The following are some impressive books on colonial and post-colonial Africa that I want to give a nod to. Eventually, I may reread the books so I can write the full reviews they deserve but in the meantime I will give them a few words here.
I recommend these phenomenal books with caution and a heavy heart. The following is not light reading. Africa under colonial rule was a very brutal place and today many of the nations emerging from under colonial rule are volatile and steeped in tragedy. Entire governments rise and fall, and stories of wars, rebellions and coups litter our world news, and we hear of genoicide, ethnic cleansing, and other government-sanctioned atrocities. It should be obvious that the following books are not cheerful books. They can be difficult to read. However, I believe it’s important to be aware of these horrors and their causes, because these events are not from the distance past, they have occurred in our lifetime and are still happening. Books like these serve a very critical role in our conscience.
With that out of the way:
Shake Hands With The Devil: The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda by Roméo Dallaire
Lieutenant-General Dallaire wrote this book to record his experiences as head of the UN peacekeeping team sent to Rwanda in 1993/94 following Rwanda’s civil war, during the Rwandan Genocide. On the political front, the book gives an insightful look into the events that caused and contributed to these terrible events, and an informative look at all the major players in the unfolding drama. Dallaire slams the ineffectiveness of the UN in Rwanda and all the nations who turned a blind-eye when they had the power to step in and stop the killing of hundreds of thousands but didn’t. The book chronicles not just the events that occurred, but also his personal emotional difficulties as he stood helpless while surrounded by unimaginable atrocities.
The Devil Came On Horseback: Bearing Witness to the Genocide in Darfur by Brian Steidle
This book focuses on the Darfur situation in Sudan, from the perspective of a former Marine working for the African Union. Steidle’s job was to document and monitor conflicts between the warring Sudanese factions and the government (supposedly under a cease fire agreement). He witnessed many horrible events, often with sufficient evidence to suggest they were supported or ordered by the government, but was forbidden to intervene, unable to do anything other than make notes and take pictures. Following his resignation, Steidle made it his mission to spread the word about the situation in Darfur, going before governments, the UN, doing speaking engagements throughout the world and working with several non-government organisations.
This book on Amazon.com
The Graves Are Not Yet Full: Race, Tribe and Power in the Heart of Africa by Bill Berkeley
This book investigates the causes behind why modern Africa has faced so much political and ethnic turmoil through close looks at Liberia, Rwanda, Congo/Zaire, Sudan and South Africa. Berkeley’s hypothesis — that the tragedies that have occurred are fabricated by the people in power as a form of control — has been controversial as simplistic, but the book is worth the well read whether you arrive at the same conclusion or not. The author does very well to support his assertions with detailed examples and persuasive arguments, leaving his premise, at minimum, thought-provoking and worth considering. The book is extremely thorough (although it does not give equal coverage to all the countries addressed), giving the reader a very clear understanding of how the atrocities in these places unfolded and developed.
King Leopold’s Ghost by Adam Hochschild
Venturing further into the past, this book is actually about the Congo under colonial rule by King Leopold II of Belgium, beginning with its early exploration until its exploitation under the king’s thumb. The story of the Leopold II and his use of the Congo as a tool for his greed (until it was eventually wrestled from his claws by the Belgian government) is intriguing. The book is a graphic and disturbing look at what life was like under Colonial rule and harshly criticised those who have implied otherwise (both in the past and even today). Not all depressing, the book also talks about the people who brought devoted their lives and called attention to the issues in an effort to end the terrible exploitation.
We Wish To Tell You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed Along With Our Families by Philip Gourevitch
This book takes a close look at the genocide in Rwanda. It is a different approach than that seen in Dallaire’s book, written by a journalist after the genocide and based heavily on interviews with survivors (both victim and perpetrator). It includes the story of hotel manager Paul Rusesabagina that was later made into the film Hotel Rwanda, but also the previously untold stories of many other Rwandans. It is a gruesome but valuable picture of the events, and the circumstances and political powers that caused and perpetuated such evil.
In The Footsteps of Mr. Kurtz by Michela Wrong
Although this book begins with coverage of the Congo as early as King Leopold II as it set the stage, the book is about Mobutu Sese Seko’s presidency over Zaire following the assassination of Patrice Lumumba. Mobutu is well known for his corruption and excesses, living in ridiculous palaces and pocketing billions of dollars in foreign money while his country — rich in resources — lived in stunning poverty, death & disease and in terror of its government. The book is an intriguing look at Mobutu as a man and a leader, and how he was able to pull off such shocking things. For all his flaws and evils, Mobutu was charismatic, a keen politician and absolutely fascinating. Wrong attempts to make sense of why such a man was able to utterly destroy his own people and country over the course of decades while simultaneously being much loved (and financed!) by the West.
The first three books were also made into documentaries. I have seen both Shakes Hands With the Devil and Devil Came on Horseback; both were very good but inferior to their written counterparts. Shake Hands was much more personal, focusing heavily on the psychological impact on Dallaire. Devil Came on Horseback was solid but felt abridged compared to the book. I have not seen the film King Leopold’s Ghost.
* On a final note, I want to add a disclaimer. My use of any positive adjectives to describe these books refers to the writing style, the readability, and the insightfulness of the information contained within. It is dangerous ground to call a book about genocide “wonderful” and I have tried to carefully word my praise for the books to not sound callous.