In the encyclopedia of african american history volume 3, p. Consciencism philosophy and the ideology for decolonization. This historic wellreasoned call was ignored in favour of. Kwame nkrumah of africa for the decolonisation of the continent. Philosophy and ideology for decolonization is without question among the greatest books ever written. Kwame nkrumah was attempting to explain how an independent ghana needed a guiding philosophy to marry the three dominant features of the society, the traditional african way of life, the islamic tradition in africa and a final segment which represents the infiltration of the christian tradition and culture of. African liberation and unity in nkrumahs ghana 19571966. In the meantime, the kwame nkrumah institute of economics and political science. Kwame nkrumah 19091972 a short biography kwame nkrumah photo gallery excerpts from speeches the big six i speak of freedom 1961 africanism and culture december 1962 meeting of the editorial board of the encyclopaedia africana september 24, 1964 continental government for africa consciencism.
Kwame nkrumah and george padmore were the fathers of ghana. Neocolonialism, the last stage of imperialism by kwame nkrumah neocolonialism, the last stage of imperialismkwame nkrumah 1965 introduction the neocolonialism of today represents imperialism in its final and perhaps its most dangerous stage. In part of our continent, african revolutionaries are either preparing for struggle, or are actively engaged in military against the. It was marked that consciencism arrived at a stage of development where the vigorous african search for freedom. One of africas most renowned philosophers and political leaders, kwame nkrumah was not only at the center of what he called the african revolution, but he also articulated its ideology. Kwame nkrumah consciencism philosophy and the ideology for decolonization. I speak of freedom excerpt, 1961 neocolonialism, the last stage of imperialism, 1965. Philosophy and ideology for decolonisation, through guiding the reader over its pages, chapter by chapter. Kwame nkrumah speaks in addis ababa in 1963 speaking in addis ababa on may 24, 1963 at a meeting of thirty two 32 african heads of state and government dr.
He has left us an undying testimonyof his egalitarian beliefs in his use of the slaveboy in the meno. Philosophy and ideology in aid of decolonization in africa. Neocolonialism, the last stage of imperialism by kwame nkrumah. In doing so, they broaden our understanding of his philosophical ideas and their relevance for effective african contribution to thought in a contemporary world in. He headed the country from independence in 1957 until he was overthrown by a coup in 1966.
This togetherness of the african through an evolution of the african cultural traditions was more expressed in the work, consciencism. He further elaborated that the situation required world socialism as it was the only remedy, for as long as. Authors note since the publication of the first edition of consciencism in 1964, the african revolution has decisively. Pdf kwame nkrumahs socialpolitical thought and pan.
Nkrumah saw africa pulled by the three religious value systems represented by indigenous tradition, islam, and european christianity. I believe strongly and sincerely that with the deeprooted wisdom and dignity, the innate respect for human lives, the intense humanity that is our heritage, the african race, united under one federal government, will emerge not as just another world bloc to flaunt its. An influential advocate of panafrican ism, nkrumah was a founding member of the organization of african unity and winner of. Neocolonialism, the last stage of imperialism by kwame. Since the publication of the first edition of consciencism in 1964, the african revolution has decisively entered a new phase, the phase of armed struggle. In 1939he left to study economics and sociology in america. The reason for the need for philosophical consciencism is built on the irreversibility of the dynamic changes which had taken place in african society under the influence of alien cultures, together with.
Nkrumah and the triple heritage thesis and development in africana societies. Socialism was basically an issue of development policy. Kwame nkrumah pc 21 september 1909 27 april 1972 was a ghanaian politician and revolutionary. Consciencism definition of consciencism by the free.
Philosophy and ideology for decolonization by kwame nkrumah. Kwame nkrumah has 24 books on goodreads with 8109 ratings. It is the definitive work on the subject of the worldwide african freedom struggle. Philosophy and ideology for decolonisation, against distortion and revisionism for the understanding of the youth in africa and beyond. He became the first prime minister of the gold coast in 1951, and led it to independence as ghana in 1957, becoming the new countrys first prime minister. The legacy of kwame nkrumah in retrospect by ama biney nkrumah is a reminder not of what africa is, but of what africa must become. Much of the scholarly writing has paid attention to nkrumah as a shrewd political operator, a nationalist figure, and a politician but he remains an unpredictable character to define.
