Search Help

How does this work?
There are many ways to search the collections of the Freedom Archives. Below is a brief guide that will help you conduct effective searches. Note, anytime you search for anything in the Freedom Archives, the first results that appear will be our digitized items. Information for items that have yet to be scanned or yet to be digitized can still be viewed, but only by clicking on the show link that will display the hidden (non-digitized) items. If you are interested in accessing these non-digitized materials, please email info@freedomarchives.org.
Exploring the Collections without the Search Bar
Under the heading Browse By Collection, you’ll notice most of the Freedom Archives’ major collections. These collections have an image as well as a short description of what you’ll find in that collection. Click on that image to instantly explore that specific collection.
Basic Searching
You can always type what you’re looking for into the search bar. Certain searches may generate hundreds of results, so sometimes it will help to use quotation marks to help narrow down your results. For instance, searching for the phrase Black Liberation will generate all of our holdings that contain the words Black and Liberation, while searching for “Black Liberation” (in quotation marks) will only generate our records that have those two words next to each other.
Advanced Searching
The Freedom Archives search site also understands Boolean search logic. Click on this link for a brief tutorial on how to use Boolean search logic. Our search function also understands “fuzzy searches.” Fuzzy searches utilize the (*) and will find matches even when users misspell words or enter in only partial words for the search. For example, searching for liber* will produce results for liberation/liberate/liberates/etc.
Keyword Searches
You’ll notice that under the heading KEYWORDS, there are a number of words, phrases or names that describe content. Sometimes these are also called “tags.” Clicking on these words is essentially the same as conducting a basic search.

Search Results

Conference on liberation struggles in Zimbabwe and the Congo. Conference on liberation struggles in Zimbabwe and the Congo.
Call Number: AFR 034Format: Cass A & BCollection: African liberation movements
Conference on liberation struggles in Africa, particularly Zimbabwe and the Congo. Judy Clark of the ZANU (Zimbabwe African National Union) Women’s League speaks on the ongoing struggle for liberation and reconstruction in Zimbabwe, Namibia, South Africa, and Congo. The ZANU Women’s League raises support for women fighting for liberation and equality. Serge Mukendi of the FLNC (Congolese National Liberation Front) speaks on the history of the struggle for independence in the Congo, and calls the people to fight for liberation against white colonialist structures. Judy Clark again speaks on the legacy and power of Patrice Lumumba in the continuing struggle for liberation in the Congo. Alajo Adegbalola, Minister of Defense for the Provisional government of the RNA (Republic of New Africa), speaks on the importance of the unity of the RNA in fighting for liberation in Africa. He also speaks on the history of black person’s struggle in America and the Civil Rights Movement.
Conference on liberation and reconstruction struggles in Southern Africa Conference on liberation and reconstruction struggles in Southern Africa
Call Number: AFR 035Format: Cass A & BCollection: African liberation movements
Continuation of AFR 034 See enclosed note in AFR 035 Conference on liberation and reconstruction struggles in Africa, particularly in Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Namibia. A representative of SWAPO (South West African People’s Organization) speaks about the international community being in solidarity with Southern African countries, and asks for support for SWAPO’s continued struggle for liberation in Namibia. A member of the Zimbabwe admission to the United Nations speaks about the bonds formed between liberation fighters in Africa and internationally. He speaks about the leaders of ZANU (Zimbabwe African National Union), the ANC (African National Congress), and the PAC (Pan African Congress). He speaks on the history of the struggles for independence and human rights in Southern Africa, and the contued struggle for liberation. Sylvia Baraldini of the May 19th Communist Organization speaks on the National Campaign in solidarity with the ZANU Women’s League. She talks about the lessons of the struggle for liberation in Zimbabwe and looks at the process of reconstruction. A permanent representative of the PAC of Azania to the United Nations speaks about South Africa. He comments on South African president P.W. Botha’s refusal to erode Apartheid through economic means. He talks about a socialist solution incorporating equal distribution of wealth and power, and calls people to work together to fight oppression.
Event celebrating 40 years of African Independence Event celebrating 40 years of African Independence
Call Number: AFR 043Format: Cass A & BProducers: WBAIProgram: WBAI Special Program: Southern Africa - Africa at 40Collection: African liberation movements
Continuation of the “Africa at 40” Program. An event celebrating 40 years of African independence. President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and President Sam Nujoma of Namibia speak about Ghana’s 1957 independence from white imperialist colonialism and the formation of the OAU (Organization of African Unity), spurring the drive for unity among all African nations. President Joachim Chisano of Mozambique talks about how the fight for independence was tough, but is not over because while classical colonialism is over, African nations have not realized true independence. Africa lacks economic and social freedom, but they can be accomplished through countries uniting in their struggles.
Independence of Angola Independence of Angola
Date: 11/15/1975Call Number: AFR 083AFormat: Cass ACollection: Angola, Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique
Radio News Program on the independence of Angola. About the newly won independence of Angola (11/11/1975), ending violence between the Angolan people and their Portuguese colonizers. The MPLA (Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola) is recognized for its strong Leadership of the struggle for independence. Augustino Neto, leader of the FNLA (National Front for the LIberation of Angola) and UNITA (National Union for the Total Independence of Angola - led by Jonas Savimbi). He speaks about the cooperation he saw between the different African countries, and celebrates Angolan independence. Also discussed are the problems in Rwanda between the different racial groups and the negotiations among colonizers and the people of Rwanda. Also various people speak about Vietnam, Chile, and world events.
SWAPO Women Interview SWAPO Women Interview
Call Number: KP 318Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: KPFA Women's DepartmentCollection: African liberation movements
Interview with Ellen Musealeila (sp?) from the Women's Council of the Southwest Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) on situation for women in Namibia.
Le Malentendu Colonial Le Malentendu Colonial
Call Number: CD 834Format: DVDProducers: California NewsreelCollection: Compact discs and videos representing digitized copies of analog tapes
This film focuses on European colonialism in Africa through the lens of Christian evangelism. The film scrutinizes in particular the role of German missionaries in Namibia on the centenary of the 1904 German genocide of the Herrero people. It reveals how colonialism destroyed African beliefs and social systems and replaced them with European ones as if they were the only acceptable routes to modernity