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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

International African Forum and the celebration of Elombe Brath’s 85th Birthday International African Forum and the celebration of Elombe Brath’s 85th Birthday
Date: 9/30/1994Call Number: AFR 044Format: Cass A & BProducers: The Patrice Lumumba CoalitionProgram: Making Our Struggle A Lifetime Committment: The Only Way Forward For African Worldwide LiberationCollection: African liberation movements
An international African Forum and the celebration of Elombe Brath’s 85th Birthday. Speakers include: Uganda Ambassador to the UN (United Nations) Ambassador Perezi Kamunanwire, Dr. Betty Shabazz, Sonny Carson, Don Rojas, Les Payne, Bernard White, moderator,and Viola Plummer. Viola Plummer gives an introduction to Elombe Brath, speaking on his accomplishments over his lifetime. Kamunanwire speaks about the history of the struggles in Africa, about the superficial divisions between the Hutus and the Tutsis in Rwanda made by the Europeans, the evils of colonialism, and how colonialists use the people of Africa to divide and rule each other. He gives a brief update on the status of most African countries, and praises Elombe Brath’s continued work with those who are liberating the African continent. Next, Sonny Carson speaks about having committment to freedom and the black people, and remembering those who have been committed to liberation, like Elombe Brath. Les Payne speaks on the power of journalism and the ongoing struggle for empowerment for black Africans like Brath. Lastly, Don Rojas, former executive editor of Amsterdam of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), celebrates Elombe Brath’s work against oppression and for the People’s University of Harlem.
Panel Discussion with Committee to Eliminate Media Offensive to African People on the Global Media Conspiracy Panel Discussion with Committee to Eliminate Media Offensive to African People on the Global Media Conspiracy
Date: 4/23/1994Call Number: AFR 058Format: Cass A & BProducers: CEMOTAP (Committee to Eliminate Media Offensive to African People)Program: The Global Media Conspiracy and Community Rally for Earl CaldwellCollection: Africa- General Resources
Audio begins abruptly on Side A Historian John Henrik Clarke speaks about how Europe’s perception of the world influences the interpretation of the world. Its nationalism has guided its history and its colonizing of mass media. Clarke states that European media has created the image of God that does not look like a black person, but in Africa, God is seen neither as black or white, but as a loving father. Clarke also speaks about racism: racists are of all skin colors, and to overcome racism is to be with others of different ethnicities. Quote: “You get out only what you put in.” He says that while Europe will always control the world, and in spite of the mass media and multiculturalism, people can coexist and you do not have to plan this coexistence. He calls people to look at themselves universally. After Dr. Clarke speaks, the MC introduces Dr. James MacIntosh, cofounder of CEMOTAP (Committee to Elimiate Media Offensive to African People). . Side B is a continuation of side A. Dr. James MacIntosh speaks about the Rockaway 5 (five men who have been influential in the fight against racial discrimination against Africans in the media), and the corrupt and violent police and justice system. He speaks about confronting ABC media with tapes and statements offensive to blacks in their media, hoping to elicit a response positive to collaboration with CEMOTAP. He calls for CEMOTAP being national and more church involvement in their cause.
Panel Discussion with CEMOTAP on the Global Media Conspiracy Panel Discussion with CEMOTAP on the Global Media Conspiracy
Date: 4/23/1994Call Number: AFR 059Format: Cass A & BProducers: CEMOTAP (Committee to Eliminate Media Offensive to African People)Program: The Global Media Conspiracy and Community Rally for Earl CaldwellCollection: Africa- General Resources
Continuation of AFR 058. Dr. Leonard Jeffries, professor and scholar, speaks on the changing views of “majority” on race in the media - how people like Nathan Glazer have taken on majority views, but others like Arthur Slessinger have not. Blacks, however, have organized and fought for their freedoms. Jeffries talks about how being educated and skilled still cannot get you credit or recognition in the media because you’re not white and you’re attacking slavery. He praises Earl Caldwell for his contributions. Side B is a continuation of Side A. Earl Caldwell, journalist, speaks about discrimination he has faced when working at the Daily News and New York Times newspapers, the limits of free speech, and the expressing of his own opinion in the workplace and his writing. He speaks about how the newspaper took a year to hire him, and his articles in the back and shortened them. He wanted a relationship with the black community as a black reporter/journalist.
Panel Discussion with CEMOTAP on the Global Media Conspiracy Panel Discussion with CEMOTAP on the Global Media Conspiracy
Date: 4/23/1994Call Number: AFR 060Format: Cass A & BProducers: CEMOTAP (Committee to Eliminate Media Offensive to African People)Program: The Global Media Conspiracy and Community Rally for Earl CaldwellCollection: Africa- General Resources
Continuation of AFR 059. Earl Caldwell, journalist, speaks about his experiences with racial discrimination as a journalist. He talks about how in the beginning of the computer age, blacks knew much more about computers than whites did, but whites got all the jobs because they were trained to learn computers, and whites were paid more than blacks as well. Side B is a continuation of Side A. A CEMOTAP speaker speaks about the PAC (Pan - African Congress) in Uganda. He states that it was wrong for Europeans to colonize Africa, but that it was directly linked to the black people’s lack of leaders and organization. He speaks about the rise of Facism and Gulianism (future mayor of New York), and of the conservative black person. Eric Ture Muhammed, Executive Director of the Black African Holocaust Council, makes a plug for his journal, the Holocaust Journal, and speaks on media censorship.
Monthly Report- November 1994 Monthly Report- November 1994
Publisher: Human Rights Commission of South AfricaDate: 11/1994Volume Number: NovemberFormat: ReportCollection: South Africa: Human Rights Reports
The HRC Monthly Report is compiled with information gathered from a wide variety of sources including newspapers, monitoring and peace structures, community organizations, trade unions and government departments.
Monthly Report- December 1994 Monthly Report- December 1994
Publisher: Human Rights Commission of South AfricaDate: 12/1994Volume Number: DecemberFormat: ReportCollection: South Africa: Human Rights Reports
The HRC Monthly Report is compiled with information gathered from a wide variety of sources including newspapers, monitoring and peace structures, community organizations, trade unions and government departments.
Amandla Poets Amandla Poets
Date: 8/20/1994Call Number: AFR 090Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsCollection: African liberation movements
Recorded shortly after South Africa won its independence, this tape contains music and poetry pertaining to South Africa and the struggle for liberation. In English, Zulu and perhaps other African languages.
Chris Hani interview Chris Hani interview
Date: 5/29/1994Call Number: KP 046Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Barbara Lubinski, Heber DreherProgram: Freedom Is a Constant StruggleCollection: African liberation movements
Chris Hani, South African freedom leader, is interviewed by Barbara Lubinski and Heber Dreher during a solidarity visit he made to the United States, just months before his assassination. Some drums and music. NOTE: an excerpt from this tape is on Roots of Resistance, Volume 1, highlights CD.