In this special issue on Amilcar Cabral we seek to return to the life, writings, legacy, political, social, economic and cultural insights of this revolutionary figure whilst examining what he means to Africans and their struggles of today

Of all the African political leaders none have made more profound theoretical and strategic contributions to the advancement of the black liberation movement than Amilcar Cabral. As long as capitalism, colonialism, white supremacy, patriarchy, imperialism, and neo-colonialism exist as forces that exploit and oppress African (and all) people, Cabral’s insights and analysis will always have relevance

Africa’s post-colonial history is one of unfulfilled missions because the national leadership has been lacking in revolutionary theory and ideology. Since so-called independence, Africa is still awaiting that moment when leaders such as Cabral will once again rise to the occasion and drive an agenda for the total liberation of Africa, from all vestiges of imperialism and neo-colonialism

The ideas and example of Amilcar Cabral are an important link in the global quest for African liberation, a mission that, despite certain appearances and protestations to the contrary, persists. Cabral’s vision provides a theoretical roadmap for conceptualizing true freedom for Africa

America celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday 20, the first ever public holiday in honour of a Black person. The history of this day is interesting, especially the strong resistance mounted by white politicians on the grounds that a Black person was no that important

From the more than 1000 workers in the factory, clinical examination suspected possible presence of lung silicosis in 450 of them, prompting around 300 workers to strike for ten days last year

South Africa appears poised to reclaim its revolutionary legacy from the clutches of the African National Congress, which has “devolved into a fat and corrupt partner of white capital.” As the Age of Obama nears its end, Black America must also awake from the catastrophe of racial symbolism and self-delusion.

Racial and ethnic minorities are still disproportionately counted among the poor in America. Reducing employment among them and increasing the minimum wage would go some way in realizing the ‘promised land’ that Martin Luther King Jr. dreamed of

The violent political conflict in the CAR continues to claim innocent lives, cause massive displacement and destruction of property. The efforts being made to end the carnage and restore the country will not achieve much without taking into account the role of France in destabilising CAR

The people of Haiti continue to suffer the economic tremors of a post-earthquake reconstruction programme that has failed to transform the lives of the majority of the people, despite the fact that it is the people of Haiti who must not only construct the future of Haiti but also decide that future

In the negotiations to dismantle apartheid in the early 1990s, Mandela was admirably tough on the political front, but excessively soft on the economic side. In the end, Madiba settled for a lopsided economic deal that disinherited his people. But he wasn’t alone in doing this

Pro-poor investment in key sectors like agriculture would hit all three of Kenya’s birds with one stone — job creation, poverty and cost of living. But the current government, like previous ones, is only interested in dazzling mega-infrastructural projects funded by loans but which are of little real economic value

Many Ivorians are convinced that Laurent Gbagbo’s arrest, transfer and detention at the International Criminal Court is a political decision that perpetuates France’s maneuvers to keep the Ivory Coast under her sphere of influence. The restoration of Ivory Coast is impossible without Gbagbo

It appears the All Progressives Alliance (APC) is an amalgam of personalities from Nigeria’s main opposition parties. Yet, will the APC strengthen the party in terms of an ideology and build a mass base or continue to consort with unsavoury figures from Nigeria’s past? And for what purpose?

In the future, South Africa will explode into a racial Armageddon unless the crimes committed under apartheid are addressed following the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) that was the handwork of Nelson Mandela

The Toronto-based Biko Rodney Malcolm Coalition (BRMC) played an important role in isolating those African musicians who collaborated with the reviled apartheid regime and celebrating those who culturally boycotted South Africa. This history is important for us to remember

The debate surrounding privatization of public enterprises is a popular and on-going concern of scholars, public administrators and concerned citizens the world over. In privatizing Nigeria’s refineries many issues need to be considered and carefully implemented in order to ensure that the privatization benefits Nigerians

Fundamentalism is a significant social problem that has secular and also religious manifestations. It’s roots are psychological and the cure lies in nonviolent strategies to resist the violent behaviours of fundamentalists which are important and necessary

Around one billion people receive conditional cash transfers today, which have been praised as the magic bullet for poverty eradication. Such programmes are being implemented in Latin America and Africa. But they raise numerous ethical questions

Contempt for Africans is still so strong in Germany that the government sees no point in returning to Namibia the human remains of the massacred Herero and Nama peoples. Further, Germany is unwilling to offer an apology and compensation