OPPRESSION IN AFRICA…
Other than Rwanda…
Oppression in Sierra Leone
Other than Uganda
What happened… Sierra Leone holds a special place in
history as the launching point of the Atlantic Slave Trade.
Thousands of native Africans left the continent from Freetown, Sierra Leone
What about recently?? Sierra Leone is the poorest country in the
world. After years of conflict and fighting.
Over 50,000 dead, 1 million displaced
RUF Revolutionary
United Front
Fought against the Sierra Leone government
RUFUSES CHILD SOLDIERS AS 25% OF FORCES
BLOOD DIAMONDS…
Resistance??? Due to the oppressive means by both the
government and the RUF, the civilians of Sierra Leone never organized any sort of resistance.
How is it today??? Because of the
diamond trade, the international community got involved
Diamonds are a girl’s BF!!!
Worldwide Resistance 2000
UN imposed a ban on all diamonds exported from Sierra Leone
2001 UN also imposed a ban on Liberian timber,
also used to fund RUF
Those Brits… Actually got involved in
conflict. First to save British people
Changed goals to help Sierra Leone’s government
Today… Sierra Leone’s government has stabilized
Too much damage to rebuild quickly
Trying to build a tourist industry
Ernest Bai Koroma
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF SIERRA LEONE’S
RESISTANCE?
WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO RESIST IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES?
South AfricaIn comes “the Mandela”
The Way it was… Prior to 1650’s, South Africa was home to
a variety of African tribes that specialized in farming and small scale manufacturing
Potentially one of the earliest sources of human life 100,000 year old skeletons
And then it happened… 1650’s the Dutch
come to Cape Town.
And it begins…
The Dutch begin to push outwards and take more land for settlers
Farming sprouts up in South Africa Wine Wool
Yay wine!!!
Tag in the Brits In order to fight the French, the British
take South Africa and Cape Town from the Dutch
Cuts off France from its Far East colonies
God Save the Queen! The British stay in
South Africa after conflicts with France
1820’s British free all African slaves and guarantee their rights as equal citizens
THAT’S RIGHT, THEY DID IT 35 YEARS BEFORE WE DID!!!
Snap…they beat me to it….
I wonder how else I will be famous….Maybe I should
go see a play….
This did not prevent violence… Boer Wars
Zulu Revolt
But something was discovered in South Africa…
De Beers The De Beers company monopolized
diamond exports from South Africa
Took indigenous lands that diamonds were found on.
1910 South Africa was finally given
independence
The South African Constitution gave the power to the organized white minority of South Africa
Institutionalized segregation
Apartheid Institutionalized segregation program of
South Africa
Reorganized communities into tribal structures
Hoped to divide the blacks on traditional tribal conflicts
The Fight must go on!!!! Freedom Charter
United African efforts to reclaim their government
Pan-Africanist Congress United effort to establish true equality
Challenges In the "Rivonia Trial", eight ANC leaders,
including Nelson Mandela, were convicted of sabotage (instead of treason, the original charge) and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Must Continue Even after his imprisonment for life,
Mandela fought with the African people to secure rights in South Africa Protests Riots Popular support Work stopages
1994 Freedom!!!
African National Congress wins the election!!!
60% of vote
Mandela is declared president while still in jail.