(1953) Nnamdi Azikiwe, “Speech on Secession”

In 1953 when Northern Nigerians were beginning to consider secession from the Nigerian colony that would soon be a nation, Nnamdi Azikiwe gave a speech before the caucus of his political party, the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) in Yaba, Nigeria on … Read More(1953) Nnamdi Azikiwe, “Speech on Secession”

(1955) Nnamdi Azikiwe, “The University of Nigeria Speech”

On May 18, 1955 the Eastern House of Assembly, the regional legislature for Eastern Nigeria, moved a resolution to established the first university in Eastern Nigeria.  Nnamdi Azikiwe gave a speech seconding the motion introduced by the Eastern Region Minister of Education. That eastern university … Read More(1955) Nnamdi Azikiwe, “The University of Nigeria Speech”

(1957) Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, “First Speech as Prime Minister”

By 1957 Nigeria was clearly on the path toward independence.  In preparation the British Government named Abubakar Tafawa Balewa the first Prime Minister of the soon to be independent nation in a power sharing agreement among the colony’s three major political parties.  In the following … Read More(1957) Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, “First Speech as Prime Minister”

(1957) Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, “Unity and Diversity in Independence”

In 1957 the Nigerian House of Representatives passed a motion requesting Independence from Great Britain and calling on that colonial power to officially set the date for that Independence as October 1, 1960.  After the motion was passed, Alhaji Abubakar Balewa, a member of the … Read More(1957) Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, “Unity and Diversity in Independence”

(1958) Patrice Lumumba, “Speech at Accra”

On December 11, 1958, 34 year old Patrice Lumumba, president of the Congolese National Movement, spoke at the Assembly of African Peoples, an international Pan African Conference sponsored by Kwame Nkrumah, the Prime Minister of newly independent Ghana.  His remarks appear below.  Two years later … Read More(1958) Patrice Lumumba, “Speech at Accra”

(1959) Nnamdi Azikiwe Honors Kwame Nkrumah on his Visit to Eastern Nigeria

In 1957 Ghana became the first nation in sub-Saharan Africa to win its independence from a colonial power (Great Britain).  The independence struggle was led by Kwame Nkrumah who became the nation’s first Prime Minister.  Nkrumah visited Nigeria in 1959.  He specifically toured Eastern Nigeria … Read More(1959) Nnamdi Azikiwe Honors Kwame Nkrumah on his Visit to Eastern Nigeria

(1959) Nnamdi Azikiwe Speaks on the Role of Nigeria and other African States in World Politics

On July 31, 1959, Nigeria was slightly more than a year away from full independence from Great Britain.  On that day Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Premier of Eastern Nigeria and National President of the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC), gave a speech to … Read More(1959) Nnamdi Azikiwe Speaks on the Role of Nigeria and other African States in World Politics

(1959) Patrice Lumumba, “African Unity and National Independence”

By 1959 Patrice Lumumba was the most prominent nationalist and independence leader in the Congo.  His fame was also spreading beyond the nation’s boundaries as reflected in this speech given at the closing session of the International Seminar organized by the Congress for the Freedom … Read More(1959) Patrice Lumumba, “African Unity and National Independence”

(1959) Sekou Touré, “The Political Leader Considered as the Representative of a Culture”

On October 2, 1958 Sekou Touré, proclaimed Guinea’s independence from France and became its first president.  One year later he gave a speech in Conakry, the capital in which he outlined the role of political leaders in reflecting and developing the culture of their nations.   … Read More(1959) Sekou Touré, “The Political Leader Considered as the Representative of a Culture”

(1960) Patrice Lumumba, “National Radio Address”

The political situation in the Congo deteriorated rapidly after it gained independence on June 30, 1960.  By July Belgian paratroopers had arrived in Stanleyville, the capital of Katanga province, attacking the Congolese army and police in a bid to aid the province in resisting the … Read More(1960) Patrice Lumumba, “National Radio Address”