Description
Book SynopsisFrom his anti-colonial military leadership to the presidency of independent Mozambique, Samora Machel held a reputation as a revolutionary hero to the oppressed. Although killed in a 1987 plane crash, for many Mozambicans his memory lives on as a beacon of hope for the future.
Trade Review“Allen the idealist and Barbara the sceptic joined forces to provide us with a portrait of a great African leader that is rich, loving, and incisive.”
“An all-encompassing book that covers the major events in Mozambique’s modern history … recommended to all scholars of Mozambique.” * American Historical Review *
“Essential reading for anyone trying to understand the impact of Samora Machel on Mozambique and the African continent.”
“Acutely attuned to the politics of memory, the authors scrutinize a diverse—often conflicting—array of public and private archival sources, memoirs, scholarly literature, and oral sources to assess the life of this remarkable, complex African leader.”
“Lively, accessible, and ideal for undergraduate teaching and the wider reading public."
“A comprehensive, up-to-date, expanded perspective on Samora Machel’s political thought, his contributions to international socialism, and his leadership. The authors knew Machel, and their exceptional access enriches the text with accounts of his personal life and controversial death.”
“The authors have achieved a compelling narrative of how Samora shaped post-colonial events in Mozambique and how the leader’s personality and life trajectory were transformed by these same events. Students and all those readers interested in learning more about Mozambique’s recent history will find this book a great introductory read.” * Connections: A Journal for Historians and Area Specialists *
Table of ContentsList of Illustrations
Foreword by Albie Sachs
Acknowledgments
Prologue: The Challenge of Representation
1. Living Colonialism The Making of an Insurgent
2. The Early Political Education of Samora Machel The Making of a Freedom Fighter, ca. 1950–63
3. The Struggle within the Struggle, 1962–70
4. Samora and the Armed Struggle, 1964–75
5. Politics, Performance, and People’s Power, 1975–ca. 1977 115
6. Samora Machel’s Marxism and the Defense of the Revolution, 1977–82
7. The Unraveling of Mozambique’s Socialist Revolution, 1983–86
8. Who Killed Samora?
9. The Political Afterlife of Samora and the Politics of Memory
Conclusion: Samora Revisited
Notes
Recommended Reading
Index
