Boycott the Boycottable: A Resurgence of “Nationalism Ideology” in Africa

Abstract

The Nationalist movement gained traction toward renaissance due largely to “common interest” which basically was foreign domination. Their agitation was motivated by both remote and immediate factors. These factors include but not limited to; a desire to be independent and do things the African way, rather than follow a European system, racial discriminatory tendencies of the Europeans to blacks, blacks awareness over British exploitation, the neglect of traditional institutions, the influence of Christianity, UNO opposition to colonialism, the formation of political parties like NYM, NNDP, the stem criticism of colonialism by some prominent American Negros like Du Bois, the introduction of elective principle in 1922. Be that as it may, the Nationalist, after intense pressure through various medium, achieved “independence”. Invariably, it will interest any national that the adage; anu buzo na-anwu mmiri oma (first animal to the stream, drinks the most settled), largely played out in the nationalist struggle. Hence, positions that were earlier reserved for the expatriates (foreign national) were automatically replaced by the nationalists and their allies. To a large extent, the Nationalist heaved a sigh of relief. Achebe convincingly opines that when two brothers fight, a stranger reaps the harvest. It was not long after independence than the Nationalists started scrambling over what was left by the colonial masters. The research adopts phenomenological and observation methodology in the course of data collection. Secondary data was equally collected from books, online materials and lecture note. The colonial masters knew that they had placed a burning flame that will consume their colony. What was left on the side of the colony was a rethink, having found themselves in the three world of; traditional African society, the colonized world and African emerging technology driven world.