Introduction
The history of African countries is filled with contradictions and suffering that have affected holistic development. The people of different countries felt significant oppression and were forced to resist to gain the opportunity to control their lives. Thus, studying the history of Africa and the paths that led different peoples to their isolation and freedom is essential for realizing the value of their ideals. After reading A History of Modern Africa 1800 to the Present and Unity and Struggle, the African people have a long history of fighting for independence.
Summary of Richard Reid’s Argument
Richard Reid’s A History of Modern Africa 1800 to the Present is a book that details key events in African history and their implications for the future. Thus, the author covers a reasonably significant period in the history of this continent. The themes of colonialism, nationalism, slavery, and independence are dealt with in the book. At the same time, the author pays great attention to the economic factors present in Africa at different periods of history and how they could in any way influence its development.
Connection with Other Sources
This author’s analysis of African history echoes other readings, such as The Coloniality of Asylum by Fiorenza Picozza (2021). The themes of colonialism, identity issues, and the struggle for freedom are common in both texts and may touch upon deeper, more advanced themes. The keywords in the book are nationalism, imperialism, civil war, ethnic identity, economic challenges, and authoritarianism.
Important Highlights
The modern history of Africa has been shaped for many years in parallel with how people fought for their freedom. In this regard, the author highlights several external and internal factors that influenced the history of Africa. The first category includes European imperialism and the Cold War (Reid, 2012). These aspects have changed the political and military structures and created authoritarian regimes. Internal factors include ethnic and regional identity and economic problems (Reid, 2012). Thus, these aspects have allowed the political elites to manipulate and have formed countries’ dependence on a few exported goods.
Amilcar Cabral’s Argument
Amilcar Cabral’s Unity and Struggle is a compilation of lyrics that explore the key themes of the struggle for independence. Cabral was a prominent anti-colonial personality from the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC). It was active in countries that helped the people gain freedom (Cabral, 1979).
According to Cabral, the struggle for freedom and independence should be based on uniting and cooperating (Cabral, 1979). In addition, the armed struggle was the most effective and made it possible to resist the oppressors. The keywords in the book are struggle, unity, colonialism, armed resistance, and imperialism.
Cabral emphasized armed resistance, making it more likely to succeed in the struggle. At the same time, the author thinks about the moral side of the rebellion, which can cause many people to suffer (Cabral, 1979). Violence can breed more violence when it is a reaction, and then the technique of the book’s author will not work since the rebellion will not necessarily be successful. However, despite this, many people may suffer, in which case Picozza (2021) argues that the sacrifices may be in vain. Severe oppression has been the cause of revolts throughout Africa, and it has invariably led to independence, in connection with what one can say about their effectiveness.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the paths taken by the countries of Africa throughout their history differ in their approaches to achieving their goals. These could include both violent and democratic measures of insurrection and demands for independence. Thus, the study of what the people of Africa went through can rely on reading the books of Reid and Cabral, which describe in detail the suffering and problems of people in different regions of Africa. Reading the books in question may raise some questions about the discussion of the vital methods of violence in the struggle for freedom. In addition, Reed’s book also leaves room for discussing the sharp economic downturn and how to overcome it.
References
Cabral, Amilcar. (1979). Unity and Struggle. Monthly Revi.
Picozza, Fiorenza. (2021). The Coloniality of Asylum: Mobility, Autonomy and Solidarity in the Wake of Europe’s Refugee Crisis (New Politics of Autonomy). Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
Reid, Richard. (2012). A History of Modern Africa 1800 to the Present, 2 ed. John Wiley & Sons Limited.