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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.

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

42 Documents Found | «Previous12...5 Next»

PAC Chairman Nyati Pokela interview (Pan Africanist Congress of South Africa)

Date: 11/13/1982Call Number: AFR 009AFormat: Cass AProgram: Songs of FreedomCollection: South Africa

Judy Jensen of the Material Aid Campaign for ZANU interviews the Chairman of South Africa’s PAC (Pan Africanist Congress). Nyati Pokela speaks about the history and purpose of the PAC and explains what Bantustans are and why they were created. He explains why the PAC and the ANC (African National Congress) deem it necessary to engage in armed struggle against the Apartheid government, and how the PAC’s leaders lead by example by taking risks for the cause. Pokelu details the role of women in the struggle and the conditions of the black population of South Africa, and explains the unequal development of different African countries toward independence. He talks about the similarities between the struggles in South Africa and the US, and calls for solidarity with the PAC and Africa’s cause.

Pan African Congress representative speaks on how the people of South Africa are organized and ready to fight white rule.

Call Number: AFR 031AFormat: Cass ACollection: South Africa

A speech by a PAC (Pan African Congress) representative on how the people of South Africa are organized and ready for the fight against the white imperialists. He also praises the solidarity of the people of Azania and the United States. The speech ends with the chant “Up with Azania, down with South Africa” and the singing of the South Africa National Anthem, Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrica.

Pan African Congress speeches

Call Number: AFR 086Format: Cass A & BCollection: South Africa

PAC (Pan African Congress) speeches. A PAC representative gives a speech on his experiences as a political prisoner in Robben Island, South Africa. He recounts the PAC’s role in fighting Apartheid and describes the PAC’s goals, which are not to remove Apartheid, but to destroy the whole system and create a new South Africa. A woman representative of the PAC speaks about the PAC’s and United States’ roles in fighting Apartheid in South Africa. She also speaks about the Springbok tour in America. Others speak about reconciling the US and South Africa, being involved in the community, and about PAC accomplishments in Southern Africa and Azania.

Questions and Answers with Chairman Pokela of the PAC

Date: 11/8/1982Call Number: AFR 091Format: Cass A & BCollection: African liberation movements

In an informal conversation, Chairman Pokela of the PAC talks with members of Material Aid to ZANU, Free Azania (NYC Chapter), and the Anti-Springbok 5. Within the course of the question and answer session, Poleka details a wide range of issues facing South Africans and the liberation struggle in 1982. He talks about the significance of the Soweto uprisings, types of resistance, Bantustans and separate development, history, aims and objectives of the PAC, the role of workers and capitalism, armed struggle, political prisoners, and the PAC’s connection to other regional struggles for liberation. Three tapes.