I speak of freedom excerpt, 1961 neocolonialism, the last stage. The project topic home for mba, msc, bsc, pgd, phd final year student. In consciencism, kwame nkrumah, in the span of a short but weighty book, unites all his pamphlets, and countless speeches in one philosophical utterance. Neocolonialism, the last stage of imperialism by kwame nkrumah particular war may be prevented from leading to a world conflict, the multiplication of similar limited wars can only have one endworld war and the terrible consequences of nuclear conflict. Kwame nkrumah delivered the following speech calling for a strong union of independent african states. Kwame nkrumah philosophical applications in building a socialist state an article dedicated to ghanas day of shame 20 by lang t. Ikoku, a nigerian panafricanist and a former lecturer at the kwame nkrumah ideological institute, states at the launching of consciencism at the. In part of our continent, african revolutionaries are either preparing for struggle, or are actively engaged in military against the forces of reaction and counterrevolution. Nubuor karl marx, the foremost intellectual leader of the international working class movement, originates the ideologicophilosophical system that is now named after him as marxism. Around this same time, africa was undergoing a complete political change, they were attempting to escape the wrath of imperial rulers from countries such as. Essays on kwame nkrumahs philosophy critically explore the metaphysical, ethical and political thought expressed in consciencism.
It is this relevance of philosophy to cohsciencism, and nkrimah social and. Nkrumaism sometimes consciencism is an african socialist political ideology based on the thinking and writing of kwame nkrumah. Kwame nkrumahs mission and vision for africa and the world. Philosophy and ideology for decolonization, by kwame nkrumah.
An influential advocate of panafricanism, nkrumah was a founding member of the organization of african unity and winner of the lenin peace prize in 1962. Consciencism, as the subheading says, is a philosophy and ideology for decolonization and development with particular reference to. Nkrumahs search for the right formula for the decolonization of africa reached its pick with his development of the idea of consciencism. Science and technology, africa, african union, kwame nkrumah, panafricanism. In this work, nkrumah advocated that the african cultural traditions were not obstacles nor were they problems for african unification. Nkrumahs fundamental ideas in his book, consciencism. Abstract the focus of this article is to reevaluate nkrumahs legacy in terms of the controversies surrounding him as a political figure and his vision for achieving a continental union. In fact, in consciencism nkrumah explains that cultural acquisition becomes valuable only when it is appreciated by free men. The political and social thought of kwame nkrumah by ama biney.
Kwame nkrumah, ghanaian nationalist leader who led the gold coasts drive for independence from britain and presided over its emergence as the new nation of ghana. Pdf according to kwame nkrumah, the conscience of the african society is plagued with three strands of influences which have competing. Nkrumah put forth consciencism to provide clarity of thought based on science and history, an appeal to the intelligence and moral conviction of the people. Nkrumah in consciencism and the other books aforementioned indicates that africans by african cultural traditions have a collective memory and collective consciousness which are cultural principles of harmony, co. Kwame nkrumah ghanagold coast, 195266 and julius nyerere. For authors such as mamadou dia, tom mboya and kwame nkrumah, african. Books that matter published in the united states of america in 1963 by frederick a. In the past it was possible to convert a country upon which a neocolonial regime had been imposed. Books that matter published in the united states of america in 1963. In every part of our continent, african revolutionaries are either preparing for armed struggle, or are actively engaged in military operations against.
Philosophy of education for ghana, africa, from 1951 to 1966. He was able to liberate the gold coast and form it into the modern day state of ghana. Panafricanism, philosophical consciencism, philosophical materialism, nationalism, socialism, african liberation movement, african unity movement, political location and organizational agency. I believe strongly and sincerely that with the deeprooted wisdom and dignity, the innate. In this regard, his theory of consciencism is the most central. Nkrumah, kwame, 19091972political and social views. The idea of african liberation as fostered by kwame nkrumah has had a profound impact on the development of blacknationalist ideologies worldwide.
