The struggle for African independence was both a political and economic battle. While political sovereignty marked a critical milestone, it became evident that true liberation required economic emancipation. The colonial system was designed to extract and exploit resources for the benefit of the colonial metropole, leaving newly independent states tethered to the structures of neocolonialism. Independence, often granted as a symbolic gesture, came with concessions that placed African nations under the continued influence of former colonial powers and international financial institutions.
This lecture examines how Kwame Nkrumah, one of Africa’s foremost leaders, tackled these enduring economic challenges. It explores his vision for a self-sufficient, united Africa and his efforts to navigate post-independence constraints by leveraging available resources and forging strategic alliances. Nkrumah’s leadership in the NonAligned Movement exemplified his commitment to defining African sovereignty on terms free from Western or Eastern bloc dependencies, encapsulated in his declaration: “We face neither East nor West: we face forward.”
Through an analysis of partnerships with countries such as the Federal Republic of Germany, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Yugoslavia, the Philippines, and India, this lecture highlights the infrastructure and industrial projects that served as the backbone of Ghana’s postcolonial development.
By situating Nkrumah’s strategies at the intersection of political independence, economic policy, and global diplomacy, this lecture provokes a critical reflection on his enduring legacy. It also offers insights into how these lessons can inform contemporary solidarities and pave the way for new futures in a world in crisis.
Ato Annan is an artist, curator, and researcher based in Accra, Ghana, whose work interrogates the complexities of history through expanded notions of archival research. Utilizing various forms, including installations, paintings, drawings, sculptures, text, sound, and moving images, his recent work engages with the aesthetics and politics of solidarity movements from the late 1950s and 1960s. His practice also encompasses curating projects with the Foundation for Contemporary Art – Ghana (FCA-Ghana). Annan is also the co-curator of the 35th edition of the Ljubljana Graphic Arts Biennale with Exit Frame Collective (2023).
