Africa Is a Country

Age of Revolt

Africa Is a Country Podcast
African Five-a-Side Podcast

Age of Revolt

By
William Shoki

Mobilization through the ages

1791–1804: The Haitian Revolution
The first successful slave revolt leads to Haitian independence.
1830s–1880s: Abolition of Slavery in the Atlantic World
Formal abolition occurs in various countries, leading to shifts in African labor systems.
1884–1885: The Berlin Conference
European powers partition Africa into colonial territories.
1896: Battle of Adwa (Ethiopia)
Ethiopian forces defeat the Italian army.
1905–1907: Maji Maji Rebellion (German East Africa)
Armed resistance to German colonial rule.
1914–1945: World Wars & Colonial Repression
African soldiers participate in global conflicts while colonial rule persists.
1945: Pan-African Congress (United Kingdom)
Post-war meeting of African and diaspora leaders in Manchester.
1952–1960: Mau Mau Uprising (Kenya)
Armed rebellion against British rule.
1957: Independence of Ghana
Ghana becomes the first sub-Saharan African country to gain independence.
1960: Year of Africa
Seventeen African nations gain independence.
1961: Formation of Non-Aligned Movement
Establishes a bloc of countries independent from Cold War superpowers.
1963: Formation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU)
A continental body aimed at cooperation and decolonization.
1968: Protests of 1968
Student, worker, and anti-imperialist uprisings erupt across the world, from May ‘68 in France to the Prague Spring and the anti-Vietnam War demonstrations.
1973: Oil Crisis
Economic shifts affect African economies.
1974: The New International Economic Order (NIEO)
A UN initiative led by Global South nations advocating for fairer global trade and economic policies.
1975: End of Portuguese Colonial Rule
Angola, Mozambique, and Guinea-Bissau achieve independence.
1976: Soweto Uprising (South Africa)
Student protests against apartheid education policies.
1977: Bread Riots (Egypt)
Protests over government subsidy cuts.
1979: Iranian Revolution
Mass mobilization and strikes bring down the Shah’s regime, establishing a theocratic state and altering Middle East geopolitics.
1980: Independence of Zimbabwe
Official transition from white minority rule.
1983–1987: Government of Thomas Sankara (Burkina Faso)
Implementation of socialist policies before his assassination.
1988: October Riots (Algeria)
Protests against economic conditions and state repression.
1989–1991: Structural Adjustment Programs
Implementation of IMF and World Bank economic reforms across Africa.
1990: National Conference Movements
Pro-democracy mobilizations in Francophone Africa.
1992: Multi-Party Elections in Kenya
Legalization of opposition parties.
1994: First Democratic Elections in South Africa
Formal end of apartheid governance.
1994: Rwandan Genocide
A hundred days of mass violence result in the deaths of over 800,000 people.
1994: Zapatista Uprising (Mexico)
Indigenous-led rebellion in Chiapas challenges neoliberal globalization and inspires transnational solidarity movements.
1998: Transition from Military Rule in Nigeria
The country returns to civilian governance.
1999: The Battle of Seattle (United States)
Protesters shut down the World Trade Organization summit, galvanizing the global anti-capitalist and anti-globalization movements.
2000: Land Reform in Zimbabwe
Redistribution of land from white farmers to Black Zimbabweans.
2001: Durban Anti-Racism Conference (South Africa)
A global conference on racism and discrimination.
2003: Iraq War Protests
Millions march worldwide against U.S. militarism, marking the largest coordinated global protest in history.
2005: Post-Election Crackdown in Ethiopia
Arrests and repression following disputed elections.
2005: Gas War (Bolivia): Indigenous and popular mobilizations force political change, paving the way for Evo Morales’s presidency.
2007: Post-Election Violence in Kenya
Ethnic and political conflict following contested elections.
2008: Global Financial Crisis
Economic downturn with global consequences.
2009: Green Movement (Iran)
Post-election protests challenge authoritarian rule, signaling the re-emergence of mass dissent in the Middle East.
2011: Arab Spring
Protests in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and other countries.
2011: Walk to Work Protests (Uganda)
Demonstrations against the rising cost of living.
2011: Occupy Wall Street (United States)
Anti-austerity and anti-corporate protests influence global mobilizations.
2012: Occupy Nigeria
Protests against fuel price hikes.
2012: Y’en a Marre (Senegal)
Youth-led political mobilization.
2013: Gezi Park Protests (Turkey)
Anti-authoritarian demonstrations in Istanbul.
2013: Movimento Passe Livre (Brazil)
Protests against public transport fare hikes.
2013: MPigs & Unga Revolution (Kenya)
Protests against parliamentary corruption and food prices.
2013–14: Maidan Revolution (Ukraine)
Mass protests in Kyiv oust the government and trigger a profound geopolitical reordering.
2014: Umbrella Movement (Hong Kong)
Pro-democracy protests challenge Beijing’s influence.
2014: Anti-Compaoré Protests (Burkina Faso)
President Blaise Compaoré resigns after demonstrations.
2015–16: Fees Must Fall & Rhodes Must Fall (South Africa)
Student-led protests against tuition fees and university policies.
2016: Standing Rock (United States)
Indigenous-led resistance against an oil pipeline.
2017: Anti-Gnassingbé Protests (Togo)
Demonstrations calling for political change.
2018: Anti-Bashir Protests (Sudan)
Public mobilization against President Omar al-Bashir.
2018: Chilean Feminist Movement
Massive protests against gender violence and inequality.
2019: Hirak Movement (Algeria)
Protests against President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s bid for a fifth term.
2019: Estallido Social (Chile)
Demonstrations against inequality lead to constitutional reform.
2020: End SARS (Nigeria)
Demonstrations against police violence.
2020: Black Lives Matter (United States)
Sparked by the murder of George Floyd, BLM protests inspire global movements against police violence and racism.
2021: National Strike in Colombia
Mass mobilization against economic inequality and government repression.
2021: Anti-Sall Protests (Senegal)
Anti-government protests following the arrest of opposition leaders.
2022: Women, Life, Freedom (Iran)
Anti-state protests following the death of Mahsa Amini.
2022: Anti-Kais Saied Protests (Tunisia)
Protests against the president’s consolidation of power.
2023: Coup Wave in West Africa
Military takeovers in Burkina Faso, Niger, and Gabon.
2024: Gen Z Protests (Kenya)
Demonstrations against government tax policies.

Further Reading

Africa’s Last Neoliberals

As the pink tide swept through Latin America, Africa’s neoliberal regimes held firm. Where is Africa’s rupture —and what explains the absence of a sustained left challenge?

Somewhere Over the Rainbow: After Rhodes Fell

A decade after a bucket of excrement triggered the largest post-apartheid student movement, Fallism’s legacy gestures toward a future where the social utility of universities remains uncertain, but the frustrations of South Africa’s youth are poised to erupt.

From Cape To Cairo

When two Africans—one from the south, the other from the north—set out to cross the continent, they raised the question: how easy is it for an African to move in their own land?