A REVIEW OF AFRICAN HISTORY OF THE 1960'S REVEALS A LARGE NUMBER OF POLITICALLY AND SOCIALLY MOTIVATED KILLINGS OF POLITICAL LEADERS AND A KEENLY FELT RISK OF ASSASSINATION. MOREOVER, THE AFRICAN LEADERS DEVELOPED A CONSCIOUS OR SUBCONSCIOUS FEAR OF THE ASSASSIN WHICH EXERTED AN IMPORTANT INFLUENCE ON THE PERSONNEL BEHAVIOR AND PUBLIC POLICIES OF THE POLITICIANS. ASSASSINATION RARELY OCCURRED DURING THE COLONIAL PERIOD BECAUSE THE DEATH OF A GOVERNOR WOULD NOT PREVENT HIS REPLACEMENT FROM ASSUMING POWER. HOWEVER, IN THE POSTINDEPENDENCE ERA, DISPOSING OF A PRIME MINISTER COULD CAUSE A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN A COUNTRY'S ORIENTATION. THE FLUIDITY OF LEGITIMATE GOVERNMENTS MAXIMIZES THE TEMPTATION TO REVOLT, AND LEADS TO THE INCREASE IN VIOLENCE WHICH OFTEN ACCOMPANIES INDEPENDENCE. ONCE LEGITIMACY IS FULLY SECURED BY CONSENSUS, THE CITIZENS DO NOT QUESTION THE AUTHORITY OF THE GOVERNMENT TO GOVERN. AFRICAN COUNTRIES WHICH LACK CONSENSUS FOR THE GOVERNMENT SOMETIMES INVOKE HERO WORSHIP TO CONSOLIDATE PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR A LEADER'S POLICIES. HOWEVER, THIS DOCTRINE OF PERSONIFYING THE STATE CREATES A TEMPTATION TO REGICIDE. IRONICALLY, THE MARTYRDOM OF SHARED HEROES MAY CONSTITUTE ONE OF THE FACTORS WHICH FORMS A NATIONAL CONSCIOUSNESS. THE DEVELOPMENT OF POLITICAL NATIONS MAY INVOLVE THE PARTITION OF TRIBAL TERRITORIES, INSTIGATING EMOTIONAL RESPONSES AND SECESSIONIST MOVEMENTS. PAN-AFRICANISM MUST CONFRONT THE FRAGMENTATION OF THE CONTINENT, AND MUST AVOID POLITICAL RIVALRIES. FOOTNOTES ARE PROVIDED. (TWK)