Susan Williams (3) (1953–)

The shocking, untold story of how African independence was strangled at birth by America's systematic interference. Accra, 1958. Africa's liberation leaders have gathered for a conference, full of strength, purpose and vision. Newly independent Ghana's Kwame Nkrumah and Congo's Patrice Lumumba strike up a close partnership. Everything seems possible. But, within a few years, both men will have been targeted by the CIA, and their dream of true African autonomy undermined. The United States, watching the Europeans withdraw from Africa, was determined to take control. Pan-Africanism was inspiring African Americans fighting for civil rights; the threat of Soviet influence over new African governments loomed; and the idea of an atomic reactor in black hands was unacceptable. The conclusion was simple: the US had to 'recapture' Africa, in the shadows, by any means necessary. Renowned historian Susan Williams dives into the archives, revealing new, shocking details of America's covert programme in Africa. The CIA crawled over the continent, poisoning the hopes of 1958 with secret agents and informants; surreptitious UN lobbying; cultural infiltration and bribery; assassinations and coups. As the colonisers moved out, the Americans swept in--with bitter consequences that reverberate in Africa to this day.… (plus d'informations)

The greatest adventure of my life, a trip across the African continent in 1975, started because my father was seconded from the New Brunswick Electric Power Commission in 1971 by the Canadian International Development Agency to head up the Botswana Power Corporation. My parents lived in Gaborone for four years, returning to Canada in the fall of 1975. It is because of their move that I started to read about Botswana, it’s history and people and continue to do so, expanding it to include more African countries. At university I took a course “Africa and the Victorians” and my readings have brought Africa to the present. I lived in Gaborone for 3.5 months and then camped my way across Africa in 5.5 months in 1974 - 1975.

Both before and after independence on September 30, 1966, Khama build on the existing non-racial, discussion based culture of the Bangwato to develop Botswana into a democratic country with a supporting economic structure that meets the needs of all its citizens. What is amazing is how he maintained his vision after all that Great Britain did to him and his wife Ruth.

Khama was the son of a Tswana chief and was in line to take over this position from his uncle who was the acting regent, when he completed his education in England. There he met and married Ruth Williams thereby becoming a large political problem for Great Britain. It was an interracial marriage and completely unacceptable to many whites but particularly to the Bechuanaland Protectorate’s neighbour South Africa, who in 1948, started to put past social practice into law, Apartheid started. Not wanting to admit to pressure from South Africa and later Rhodesia, first the Labour and then the Conservative governments detained the Khama’s on the bases that his people would not except his white wife. That failed as Ruth was accepted and they were demanding that Khama be made chief. The couple was taken back to London and remained in exile there for six years.

The book goes into great detail with the background politics, the papers, reports and lies told to all involved. It also outlines the actions that were undertaken to have the ban lifted on behalf of Khama. The early 1950’s was a time when many future black leaders of African and Caribbean countries were studying in England and formed lasting friendships. Only one man from West Africa had married a white woman, the daughter of a lord, and nothing happened to him.

The behaviour of the Bangwato throughout this ordeal was amazingly calm, that is not to say there was no violence but there was very little. There tradition was for the men to come together with the chief and talk out a problem, with each person having a voice. This didn’t work with the British so they took an approach closer to what Gandhi used in South Africa or what unions call working to rule and they withheld taxes.

By 1955 some of the people in authority had changed and views on independence for African countries were changing and the world view of South Africa decreased its pressure on G. B. So a quick report to the prime minister and cabinet discussion and the decision was made. The bann was lifted. It went out with a whimper not a bang after all the fuss and time. Williams ends the book with a summary of Khama’s political career in Botswana.

I found the book interesting because of my personal experience with Botswana and Africa. I saw the movie “A United Kingdom” which was based on “Colour Bar.” The movie glossed over the politics that kept them in exile and the book was very tedious in covering it. I didn’t need that level of detail. I really detest the use of acronyms and I found it difficult keeping the different government offices, commissions and officials straight.

What will stay with me is the image of President Khama walking out of his office to go buy a book at a bookstore nearby!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️… (plus d'informations)