page_title: Year of Africa
section_title: South Africa
hierarchical_section_title: Year of Africa / South Africa
caption_attribution_description: English: Painting of the Sharpeville massacre, which took place 21 March 1960, Sharpeville, Gauteng province, South Africa, currently located in the South African Consulate in London
context_page_description: 1960 is referred to as the Year of Africa because of a series of events that took place during the year—mainly the independence of seventeen African nations—that highlighted the growing Pan-African sentiments in the continent. The year brought about the culmination of African independence movements and the subsequent emergence of Africa as a major force in the United Nations. These rapid political developments led to speculation and hope about the future of Africa as a whole; yet at the same time, the continent was beginning to face the realities of post-colonial violence. This year also saw the beginning of armed opposition to South African apartheid government, with political ramifications across Africa and around the world.
context_section_description: The Sharpeville Massacre in South Africa took place on 21 March 1960, triggering mass underground resistance as well as international solidarity demonstrations. This event is sometimes cited as the beginning of worldwide struggle against apartheid. South African activists and academics describe it as a turning point in the resistance, marking the end of nonviolence and liberalism. Some say that its biggest impact came in making white South Africans aware of the brutality with which political Blacks were being suppressed.
  On October 5, a referendum was passed in South Africa which abolished the monarchy, which set up South Africa's leaving the Commonwealth of Nations the next year over its racial policies.
caption: "Murder at Sharpeville", Godfrey Rubens—the Sharpeville Massacre brought worldwide attention to apartheid
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