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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

Joe Slovo speaking at the ‘Future of Socialism’ conference Joe Slovo speaking at the ‘Future of Socialism’ conference
Date: 10/13/1990Call Number: KP 049Format: Cass A & BCollection: African liberation movements
Joe Slovo speaking at the ‘Future of Socialism’ conference
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.
Pan African Congress Chairman Pokela on the PAC and conditions in South Africa. Pan African Congress Chairman Pokela on the PAC and conditions in South Africa.
Date: 11/8/1982Call Number: AFR 069Format: Cass A & BCollection: South Africa
Judy Jensen of the Material Aid Campaign for ZANU (Zimbabwe African National Union) interviews PAC (Pan African Congress) chairman Pokela about the PAC campaigns in South African townships and cities. He speaks about how the PAC insists on conducting an armed struggle and guerilla warfare, and also that Gatsha Buthelezi is an independent and not the voice of PAC, although he is a member. Pokela speaks about the Soweto Uprisings. He talks about how one must go back into the history of Soweto to understand the significance of the uprisings, and how Africans can achieve their own independence, and their own rights. He talks about how the Soweto Uprising campaign is similar to PAC campaign, and then speaks about workers’ rights and job conditions. Side B is a continuation of Side A PAC Chairman Pokela speaks about unification between the PAC and Black Consciousness Movements, thereby uniting the people internally. He speaks about the need for all Africans to be united, and speaks about how other African countries such as Algeria, Angola, and Mozambique have been good examples for black South Africans. He speaks about the possible involvement of women in the PAC. Lastly, he says that Nationalism, Pan Africanism, and Socialism are central to the PAC.
Questions and Answers with Chairman Pokela of the PAC 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.
Independence: The Peoples Republic of Mozambique Independence: The Peoples Republic of Mozambique
Publisher: Department of Information FRELIMOYear: 1975Volume Number: No. 61 June 25Format: MonographCollection: Angola, Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique
Official Organ of Mozambique Liberation Front FRELIMO
Eritrea: The National Question and the Logic of Protracted Struggle Eritrea: The National Question and the Logic of Protracted Struggle
Authors: Michael and Trish JohnsonPublisher: Eritrea Material Aid CampaignDate: 4/1981Volume Number: AprilFormat: ExcerptCollection: Eritrea
Reprinted from African Affairs, April 1981
Southern Africa Political & Economic Monthly (SAPEM) Southern Africa Political & Economic Monthly (SAPEM)
Publisher: Southern Africa Political Economy Series (SAPES) TrustYear: 1990Volume Number: Vol. 3-10Format: PeriodicalCollection: Zimbabwe
The Condition of Women: Challenges for the 1990s
IKWEZI: A Black Liberation Journal of South African and Southern African Political Analysis IKWEZI: A Black Liberation Journal of South African and Southern African Political Analysis
Year: 1978Volume Number: No. 8 MarchFormat: PeriodicalCollection: IKWEZI
This Issue Dedicated to Robert Sobukwe, Great African Patriot, Pan-Africanist and Azanian Revolutionary Leader. In this Issue: The Black Man\'s Quest; Documents from the Soweto Uprising; ANC-CP Prefers Colonial and Racist Name to Azania; The Soviet Threat in the Horn; Cuban Merenaries in Guinea; Some background to Congo-Zaire; Social Fascism in Angola; more
IKWEZI: A Black Liberation Journal of South African and Southern African Political Analysis IKWEZI: A Black Liberation Journal of South African and Southern African Political Analysis
Year: 1979Volume Number: No. 13 OctoberFormat: PeriodicalCollection: IKWEZI
Issue Dedicated to Zeph Mothuping and the Bethal 18. In this Issue: Problems of Fusion of Marxism-Leninism with the National Liberation Movement in Africa; Neo-Marxism and the Bogus Theory of \"Racial Capitalism\"; Sobukwe and his Ideas; South African Expansionism; China\'s Foreign Policy; more
IKWEZI: A Black Liberation Journal of South African and Southern African Political Analysis IKWEZI: A Black Liberation Journal of South African and Southern African Political Analysis
Year: 1980Volume Number: No. 14 MarchFormat: PeriodicalCollection: IKWEZI
In this Issue: State and Revolution in Zimbabwe; ANC-CP and Internal Settlement in Azania; Problem of the Azanian Revolution; The Eighties: Decades of World War III and Revolutions; Racist Marxism-Leninism: How the French Communist Party tried to Sabotage the Algerian Revolution; Samir Amin on National Liberation. Socialism, Imperialism and the West Centered View of World History; Iran, Afghanistan, Kampuchea; Mao Zedong on Building Communist Parties in Africa; more