This essay was based on the desire of Africans to prove their autonomy. “It is not surprising that most states on the continent adopted a socialist outlook after independence. Having rid their countries of colonial rule, the task now was to reduce dependence on the West and restructure economies to ensure that local development needs were prioritized. Only in this way can poverty be reduced and social protection ensured for all. Few African leaders viewed capitalism and liberalism as appropriate methods to achieve these goals…this is not to say that African leaders embraced socialism as prescribed by the Soviet Union. (Thomson 2010, 38) After years of domination by European powers, African leaders understood the importance of complete independence and autonomy. The conclusion towards socialism was actually made to promote self-awareness. African socialism did not follow the traditional structure of classical socialism (Thomson 2010,