One part I found interesting about Sèkou Tourè and the PDG (Democratic Party of Guinea) is how they abolished chieftains in Guinea the year before they voted for independence in 1958.

This has to be said in context because at this time French like other metropoles utilized the chiefs as their puppets. They essentially weaponized African culture to serve colonial interests.

With the understanding the PDG and Tourè decided to undermine and abolish the role of the chiefs. So when 1958 came around and it was time to vote for independence, the people could do so without the sway or hindrance of the chiefs serving the interests of colonialists.

“The way in which the PDG brought about the abolition of chieftainship at that time is typical of the methodical way in which the party works, and it is worth examining in some detail how it was accomplished.”

“A national conference was called to consider the question of chieftainship as a result of which political representatives were appointed in every canton to be responsible for taxes, thus weakening the position of canton chiefs.

In addition, the party appointed magistrates for local courts in all cercles.”

“Party militants were told, ‘Don’t go to the colonial judges any more, but deal with the indigenous tribunal; try your best to have all matters settled among us, Africans.’”

“Indigenous provident societies were abolished and replaced by cooperatives whose leaders were elected by the peasants. ‘In every sector, we trimmed the structures of the colonial power and substituted for them that which could confer active power on the people and in the organs

of leadership.’”

“Initially, only ‘unjust’ chiefs and the most unpopular ones were dismissed, their removal being greeted with ‘applause’ by the people. Every fortnight a list of dismissed chief was published until by December 1957, chieftainship had been abolished,

and with it the main bulwark of French colonial power at local level.”

“The whole process had taken only six months and had been accomplished with the full support and understanding of the people at every stage.”

“There was an immediate outcry in Paris, not only in government circles but among Guinean students. The latter sent a resolution to the PDG stating that chieftainship was an essential part of African society and a ‘stabilizing’ force.”

“In the world of Sèkou Tourè, ‘the youths did not understand anything of the situation and the colonial regime merely used them as a smoke screen.’”

To sum up, when de Gualle put out the referendum for independence for French colonies in 1958. Those countries that had all intention on voting for independence initially swayed in the other direction because the chiefs persuaded the people otherwise. Every country except Guinea.

This only shows the effectiveness and importance of an consciously organized people.