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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

Amilcar Cabral Amilcar Cabral
Format: mp3Collection: African liberation movements
Amilcar Cabral, leader of the liberation Movement of Guinea-Bissau and the Cape Verde Islands, assassinated by the Portuguese and the CIA. He talks informally in New York in October 1972 with representatives of African-American organizations. This talk is the basis for his book Return to the Source.
Nelson Mandela Released Nelson Mandela Released
Short excerpt from speech by Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa, upon his release from Victor Verster Prison after 27 years of incarceration.
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.
Interview with Soares da Silva, Representative of the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola Interview with Soares da Silva, Representative of the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola
Format: TranscriptCollection: Angola, Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique
Interview with Soares da Silva, Representative of the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola.
The War for Liberation in Eritrea The War for Liberation in Eritrea
Publisher: Eritrea Material Aid CampaignFormat: PamphletCollection: Eritrea
Pamphlet containing information about the history of Eritrea\'s war of independence, the relationship with Ethiopia, Soviet intervention, internal struggle inside Eritrea and solidarity in the US.
A Free Eritrea- A New Ethiopia A Free Eritrea- A New Ethiopia
Publisher: Prairie Fire Organizing CommitteeFormat: FlyerCollection: Eritrea
Flyer for a benefit event in Bernal Heights, San Francisco for the Eritrean Relief Committee.
Africa\'s New Nation- Independent After 30 years of war: Eritrea Africa\'s New Nation- Independent After 30 years of war: Eritrea
Publisher: Prairie Fire Organizing CommitteeFormat: FlyerCollection: Eritrea
Eritrea 1984 Eritrea 1984
Format: FlyerCollection: Eritrea
Informal Discussion with the chairwomen of the National Union of Eritrean Women in Oakland
The Question of Zaire Congo:  The History of the 1977-78 Uprising in the Congo The Question of Zaire Congo: The History of the 1977-78 Uprising in the Congo
Publisher: John Brown Book Club; Prarie Fire Organization CommitteeFormat: PamphletCollection: Zaire-DRC
documents of Congolese National Liberation Front Message from U.S. Representative, Congolese National Liberation Front (FNLC) Serge Mukendi; press release Mar. 8, 1978; press release Mar. 18, 1978; press release Sept. 26, 1978; external delegation of FLNC, Nov. 9, 1978; external delegation FLNC Nov. 11, 1978; external delegation FLNC 1981; statutes of the Congolese National Liberation Front (FLNC)