Africa

Abstract

The transformation of the Commonwealth, which began in the 1960s was, for a long time, overshadowed by events in Africa. An African-born historian, Ali Mazrui, author of many books and articles on Commonwealth themes, has put forward the concept of the ‘third Commonwealth’. If the first consisted of Britain and the old Dominions, and the second came into being with the independence of India, Pakistan and Ceylon, the third began in 1960 when Nigeria’s accession inaugurated the non-white majority.¹ Until then Ghana was the Commonwealth’s only black member. By the end of the 1960s only Rhodesia, of the former British possessions, had failed to achieve a negotiated transfer of power. In the 1980s Africa had the largest regional representation within the Commonwealth, with thirteen continental states. This figure rises to fifteen, if Mauritius and Seychelles, members of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), are counted.