Kwame nkrumah guides the reader to an understanding of the indispensable link between culture, society, philosophy and ideology. Nkrumah best describes it as a sense of oneness in that we are all africans. Neocolonialism is also the worst form of imperialism. There and in london he was active in the pan african movement that was demanding freedom and independence for the colonies. It must be noted that consciencism is a summary of nkrumahs ideological viewpoint geared towards the economic and political emancipation of the african. A distinctive dimension to nkrumah s political impact was his contribution to marxist socialist theory, with particular application to todays africa. It is popular knowledge that most counties in africa were at one time or the other under the control of foreign countries after the berlin conference that partitioned the continent into various parts and acted as guides for the colonial masters. Jun 28, 2017 it must be noted that consciencism is a summary of nkrumahs ideological viewpoint geared towards the economic and political emancipation of the african. Kwame nkrumahs application of marxism to africa series iii on the application of consciencism in ghana and africa by s. Consciencism is the map, in intellectual terms, of the disposition of forces which will. Christian elements in africa, and develop them in such a way that they fit into the african personality nkrumah, p. He was the first prime minister and president of ghana, having led the gold coast to independence from britain in 1957.
Kwame nkrumah was a political leader and icon throughout africa. Exploring the ethical foundations of nkrumahs consciencism. After ghana became a republic in 1960, nkrumah became president. Kwame nkrumah had a vision not only for africa but also the whole world. This site seeks to simplify, explain and defend the content of his book, consciencism. Works by kwame nkrumah africa must unite axioms of kwame nkrumah class struggle in africa consciencism dark days in ghana handbook of revolutionary warfare i speak of freedom neocolonialism revolutionary path rhodesia file the struggle continues towards colonial freedom voice from conakry what i mean by positive action pamphlets. The aim of this book is to understand nkrumah as a complex character rather than as a one dimensional, larger than life figure. Nkrumahs arguments defending dialectical materialism, attempts to prove that all that exist is anchored in the initial matter. The definition of concepts and terms that add important information and structure to the examinations of nkrumahism are. Consciencism philosophy and ideology for decolonisation kwame nkrumah dedicated to the members of my philosophy club, without whose encouragement and assistance this book would not have been written. On the not necessarily atheist nature ralph dumain. Nkrumah wrote that the political economic situation in the world is one in which a tiny minority of the people grow richer and richer, while the rest grow poorer and poorer. Philosophy and ideology for decolonization by kwame nkrumah the democracy of the greeks was a democracy which was supported in the main by slave labour. African cultural traditions and national consciousness in.
Kwame nkrumah 1961 i speak of freedom excerpts nkrumah was born kwame francis nwia kofie in the southwest of the gold coast in 1909. Taking a clue from the dialectical elements in nkrumahs notion of. A new development of marxism in the era of the collapse of imperialism and colonialism in africa. Africas science and technology strategy in the thought. To do this, i will expose the nature, basic tenet and purpose of african socialism and then argue that the problem inherent in african socialism is in its dependence on the. Consciencism is heavy on the philosophical, but light on the practical application. Consciencism definition of consciencism by the free dictionary. In doing so, they broaden our understanding of his philosophical ideas and their relevance for effective african contribution to thought in a contemporary world in which.
Nkrumahs effort to translate parts of traditional european socialist. Nkrumah, a panafricanist and marxistleninist, served as prime minister of the gold coast later ghana from 1952 until 1960 and subsequently as president of ghana before being deposed by the national liberation council in 1966. Philosophy and ideology for decolonization 1964, nkrumah defines the philosophy this way. African cultural traditions and national consciousness in the. University of groningen african political philosophy, 1860. Download premium images you cant get anywhere else. Biography nkrumahs sponsors, martin glaberman 1968. Kwame nkrumahs most popular book is neocolonialism. Since the publication of the first edition of consciencism in. Nkrumah, consciencism, philosophy and ideology for. Essays on kwame nkrumah s philosophy critically explore the metaphysical, ethical and political thought expressed in consciencism.