25/03/2026
1. Pre-Colonial Era
Southern Africa was inhabited by:
• Powerful kingdoms, including the Mutapa, Rozvi, and Zulu empires
• Prosperous trade networks, specializing in gold, ivory, cattle, and ironwork
• Sophisticated social and political systems
At this juncture, Europeans had not yet asserted control over the land; instead, they engaged in coastal trade.
Resistance Movements Against Colonialism
Africans did not acquiesce to colonialism without resistance.
Notable examples include:
• The Herero and Nama resistance in Namibia
• The Chimurenga wars in Zimbabwe
• The Angolan and Mozambican independence movements, led by FRELIMO and MPLA, respectively
• The South African anti-apartheid struggle, involving the ANC, PAC, and youth movements
These movements ultimately culminated in independence for these nations from the 1960s to the 1990s.
