The Precolonial Origins of African Nationalism

What explains the degree of national attachment expressed by contemporary Africans? Using historical data on early African statehood and survey responses from across the continent, I show that national identification among contemporary Africans was jointly shaped by the socialization efforts of precolonial rulers and the form of colonial rule employed by European administrators. In areas where precolonial rulers socialized their subjects to a common identity and colonial bureaucrats subsequently ruled through ethnic intermediaries, ethnic allegiance still trumps national identity because ethnic institutions continue to mediate the relationship between local communities and the state. In contrast, where policies of direct rule displaced precolonial rulers and formerly centralized groups lost political autonomy, the legacy of early statehood frequently produced the opposite outcome: interethnic cohesion. Departing from classical explanations that emphasize (post)colonial experiences, the findings advance our understanding of contemporary African nationalism.