In the age of colonization, powerful European states sought to expand their domain by creating colonies around the world. As such, many African nations experienced colonial rule for hundreds of years. However, inevitable collapses of colonial rule took place, resulting in a wave of independence and freedom. Colonial powers often retreated over a short period of time, leaving behind nations without experienced leaders. In the aftermath of colonial rule, cultural and religious divisions were created among the indigenous populations, indigenous culture had been repressed, and economies were decimated. Decolonization, which is the transition from colonial to indigenous rule, appears to take one of two flavours. These decolonization processes are described and contrasted herein, culminating in the argument that the method of the deposition of colonial rule is a strong determinant of the postcolonial history of an ex-colonial nation. Keywords: colonization, independence and freedom, indigenous rule, postcolonial history, ex-colonial nation etc.