African liberation movements
African liberation movements arose from a growing nationalism among previously divided African communities, the unfulfilled promise of self-determination following the end of World War II and the weakened economic and political capacities of Western Europe.
Our collection contains a wide range of materials representing liberation movements from Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique, Angola, Guinea-Bissau, Eritrea, and the Congo (DRC). Our collection also features containing Human Rights Reports from South Africa, IKWEZI, a revolutionary Azanian journal, and a sub-collection containing general resources about the continent. This collection includes audio and paper materials.
Strengths of the collection include materials on the role of women in African liberation struggles and national reconstruction, an interesting assortment of periodicals from Southern Africa, speeches and interviews with revolutionary leaders from across the continent, audio from solidarity events in the United States, and a set of human rights reports compiled during the transition from Apartheid to democracy in South Africa.
Our collection contains a wide range of materials representing liberation movements from Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique, Angola, Guinea-Bissau, Eritrea, and the Congo (DRC). Our collection also features containing Human Rights Reports from South Africa, IKWEZI, a revolutionary Azanian journal, and a sub-collection containing general resources about the continent. This collection includes audio and paper materials.
Strengths of the collection include materials on the role of women in African liberation struggles and national reconstruction, an interesting assortment of periodicals from Southern Africa, speeches and interviews with revolutionary leaders from across the continent, audio from solidarity events in the United States, and a set of human rights reports compiled during the transition from Apartheid to democracy in South Africa.
Subcollections
-
Africa- General Resources
This collection contains general resources about various themes related to the African continent. The collection draws from many types of materials (periodicals, books, pamphlets) and many different countries (Kenya, Guinea, Tanzania). -
Angola, Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique
This collection contains materials from the liberation struggles in former Portuguese colonies. Guinea Bissau gained independence in 1973 and Mozambique and Angola achieved independence in 1975. -
Anti-Apartheid Solidarity
This collection contains materials from Bay Area anti-apartheid movements of the 1980s originating from various sources, primarily Bay Area-based South African solidarity groups. -
Eritrea
Eritrea is located in the Horn of Africa. It gained its independence from Ethiopia in 1991 after a 30 year struggle for independence. -
IKWEZI
IKWEZI is a revolutionary Azanian Journal based on Marxism-Leninism-Mao Tsetung Thought. -
South Africa
This collection contains a variety of materials which focus on the anti-apartheid movement both within and outside of South Africa. -
South Africa: Human Rights Reports
The Human Rights Commission published weekly, monthly and annual reports. In addition, occasional in-depth special reports were published on important human rights issues. -
SWAPO- Namibia
SWAPO (Southwest Africa Peoples Organization) was formed in 1960 to fight for liberation in present day Namibia. Namibia gained independence from South Africa in 1990. -
Zaire-DRC
This collection contains materials from the Congolese struggle against neocolonialism and the rule of General Mobuto Sese Seko. -
Zimbabwe
This collection contains information about the liberation struggle in Zimbabwe, mainly focused on the struggle against Rhodesia and white settler rule.
Documents
Amilcar Cabral
Amilcar Cabral, leader of PAIGC - Liberation Movement of Guinea-Bissau/Cape Verde Islands. speaks at a conference of African-American organizations and journalists in New York. Cabral’s portions of Cabral's comments are in his book “Return to the Source."
Cabral was assassinated by the CIA and Portuguese colonialists in 1973.
NOTE: an excerpt from this tape is on Roots of Resistance, Volume 1, highlights CD.
Saths Cooper on South African issues and Steve Biko.
Saths Cooper, president of South Africa’s Professional Board for Psychology, speaks about Steve Biko, leader of the Black Consciousness movement. He speaks about Apartheid and colonization’s influences on South Africans. He claims that the west usually ignores the exploitation and wrongs of colonization on South Africa, and instead concentrates only on anti-Apartheid movements. The struggle is both at the national and social levels. The struggle means repossession of land and social transformation. Whites own most of the land in South Africa, but constitute only 15% of the population. Cooper also talks about how the youth have taken the lead in the revolution because they have vested interest in their futures, so they fight against resignation to the law. He says, “The youth have become the collective consciousness of a people denied on a political, social, and economic level.” He speaks about racial and economic hierarchies in South Africa, and about Steve Biko’s influence and student organization influence. He lastly speaks about how AZAPO (Azanian People’s Organization) follows Black Consciousness ideologies, while other organizations in South Africa follow AZAPO’s ideology, and he claims that Biko had to be killed when he did (1977) because people were unified under UDF (United Democratic Front - a South African umbrella organization of banned black organizations) and they realized they had a common enemy, so they needed to strike together. Therefore, the government killed Biko because of his strong influence and threat to the psychological impact of Apartheid. Cooper’s talk is followed by a question and answer session, and continues to Side B.
