Page 145 - Berkshire Encyclopedia Of World History Vol I - Abraham to Coal

30 berkshire encyclopedia of world history

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s
character, give him power. • Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865)

trade practices. In 1967 the East Africa Community The other threat facing the continent is the outbreak of
(EAC), which fostered cooperation among Kenya, Tan- religious violence in various countries. While outbreaks
zania (by 1967 Tanganyika had become Tanzania, which of violence between Christians and Muslims have
also included Zanzibar), and Uganda, was established, occurred in Nigeria since the mid-1980s, they have inten-
but it fell apart a decade later, when disputes between sified more recently (within the last five years). Efforts to
Kenya and Tanzania broke out and Tanzania invaded handle these conflicts have been minimum, and the root
Uganda to oust Idi Amin (1924/1925–2003).The Eco- causes of the disputes have not really been dealt with. In
nomic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) other parts of West Africa there continue to be religious
was established in 1975 to ease trade among its sixteen tensions, but they are not nearly so severe as in Nigeria.
member states. Similarly, the Southern African Develop- The World Conference on Religion and Peace (WCRP;
ment Coordinating Conference (SADCC) formed to founded 1970), a coalition of representatives of the
combat South Africa’s economic dominance of that world’s great religions, has encouraged Christian and
region. These agreements have not been without prob- Muslim leaders in the region to work together through
lems, however. In the case of ECOWAS, for example, the formation of organizations such as the Inter-Religious
Nigeria has been able to use its power as the country with Council of Sierra Leone (IRCSL; 1997), which in 1999
the largest economy and population in the region to force helped bring about the signing of the Lomé Peace Accord
its will on the smaller states. in that nation.There are many African organizations that
seek to address the delicate issue of religious intolerance
Directions and Challenges on the continent. One of the primary aims of the Project
for a New Century for Christian-Muslim Relations in Africa (PROCMURA)
In 2004, South Africa celebrated its tenth anniversary as is the facilitation of constructive engagement between
an independent African state.Ten years earlier, after years Christians and Muslims. As part of the effort to improve
of political and often violent resistance, the African relations, participants have shared gifts and sent greetings
National Congress (ANC) under the leadership of Nelson and goodwill messages on the occasion of major reli-
Mandela (b. 1918) took control of the government. gious festivals.They have also formed joint committees of
Although Mandela served only one term in office as Christians and Muslims to address such issues as the
South Africa’s first president elected by the entire popu- implementation of Islamic law in northern Nigeria and to
lation, he occupied a larger-than-life position throughout encourage governments to stop making aid and political
the African world. appointments dependent on one’s religious affiliation.
As Africa’s largest and most prosperous economy, Such efforts represent an African solution to an ongoing
South Africa is poised to lead the rest of the continent. Its challenge in the region.
current president,Thabo Mbeki (b. 1942), has called for
Christopher Brooks
an African renaissance, which he envisions as a regener-
ation of African pride, technology, innovativeness, and
Further Reading
accomplishment.
Ahluwalia, D. P., & Nursey-Bray, P. (Eds.). (1997). The post-colonial con-
The promise of this African renaissance, however, is in
dition: Contemporary politics in Africa. Commack, NY: Nova Science
danger of being sidetracked by the HIV/AIDS pandemic, Publisher, Inc.
which has the potential to ravage the African continent in Babu, A. M. (1981). African socialism or socialist Africa? London: Zed
Books.
the same way the bubonic plague devastated fourteenth- Beissinger, M., & Young, C. (Eds.). (2002). Postcolonial Africa and post-
century Europe. How the African continent deals with the Soviet Eurasia in comparative perspective. Washington, DC: Woodrow
Wilson Center Press.
pandemic will determine what sort of future awaits the
Crowder, M. (Ed.). (1971).West African resistance:The military response
next generation. to colonial occupation. New York: Africana Publishing Corporation.