Analysis On Jomo Kenyatta's Nationalist Ideology

Jomo Kenyatta is the most famous nationalist leader and politician in history of Kenya. Before the independence, conforming to the requirements of the times, he led the people of Kenya overthrow the colonial rule and made important contribution to the independence of Kenya; after independence, to safeguard national autocephaly and unity, he actively explored nation-building road in the Country and made certain achievements. There is much sparkling points in his ideology, of which the nationalist ideology and Pan-African thought are most compelling. This paper will make a superficial analysis to Kenyatta's nationalist ideas and draw my own conclusion.The formation of Kenyatta nationalist ideology and the changing of African continent struggle situation are inseparable with Kenyatta's own experience. Objectively, western colonialism and racist domination intensified the conflict between the African people and the West colonists, greatly contributed to the national consciousness of Africa's awakening and promoted the struggle of Africans against colonial oppression, fighting for equality, freedom and independence. Inspired by this trend of times, Kenyatta plunged into the powerful current of national liberation movement actively. Subjectively, Kenyatta's personal experience made him further to see the corruption of colonial rule and the unequal treatment suffered by blacks thus strengthen his determination to fight. Because of the above two factors, he determined to strive for the Africans'freedom and equality. Further more, the nationalist ideology and Pan-African thought supplied Kenyatta important source of idea.The content of Kenyatta's nationality ideology is quite rich. This article will mainly summarize them in 3 aspects:(1) Political nationalism is the core of Kenyatta's nationalism ideology. On one side, he advocated the right of Africans to manage their own government, only by which can African declare themselves freely and at the same time, promote the further development of Africa; on the other side, he insisted that to realize freedom and equality, all African must hold together to struggle and this will be also the only way out.(2) Economy nationalism is the important ring of Kenyatta's nationalism. After the independence, facing with the arduous task of economic reconstruction, Kenyatta pointed our that only the realization of political independence would not be complete and is meaningless, to realize the modernize construction, improve people's life level, independence on economic must be come true. Just with this ideology, Kenyatta introduced a series of economic measures and have achieved some results. (3) Culture nationalism is also an important part of Kenyatta nationalism. Kenyatta's ideology of cultural nationalism is mainly manifested in two aspects: vigorously developing school education and promoting traditional African culture as well as its values, which is actually Kenyatta nationalist thought's extension in cultural and educational field.Based on the analysis to specific content, this article summed up the basic character of Kenyatta nationalist ideology. Firstly, Kenyatta's nationalist ideology has significant stage characteristics; secondly, non-violent ideology through it; lastly, Kenyatta nationalism also embodies the great spirit of tolerance, which can be seen as an important character of the nationalism after Kenyatta came into power.Nationalism of Kenyatta plays an important role in Kenya as well as the world history's process. It is not only laid an important ideological basis for the national liberation movement in Kenya but also played a significant role in guiding the modernization of the nation after independence, and at the same time, left lots of precise experience and lessons. Overall, Kenyatta's nationalist ideology formed in the background of Africa's general fall. It is in fact a reflection of people with lofty ideals to the changes of the African political situation. From this point we can also see Kenyatta's nationalist ideology has always been continuously developing and improving with the times trend's changing. Such kind of never-ending struggle spirit is just the key which helps this ideology maintain the vitality.