Contextualization
Africa is a continent of great cultural, ethnic, and geographical diversity, rich in natural resources, and with a historical past marked by episodes of foreign exploitation and struggles for independence. Within this panorama, one of the most significant events was the process of neocolonialism and the consequent struggles for independence that took place in the 20th century.
Neocolonialism is a term used to describe the new form of domination that the countries of the global north exerted over the countries of the global south after the end of direct colonialism. Instead of directly controlling their territories, as they did during classical colonialism, colonial powers began to exert political and economic influence over African countries, often through multinational companies.
This phase of foreign domination resulted in many problems for African countries, including the exploitation of their natural resources, the destruction of their cultures and traditions, and the subjugation of their population. However, it also led to a strong movement of resistance and struggle for independence, which ultimately resulted in the formation of new countries and the redefinition of Africa's geopolitical borders.
Understanding this process is essential to comprehend contemporary Africa and the challenges the continent currently faces. Furthermore, it helps us reflect on broader issues, such as the role of wealthy countries in shaping the modern world and the struggle of oppressed peoples for freedom and self-determination.
Students can base and delve deeper into the topic through the following resources:
- TEDxTalks: "The Africa map you know is wrong"
- Video lesson: "Decolonization and the Formation of African Nation-States"
- Book: "Africa: Multiple Faces of a Continent", by Leila Leite Hernandez
Practical Activity
Title: Mapping African Independence
Project Objective
The objective of this activity is to create an interactive visual representation of the changes in African geopolitics during the neocolonialism period and the subsequent struggle for independence. Students will investigate the history of each African country, identify key dates and events related to independence, and list the external influences that shaped the country during the neocolonialism period.
Project Description
Divided into groups of 3 to 5, students will create an interactive map of Africa, showing the geopolitical changes over time. Each group will be responsible for a certain number of countries, depending on the class size and the number of groups formed. The map will be filled with information about independence dates, former colonies, and important events that led to independence. It will also have links to more information and sources for further exploration.
Required Materials
- Computer with internet access
- Platform for creating interactive maps, such as Google My Maps or similar.
- Research material, such as books and online resources.
Step by Step
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Research: Initially, each group should research the countries assigned to them. They should look for information on when these countries became independent, what their former colonies were, and what events led to independence.
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Map Creation: Using the platform of their choice, groups should then create a map of Africa and add the information about each country in the appropriate location. They can also add links to additional sources of information.
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Report Preparation: Finally, groups will write a report documenting their work. The report should include an introduction to the topic, a detailed description of the project, a discussion of the results, and a conclusion.
Deliverables and Writing of the Written Document
In addition to the interactive map, each group should also submit a detailed report. The report should begin with an introduction to the topic "Africa: Neocolonialism and Independence," explaining why it is important and how it is relevant to understanding current geopolitics.
In the development section, students should describe in detail the project they carried out, explaining each step and the methodology they used. They should also present and discuss the results obtained, such as the information they collected about each country and how they visually represented that information.
The conclusion should summarize the work done and the lessons learned, highlighting the value of the activity for understanding the topics studied. Students should also indicate the sources of information they used in the Bibliography section.
By the end of the project, students will have improved their technical and socio-emotional skills, gaining a better understanding of the independence process of African countries and the impact of neocolonialism on the current configuration of the continent.
