What was the fight for Africa's independence all about? Was it just about majority rule? Was it to replace foreign economic and political systems with home-grown African systems or for Africa to remain with and/or adopt foreign systems? In "African Nationalism", the late African freedom fighter Reverend Ndabaningi Sithole presents a compelling account of why Africans sought their independence and his vision of a system that would be ideal for Africa's governance.
Should the continent seek to retain relations and model its rule after the Western capitalist democracies, or venture out East?
Can true Pan-Africanism and localized nationalism coexist?
If the ontology of African nationalism is inherently rooted in its opposition to European colonialism, what then is the African nation in the postcolonial era?
These are but some of the pressing questions that Reverend Ndabaningi Sithole, puts before the contemporary readers of thi book, now as he first did in 1959.
The compelling purpose of this book is to:
Explain why Africans rose against colonial leaders and dissect the meaning and implications of the African freedom and independence that came just as the book was being completed
Become a reliable and comprehensive source of reflection on how Africans use experiences and expectations of the past to shape Africa's future and status as an equal force
Serve as a guide and a source of knowledge for the current and upcoming generations on why African forefathers fought so hard and what their visions were for Africa
Help put into perspective the goals and aspirations of Africa's founding fathers against the backdrop of the realities of Africa today - has Africa lost its way? If so, how can it get back on track so that the visions of independent Africa's founding fathers may be realized one day? And so much more!
Perhaps, most compelling of all, "African Nationalism" drives the point that this fight is not an optional undertaking.
It is a must if Africa is to take its rightful place as the richest continent on earth in terms of resources and as the future global leader in safeguarding the wellbeing of its people and the human race as a whole in centuries to come.
As the foreword states, "It is a book worth keeping, with counsel worth seeking."
Author Biography:
Reverend Ndabaningi Sithole was a well-respected statesman, Pan-Africanist, educationalist, theologian, political leader, and prolific author. Reverend Sithole published numerous books, including his first book in his mother tongue Umvukela wamaNdebele (1956), Roots of a Revolution (1970), The Polygamist (1972), Letters from Salisbury Prison (1976, written while he was incarcerated), Obed Mutezo, The Mudzimu Christian Nationalist (1977), The Frelimo Militant (1978), In Defence of the Rhodesian Constitutional Agreement (1978), Secret of America's Success: Africa's Great Hope (1990), and Hammer and Sickle over Africa (1991). His revolutionary masterpiece, African Nationalism (1959), crystallized the thoughts of modern Africa's founding fathers who successfully fought to end colonialism. The book was borne during his time as a student at Andover Newton Theological Seminary (now a part of Yale Divinity School) where he constantly found himself explaining to his fellow students what was happening in Africa, and why Africans objected to domination by Europe. Born in 1920, Reverend Sithole's captivating life began in abject poverty. On the day of his birth, he was made to inhale the smoke from a burning goat's horn so that no evil should befall him. At age 7, dressed in two skin aprons, he was herding cattle when he and his friends saw what they took to be a fast-moving hut bearing down upon them. They ran for their lives, finding out later that the monster was a car. After spending three and a half years in the United States, where he studied theology and did deputation work for the American by Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions across numerous states Reverend Sithole returned to Rhodesia (present-day Zimbabwe) in 1957 as an ordained Reverend. He became headmaster of Chikore Mission in Chipinge and was elected President of the Rhodesia African Teacher's Association in 1959. The position lasted a year as Reverend Sithole was banned from teaching. Reverend Sithole would go on to play a major role as a nationalist in Zimbabwe's independence struggle. Reverend Sithole was elected Treasurer of the National Democratic Party (NDP) in 1960, Chairman of the Zimbabwe African People's Union in 1961, and founding President of the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) in 1964. Shortly, following his election as President of ZANU he was imprisoned for the next 11 years. Post-independence in 1980 and up until his death, Reverend Sithole was a leading political figure opposing the repressive state led by Robert Mugabe's ZANU PF. Reverend Sithole died in Philadelphia, USA on December 12, 2000. His remains are interred at Freedom Farm, his homestead in Chipinge, Zimbabwe. Sir Reginald Stephen Garfield Todd was a Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia from 1953 to 1958 and later became an opponent of white minority rule in Rhodesia.
