propose two problem situations to instigate students' critical thinking. The first one can be: "How do you think the continuity of neocolonialism affected the African independence process?" The second one: "What were the main challenges faced by the independence movements in Africa and how did neocolonialism contribute to these challenges?"

3. Contextualization: The teacher should contextualize the importance of the subject, highlighting how neocolonialism still has impacts on contemporary Africa, such as the exploitation of natural resources by foreign companies and global cultural influence. Furthermore, it is important to emphasize how the fight against neocolonialism influenced independence movements and shaped the continent's history.

4. Topic Introduction: To capture the students' attention, the teacher can share two historical curiosities. The first one is about the Independence Movement of Ghana, the first African country to achieve independence from colonial rule in 1957. The second curiosity is about the South African leader Nelson Mandela, who fought against neocolonialism and apartheid, winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.

5. Topic Presentation: Finally, the teacher should present the topic of the class: "Today, we will explore the concept of neocolonialism in Africa, understand how it manifested, and analyze how the fight against neocolonialism related to the independence process of African countries."

Development (20 - 25 minutes)

1. Neocolonialism Theory (10 - 12 minutes):

   • Definition and Context: The teacher should start by explaining the concept of neocolonialism, highlighting that it is a new form of economic and cultural domination that emerged after the independence processes in Africa. It should be emphasized that, despite formal independence, many African countries remained dependent on the former colonizing powers due to unfavorable trade agreements and persistent cultural influence.

   • Neocolonialism Characteristics: The teacher should then present the main characteristics of neocolonialism, such as economic exploitation through the appropriation of natural resources and market control, and cultural imposition through the diffusion of Western values and practices. It is important to highlight that these practices contributed to the perpetuation of poverty and inequality in Africa.

   • Practical Examples: To illustrate the theory, the teacher can cite concrete examples of neocolonial practices in Africa, such as the exploitation of oil and minerals by foreign companies, the imposition of European languages as official languages, and the influence of Western pop culture.

2. Fights Against Neocolonialism and Independence Process (5 - 7 minutes):

   • Main Independence Movements: The teacher should introduce the main independence movements in Africa, such as the Independence Movement of Ghana, the Liberation Movement of Angola, and the African National Congress in South Africa. The main leaderships and strategies of these movements should be highlighted.

   • Relation with Neocolonialism: After introducing the independence movements, the teacher should explain how these movements opposed neocolonialism. It should be emphasized that the fight against neocolonialism was one of the main reasons that led to the search for total independence.

   • Challenges and Achievements: The teacher should discuss the main challenges faced by the independence movements, such as violent repression by colonial forces, ethnic division, and lack of resources. At the same time, the main achievements of these movements should be highlighted, such as the conquest of independence by several African countries and the creation of pan-African organizations.

3. Practical Activity (5 - 6 minutes):

   • Group Discussion: The teacher should divide the class into small groups and propose a discussion on the relationship between neocolonialism and the independence process. Each group should discuss the issues proposed by the teacher and prepare a brief presentation to share their conclusions with the class.

   • Group Presentations: After the group discussion, each group should present their conclusions. The teacher should then facilitate a class discussion, allowing students to ask questions and share their opinions. The goal of this activity is to promote critical thinking and a deeper understanding of the topic.

Feedback (10 - 15 minutes)

1. Group Discussion (5 - 7 minutes):

   • Sharing Conclusions: The teacher should ask each group to share their conclusions from the practical activity. Each group will have a maximum of 3 minutes to present their main ideas. The teacher should ensure that all presentations are respectful and that students have the opportunity to freely express their opinions.

   • Connections with the Theory: After the presentations, the teacher should make connections between the groups' conclusions and the theory presented in the first part of the class. It should be highlighted how the ideas discussed by the students reflect the reality of neocolonialism and the independence process in Africa.

2. Teacher Feedback (3 - 5 minutes):

   • Reinforcement of Key Concepts: The teacher should reinforce the key concepts of the class, emphasizing the importance of neocolonialism and the independence process in the current formation of Africa. The main points discussed should be reiterated, such as the characteristics of neocolonialism, the main independence movements, and the challenges faced by these movements.

   • Clarifying Doubts: The teacher should open up space for students to ask questions and clarify any doubts they may have. Students should be encouraged to ask about any aspect of the class they did not fully understand.

3. Individual Reflection (2 - 3 minutes):

   • Reflection Questions: To conclude the class, the teacher should ask students to silently reflect on what they have learned. The teacher can do this by proposing some reflection questions, such as: "What was the most important concept you learned today?", "What questions have not been answered yet?" and "How do you think neocolonialism continues to affect Africa today?"

   • Optional Sharing: After a minute of reflection, the teacher can invite a few students to share their answers with the class. This will not only allow the teacher to assess the students' understanding but also help to end the class in a reflective and meaningful way.

4. Class Closure: At the end of the class, the teacher should close the session by thanking the students for their participation and encouraging them to continue exploring the subject in their future readings and studies.

Conclusion (5 - 10 minutes)

1. Summary of Main Contents (2 - 3 minutes):

   • The teacher should start the conclusion by recalling the main points discussed during the class. The concept of neocolonialism, its characteristics and impacts on Africa, as well as the main independence movements and the struggles against neocolonialism should be restated.
   • It is important to highlight how these contents intertwine, showing the intrinsic relationship between neocolonialism and independence.

2. Connection Between Theory, Practice, and Applications (1 - 2 minutes):

   • The teacher should emphasize how the class connected the theory, practice, and applications of the subject. The theory was presented through the explanation of neocolonialism and the independence process, while the practical activity and group discussion allowed students to apply these concepts to real situations.
   • The relevance of the subject to understanding the history and contemporary reality of Africa should also be highlighted, encouraging students to reflect on the presence of neocolonialism in their daily lives.

3. Extra Materials (1 - 2 minutes):

   • The teacher should suggest extra materials for students who wish to deepen their knowledge on the subject. These materials could include documentaries, movies, books, articles, and websites related to neocolonialism in Africa and the independence movements.
   • It is important for the teacher to briefly explain the content and relevance of each material, so that students can choose the ones that best suit their interests and learning needs.

4. Relevance of the Subject (1 - 2 minutes):

   • Finally, the teacher should summarize the importance of the subject for the students' daily lives. It should be emphasized how understanding neocolonialism and the independence process in Africa can help to understand contemporary issues, such as the exploitation of natural resources, economic inequality, and cultural diversity.
   • Students should also be encouraged to reflect on how they, as individuals, can contribute to the fight against neocolonialism and the promotion of social justice and equality.