Panel Discussion on the current state of Congo.
Panel discussion on the current state of Congo. Zairian Political Scientist Ilunga Kabongo speaks about the past struggles of Congo, and about former Congo Prime Minister and revolutionary Patrice Lumumba’s efforts in the struggle for liberation in Congo. He speaks about how FLN (National Liberation Front) was restricted because of revolutionary mercenaries from South Africa and other neighboring countries. He speaks about Congo’s abundance of natural resources as well. Next, Nzongola Ntalaja, Congolese Political Scientist, speaks about the continuing struggles in Congo, and about the struggle for autonomy in that country. He calls for the complete liberation of the Congolese people, and speaks about the struggle against Sese Seko Mobutu, president/dictator of Congo from 1930 - 1997, who had usurped power through a coup and was backed by Western powers. Ntalaja speaks about the struggle for a “second independence”, and the need to continue the struggle for liberation against Mobutu’s regime.
On Side B, Dr. Tshiteya Mukona of Penn State University speaks about Mobutu’s Development policy of bribery, and how American foreign policy in Zaire (DRC - Democratic Republic of Congo) is supportive of Mobutu. Lastly, he speaks about the US’s role as a superpower and how it can influence other countries without destroying them.
Imperialist oppression in Southern African countries
Judy Jensen of the Material Aid Campaign for ZANU makes a speech about Southern Africa. She speaks about ZANU’s defeat of white settler colonialism in Zimbabwe and also women’s contributions to the struggle. She discusses the different fronts in the war for the liberation of Southern Africa, and the struggle against the US’s attack on their independence. She talks about struggles in Namibia, South Africa’s control over Southern African countries, and calls for solidarity with Southern African countries. Lastly, she draws comparisons and similarities between the oppression of blacks in America and Africa. Next, Serge Mukendi, US Representative of the Workers and Peasants Movement of the Congo (MOP), speaks about weaknesses in natural and human resources in Africa because they are not in the hands of the Africans. He speaks about the struggles in Congo and tells the audience that it is our duty to strengthen the fight for liberation in Congo through support and solidarity.
On Side B, Eve Rosahn, political activist, Students Against Government Misconduct, speaks about political activists for black liberation who have been tortured and beaten for their actions. Next, a member of the Anti-Springbok 5 chants “Up With Azania, Down With South Africa!”, and speaks about her experiences as an ASB-5, and tells the audience about the Springbok 5 and what they represent. The Springboks are an elite white supremacist South African rugby team traveling the US, representing the spread of white imperialism. Lastly, PAC (Pan African Congress) representative Jackie Mazibuko, speaks about white alliances between Ian Smith of Zimbabwe, the South African government, and the US in their oppression of black Africans. She also speaks about the land issues in Africa, and that all land originally, and still should, belong to black Africans, and that people must have the ideology of revolution to struggle against oppression.
Interview with Congolese National Liberation Front representative
Interview with a representative of FLNC (Congolese National Liberation Front). He speaks on conditions in Congo, and revolutionary organizations, as well as the threat of outside influences on the organizations. Speaks about the role of the proletariat, and how they are exploited in third world countries but are key to the FLNC. The struggle continues, he says, and it is an international problem, which requires an international solution and cooperation between countries. Speaks about fighting against Sese Seko Mobutu in Congo, and lastly speaks about supporting Angola, SWAPO (Southwest African People’s Organization), Namibia, and South Africa - “their struggle is our struggle”.
On Side B, the interviewer speaks about the FLNC, and understanding the United States government’s influence on Mobutu and in Congo.
Conditions in Zimbabwe and political consciousness America
Call Number: AFR 077Collection: Zimbabwe
Judy Jensen,of the Material Aid Campaign for ZANU (Zimbabwe African National Union) is interviewed about raising support in America for revolutionary struggles in Africa. A passionate anti-imperialist, she speaks about the wrongs being done to Africans, particularly those in Southern Africa. She aims to educate Americans on the revolutionary struggles in Africa, and to teach them about anti-Apartheid goals. She details the measures and protests the Material Aid Campaign for ZANU will use to achieve their objectives. She speaks about war in Central America, and about American political consciousness, saying that people are slowly realizing the American government’s aggressive and imperialist nature.
