Guns and Gandhi in Africa: Pan-African Insights on Nonviolence, Armed Struggle and Liberation

Book Synopsis: Guns and Gandhi in Africa: Pan African Insights on Nonviolence, Armed Struggle and Liberation in Africa examines the strategies and tactics used in achieving an end to colonialism, from the point of view of those who led the liberation movements. Reporting upon the candid reflections of leaders throughout the continent, the book reviews how methods of struggle influenced the independent governments of the past five decades.

Based on dialogues with a broad spectrum of Africans, who have played key roles in both revolution and reform, the authors suggest that, despite great problems facing the whole continent, there is much room for hope and possibility. Participants in these discussions--excerpts of which are shared here for the first time--include Ela Gandhi, Kenneth Kaunda, Graca Machel, Sam Nujoma, Julius Nyerere, Jerry John Rawlins, Salim Ahmed Salim and Walter Sisulu.

Based on some ten years of collaboration, 'Guns and Gandhi in Africa' also chronicles a unique Pan-Africanist peace perspective. The authors, coming from different generational, regional, and cultural frameworks, reflect upon their own activist and academic experiences. In particular, Bill Sutherland's work from his move to the Gold Coast in 1953 up to his decades in Dar-es-Salaam set the context of much of the dialogues. His interactions with such figures as Kwame Nkrumah, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, C.L.R. James and other is shared in both personal reflections and political analysis. An active participant in three historic Pan-African conferences, as well as in countless peace and nonviolence seminars and trainings, Sutherland's story helps bridge the gaps between diverse and sometimes conflicting progressive peoples.