Thomas Sankara and Samora Machel

[Chimurenga.]

I'm looking for more information on these two leaders. I've just recently come across them. Does anyone know where I can find some writings, speeches, etc? I've done searches and found only one thread on Sankara.

Thanks.

[maskerade]

I lived in Mozambique for 6 years, so I know a bit about Samora Machel. He was the leader of FRELIMO, the Mozambican Liberation Front, which fought for Mozambican independence from the Portuguese, and later fought against right-wing anti-communist RENAMO during a very long civil war which ended in the early 90s with FRELIMO being the "winners" (though Samora died before this happened).

Samora was the first Mozambican president, and was a strict socialist/marxist-lenninist. During his time, it is known that taxi drivers earned the same amount as ministers in the government, and he spent a lot of time trying to unite the different tribes and ethnic groups against a common enemy: colonialism/imperialism and capitalism. He is still held in high regards in Mozambique, though his party has lost all of their socialist past and are now simply an instrument for South African and International capitalism.

As for readings, unfortunately the only ones I know about are in Portuguese. One I would recommend is "Samora - uma biografia", which is available online. But again, it's in Portuguese. There is a book called "The State of Africa", by Martin Meredith (i think), and there are a few sections dedicated to the Mozambican liberation struggle. It is also a good book to get an overview of the African independence movement and their leaders.

"The rich man's dog gets more in the way of vaccination, medicine and medical care than do the workers upon whom the rich man's wealth is built" - Samora Machel

[Chimurenga.]

Ended up finding some writings by Machel and thought I'd share.

http://www.blackpast.org/?q=1983-samora-machel-every-revolution-contribution-marxism

http://www.blackpast.org/?q=1980-samora-machel-transform-state-apparatus-instrument-victory

[Sankofa]

If you want to read up on Sankara and Burkina Faso politics, pick up a copy of Thomas Sankara Speaks (http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Sankara-Speaks-Burkina-Revolution/dp/0873489861/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1274733678&sr=1-1)

It contains all of his speeches/interviews, time lines, maps and photographs from his time as leader of the Burkino Faso until his eventual assassination by neo-colonial running dogs.

If you understand French, you'll find dozens of reading material about Sankara on Amazon.

[GreenCommunism]

i have a link to a 3 part documentary about thomas sankara but it is in french. also on a sort of questionable site.

[Chimurenga.]

i have a link to a 3 part documentary about thomas sankara but it is in french. also on a sort of questionable site.

is there english subtitles?

[mosfeld]

Burkina Faso under Thomas Sankara had a progressive foreign policy. Thomas Sankara's foreign policy advisor was interviewed once and said the following..:


Sankanu: [...] What type of Foreign Policy did you design for Sankara that served the best national interest of Burkina Faso?

Kientega: Our Foreign Policy was politically offensive to neo-colonialism. Like other Third World countries Burkina Faso was formally independent, but was still effectively dependent on the former colonial powers. Sankara supported liberation movements around Africa and the globe. We included Thabo Mbeki in our official delegations to the OAU (now African Union), the UN and other international meetings to help to expose him. We had no huge cash handouts but we sent a symbolic briefcase with weapons to the ANC. When Sankara changed our passport he issued the first copy to Nelson Mandela who was then in prison. We fought for the recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (Western Sahara) occupied by Morocco. We supported Sam Nujoma of Namibia and the Canaks of New Caledonia. We spoke against the embargo on Cuba. We supported the Sandinistas of Nicaragua. Our Foreign policy was meant to support all people fighting to free themselves from the yoke of imperialism. African Integration was also a cardinal element of our foreign commitment.