Side B contains an interview between two women. They discuss the problems facing Zimbabwe, such as land issues and dwindling resources. Next, the provincial secretary for the ZANU Women’s League, Eastern Province, is interviewed about the organization’s work for the Zimbabwean elections and their work in the provinces. Lastly, several women speak about problems getting material and supplies in Zimbabwe, expressing their thoughts on the newly independent Zimbabwe, and their hope for more equality between men and women.
Liberation struggles in Zimbabwe
Call Number: AFR 078Format: Cass A & BProgram: Zimbabwe Medical: Fundraiser for Struggles in ZimbabweCollection: Zimbabwe
Several speeches aimed at supporting liberation struggles in Zimbabwe. The event begins with several women urging people to aid various liberation movements. The next speaker, the National Coordinator for the National Committee Against Grand Jury Repression, speaks about organizing in the Bay Area and San Francisco for the independence of Puerto Rico. He talks about solidarity between Zimbabwe and Puerto Rico, and their liberation struggles. The next speaker, a man from Zimbabwe, speaks about the need for medical supplies in his country, especially for the Zimbabwean refugees. He also speaks about ZANU’s (Zimbabwe African National Union) tactics of armed struggle, and he talks about the Zimbabwe Development Fund. He explains how it is only hurting the country because it is under foreign control. He asks people not to invest in Rhodesia or South Africa because of the white imperialist control in those countries. Lastly, he urges people to aid the medical drive for Zimbabwe. Paul Smith of the International Indian Treaty Council speaks about international solidarity, and Tiri Kangai speaks for the Zimbabwe Medical Drive Coalition. Barbara Miyangi of the Zimbabwe Medical Drive Coalition speaks about international solidarity with Zimbabwe, health care needs in Zimbabwe, and she also discusses how most diseases in Africa came from the white colonialists.
Azanian People’s Organization representative on Apartheid
A representative of AZAPO (Azanian People’s Organization) speaks about Apartheid issues in a question and answer format. He calls people to be committed as revolutionaries to tell the whole truth about the evils of Apartheid. He also speaks about the importance of black identity. He highlights the need to raise consciousness about oppression in South Africa, and talks about AZAPO’s stance on worker’s rights and issues. He says that AZAPO’s goal is to ensure worker’s liberation and rightful place and fair share of wealth in society.
AZAPO and conditions in Southern Africa
Program on AZAPO and the state of Southern Africa. AZAPO chairman Pokela, SWAPO representative, and AZAPO representative Nick Tucker speak.
AZAPO (Azanian People’s Organization) chairman Pokela speaks about the lack of knowledge people in the United States and Europe have about the struggles in Azania. He also speaks about how the native African people lost their land and their rights to the white imperialists. He says that in order for Africans to fight back, they must remove their inferiority complexes (as Robert Sobukwe, former president of the PAC (Pan African Congress), suggests). He speaks about the injustices of the Pass Laws in South Africa, and encourages blacks to go to the prisons and challenge the police to arrest them.
Next, a woman representative of SWAPO (South West African People’s Organization - dedicated to opposing injustice in Southern Africa) speaks about the problems of violence in South Africa, and also about the bloody war going on in Namibia. She speaks about the policy of “Destabilization” that was designed by the white Nationalists, and about the Western media’s perception, pressure, and influence on events in South Africa.
Lastly, Nick Tucker of AZAPO speaks about AZAPO and the current events and conditions in Southern Africa, mourning the large number of murders in the area.
He quotes Amilcar Cabral, “We should tell no lies and claim no easy victory”.
Tucker speaks about two theories that determine revolutions: 1) To have a revolution, one must have a revolutionary theory and convey it to the masses. 2) Continued economic depression will heighten revolutionary anarchy and the masses will want to organize and revolt. He says that AZAPO is trying to do the former strategy. Lastly, Tucker speaks about the formation of black worker’s unions - that they form under Black Consciousness because black men can truly understand the hardships and oppression of other blacks, and can then translate that idea to whites.
Angolan music and poems/KPFA program on injustices of the US government
Date: 1/3/1976Call Number: AFR 084Format: Cass A & BProducers: KPFAProgram: Nothing Is More Precious Than... ProgramCollection: Angola, Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique
Poetry and revolutionary Angolan music.
Wounded Knee Massacre and countless atrocities against Native Americans.
