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. In the same spirit, david birmingham entitles his book kwame nkrumah. A guide to the armed phase of the african revolution. It is a term which unites us in the recognition that the restoration of africas humanist and egalitarian principles of society calls for socialism. George padmore, to whom he dedicated his book africa must unite. Kwame nkrumah ghanaian prime minister 318 essay kwame nkrumah was born in the britishcontrolled gold coast presentday ghana in west africa.
The father of african nationalism by professor david birmingham paperback, 1998 at the best online prices at ebay. The founding father of african nationalism kwame nkrumah was born on sept. Kwame nkrumah,the first ghanaian leader with his wife fathia and some chiefs once upon a time, like a tale out of the arabian night, there emerge a twinkle twinkle black star from the roughed terran of the gold coast. Which of kwame nkrumah s books have you read as a ghanaian. Academic journal article african studies quarterly father of the nation. Africanism, spearheaded by the founding father of ghana, dr. Beyond his death, burial and place which have been cemented and wellentrenched in ghana, africa and the world at large, i ask a simple question. As the father of african nationalism, his influence across africa, the. The life of kwame nkrumah continues to serve as a blueprint of how to organize for revolutionary panafricanism. The father of african nationalism by david birmingham 1998, paperback, revised at the best online prices at ebay. The father of african nationalism birmingham, david on. In the encyclopedia of african american history volume 3, p.
Ghanaian nationalism, internationalism and the political iconography of kwame nkrumah, 19572010. In my autobiography, and to some extent also in another book of mine, i speak of freedom, i tried to show how, and why, the. The first african statesman to achieve world recognition was kwame nkrumah 19091972, who became president of the new republic of ghana in 1960. His greatest achievement was to win the right of black peoples in africa to have a vote and to determine their own destiny. This study analyzes contributions made by kwame nkrumah 19091972 to the development of panafrican agency from the 1945 panafrican congress in manchester to the military coup detat of nkrumahs government in february 1966. The term socialism has become a necessity in the platform diction and political writings of african leaders.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Kwame nkrumah, whose shadow looms over all of africa in terms of his importance for decolonization and african nationalism is one of the most important leaders of the 20th century in this respect. Nkrumah shared an early battle against a foreign colonial system and witnessed the depersonalization of his clan and larger polities. Consciencism philosophy and ideology for decolonization and development with particular reference to the african revolution. The formation of the african union in south africa in the summer of 2001, though a shift. He also experienced the early urge of black and african nationalism through his affiliation with. The idea of african liberation as fostered by kwame nkrumah has had a profound impact on the development of blacknationalist ideologies worldwide. Ivory coast gold coast black history facts history pics african royalty old photos vintage photos antique pictures historical pictures. He was the first prime minister and president of ghana, having led the gold coast to independence from britain in 1957. Nkrumah became president of the new republic of ghana in 1960, and was the first african statesman to achieve world recognition.
He was a black african statesman and political activist from ghana. However, he stated that the book that fascinated him the most was the. Nkrumahs life personifies the development of panafricanism. On this date we mark the birth of kwame nkrumah in 1909. Nkrumah, one of twentiethcentury africas most important nationalist leaders.
This biography chronicles his public accomplishments as he struggled with colonial transition, african nationalism. He received his education from catholic missionaries and later trained as a teacher. To my father, charles otoo biney and cousin kofi ofori duodu thank you for chasing some materials for me at legon, as the request was last min. Panafrican nationalist movement, formerly known as the. The first african statesman to achieve world recognition was kwame nkrumah 19091972, who became president of the new. Kwame nkrumah born francis nwiakofi ngonloma, september 21, 1909 april 27, 1972 was an african political leader. He was born on september 21, 1909, at nkroful in what was then the britishruled gold coast, the son of a goldsmith. He led his country to independence from britain in 1957 and was a powerful voice for african nationalism. He trained as a teacher and studied in both the united states and england. He stands forth as one of the few pivotal political leaders of the twentieth century.
Kwame nkrumah who became president of ghana in 1957 and overthrown in a coup detat in 1966 actively contributed towards the liberation struggle and the need for african unity in speeches, statements and books. Osagyefo dr kwame nkrumah september 1909 27 april p. He campaigned ceaselessly for african solidarity and for the liberation of southern africa from white settler rule. The achievements and failures of president kwame nkrumah. Kwame nkrumah fathered panafricanism african american. Trained as a teacher, he went to the united states in 1935 for advanced studies and continued his schooling in england, where he helped organize the panafrican. This is a good book on one of africas greatest sons who had a clear vision of the direction that the continent should follow. The first, what i mean by positive action, was written in 1949 when the campaign for the independence of ghana was at its height. Which of kwame nkrumahs books have you read as a ghanaian. He was well known as the first prime minister, then president, of ghana.
David birmingham the first african statesman to achieve world recognition was kwame nkrumah 19091972, who became president of the new republic of ghana in 1960. His major preoccupation was for africa to take its own destiny into its hands. The book admirably traces the problems nkrumah faced as a student and aspiring. Kwame nkrumah became the first prime and later president of ghana. It does so through a study of the political thought of kwame nkrumah, a deeply. Kwame nkrumah the father of african nationalism by david birmingham pdf free. This biography chronicles his public accomplishments as he struggled with colonial transition, african nationalism, and panafricanism, and relates his personal trials. 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. The first african statesman to achieve world recognition was kwame nkr. His contribution to african unity and emancipation from eurocentrism led to president john atta mills declaring kwames birthday as a national holiday that is now known as founders day. As the father of african nationalism, he advanced the cause of african liberation and engendered an understanding of the insidious nature of neocolonialism.
His writings are seminal when considering the intellectual history of modern african resistance movements and the impact of these movements on black freedom struggles in the african diaspora. On march 6, 1957, after ten years of campaigning for ghanaian independence, nkrumah was elected president and ghana gained independence from british rule. He died in the words of his biographer in an austere hospital, a chill wind blowing outside in. The book is a colorful biography and assists the reader in understanding the. This is a biographical study of one of the most complex african leaders of the twentieth century colonial era.