The posture of most Africans towards Europeans in the mid-20th century cannot be described as cozy or anything synonymous with the image of holding hands in optimism.
This anti-European sentiment colored the politics of the day. Whatever aggression or militarism that characterized individual independence struggles can be traced to that sentiment.
In the same vein, the majority of African independence leaders wanted to look beyond what their colonial masters offered.
The likes of Kwame Nkrumah warned of neocolonialism even before leading Ghana to independence.
However, after independence, the Thrasymachian reality hit. The world, as it is, is tailored according to the values and dispositions of those with the means.
African independence leaders realized they had to tone down the rhetoric and vilification. Even Nkrumah welcomed interests from the Americans as he would from his ideological brethren in the East.
But there were still yet another batch of leaders who felt Africa’s destiny, or maybe the destinies of their countries was inextricably linked to partnerships with former colonizers.
The argument for that opinion animated certain ventures like the CFA franc zone.
As follows are African leaders who, contrary to fears of neocolonialism, chose to model their countries in the light of their colonizers.
