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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

Winnie Mandela interview Winnie Mandela interview
Call Number: KP 045Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProgram: Freedom Is A Constant StruggleCollection: African liberation movements
Winnie Mandela is interviewed on her political trajectory, discrimination she encountered, and the freedom struggle in South Africa. Speaks to her role both as a social worker and organizer with Black Women's Federation.
Winnie Mandela and the anti-Apartheid movement Winnie Mandela and the anti-Apartheid movement
Call Number: KP 048AFormat: Cass AProgram: KPFACollection: African liberation movements
1988 or 1989: Alice Walker facilitates a discussion between Paris Williams, Pearl Alice Marsh, Joyce Carrol Thomas, and Angela Davis about their thoughts on the accusation that Winnie Mandela’s bodyguards beat a South African boy. They discuss the media, racism, and sexism (sexism within the anti Apartheid movement as well as among Apartheid supporters). The tape starts and ends in the middle of a sentence.
Winnie Mandela and the anti-Apartheid movement Winnie Mandela and the anti-Apartheid movement
Call Number: KP 048BFormat: Cass BProgram: KPFACollection: African liberation movements
(same as KP 048a) 1988 or 89: Alice Walker and Bernice Johnson Regan reading from Winnie Mandela’s autobiography, “Part of My Soul Went With Him.” Johnson reads the chapter titled “No Human Beings Can GO On Taking Those Humiliations Without Reaction.” Begins and ends in the middle of a sentence.
Global Resistance - South Africa Global Resistance - South Africa
Publisher: Freedom ArchivesCollection: African liberation movements
Amandla!; Winnie Mandela talks about the role of Black mothers in South Africa, Afrikaaners, the necessity to destroy apartheid.; People Shall Govern from Radio Free South Africa; Winnie Mandela about the grassroots struggle, the Black Womens Federation, prison and political education; Winnie Mandela on the creation of the Freedom Charter by the ANC, hope for the freedom of South Africa; Toi Toi song
Global Resistance Africa to Palestine from Roots of Resistance Global Resistance Africa to Palestine from Roots of Resistance
Publisher: Freedom ArchivesProgram: Roots of ResistanceCollection: African liberation movements
Amilcar Cabral, leader of the liberation movement of Guinea-Bissau and the cape Verde Islands, talks about the basis for his book, Return to the Source; Winnie Mandela, one of the leaders of the African National Congress, speaks on the internalized oppression of Africans in racist South Africa; Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa, speaking on the day of his release from prison, where he had been held for over 20 years; Chris Hani, a leader of the anti-apartheid movement, interviewed by Barbara Lubinski and Herber Dreher during a visit to san Francisco; Speech by a spokeswomen for Arab Students, with chants in solidarity with Palestine during a Bay Area demonstration in the late 1970s; Poet June Jordan reciting one of her poems about Palestine at a solidarity event held in 1990.