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

Robert Mugabe and others of ZANU (Zimbabwe African National Union) speak about events and reconstruction in Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe and others of ZANU (Zimbabwe African National Union) speak about events and reconstruction in Zimbabwe
Call Number: AFR 030Format: Cass A & BCollection: Zimbabwe
Poor recording, low volume, recorded off mic. Robert Mugabe, president of ZANU (Zimbabwe African National Union) and others speak about the events in Zimbabwe, such as the Lancaster agreement and the presence of South African troops in Zimbabwe. Mugabe speaks about ZANU’s plans for the reconstruction of Zimbabwe: the means of production will be returned to the black people, and ZANU and SWAPO (South West African People’s Organization) will likely merge after independence is attained. He explains the Patriotic Front as an alliance between ZANU and SWAPO for the purpose of negotiating with the enemy. He also calls on South African troops to maintain support and stability in Zimbabwe after liberation.
Ahmed Obafemi of the RNA (Republic of New Africa) speaks on struggle in Namibia and the South West African People’s Organization. Continuation of AFR 032. Ahmed Obafemi of the RNA (Republic of New Africa) speaks on struggle in Namibia and the South West African People’s Organization. Continuation of AFR 032.
Date: 2/27/1982Call Number: AFR 033AFormat: Cass ACollection: May 19th Communist Organization
Continuation of AFR 032. Ahmed Obafemi, East Coast Region Vice President of RNA (Republic of New Africa) speaks about three different fronts in Namibia: one being the people’s front against United States and South African imperialism, the second one being the international fronts of solidarity with liberation movements in Africa, and the third being the primary front, armed struggle. He comments on SWAPO (South West African People’s Organization) giving aid to Namibia through all means, material and morale. Lastly he talks about the history of SWAPO and how it has grown. Tape 3, 2/27/82 DTB Forum SWAPO
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.