rest in peace basil davidson...
*one of the first books i read on african history was 'black mother' by basil davidson. davidson was one of the few white historians who dared tell the truth about africa's rich cultural and historical past.
most books about africa then, were written by blatant liars employed at the 'liar's factory' of western academia to spread more lies and disinformation about african people and our supposed 'lack' of any real historical accomplishments.
this was part of the liar's on-going propaganda war against black self esteem and also of course, to justify european slavery, colonialism and neo-colonialism in africa.
as a teen searching for and building the identity of a young black man, the book 'black mother' helped open my eyes to the truth about my people and helped clear away the 'tarzan /jungle jim/ buckwheat' lies and lifetime of shame that western schools and media had fed us all our days about black people being 'a race of nothings who had never accomplished nothing' --until the white man so graciously arrived with his shining white science and his white jesus , just in the nick of time to save us hopeless blacks from supposed cannibalism, the worship of rocks, and in general, ignorant savagery barely one step above the chimpanzee.
the black man and black woman are the fathers and mothers of the entire human race and the fathers and mothers of the entire world's civilization--but today are everywhere enslaved and everywhere robbed and degraded by our jealous, unworthy offspring who are unfit to rule .
once the lies are cleared away there is no turning back.
rest in peace basil davidson , ashe.
Radical journalist
and historian who charted the death throes of colonialism in Africa
Basil Davidson obituary
Radical journalist
and historian who charted the death throes of colonialism in Africa
Radical journalist
and historian who charted the death throes of colonialism in Africa Basil Davidson obituary
Radical journalist
and historian who charted the death throes of colonialism in Africa
most books about africa then, were written by blatant liars employed at the 'liar's factory' of western academia to spread more lies and disinformation about african people and our supposed 'lack' of any real historical accomplishments.
this was part of the liar's on-going propaganda war against black self esteem and also of course, to justify european slavery, colonialism and neo-colonialism in africa.
as a teen searching for and building the identity of a young black man, the book 'black mother' helped open my eyes to the truth about my people and helped clear away the 'tarzan /jungle jim/ buckwheat' lies and lifetime of shame that western schools and media had fed us all our days about black people being 'a race of nothings who had never accomplished nothing' --until the white man so graciously arrived with his shining white science and his white jesus , just in the nick of time to save us hopeless blacks from supposed cannibalism, the worship of rocks, and in general, ignorant savagery barely one step above the chimpanzee.
the black man and black woman are the fathers and mothers of the entire human race and the fathers and mothers of the entire world's civilization--but today are everywhere enslaved and everywhere robbed and degraded by our jealous, unworthy offspring who are unfit to rule .
once the lies are cleared away there is no turning back.
rest in peace basil davidson , ashe.
Basil Davidson obituary
Radical journalist
and historian who charted the death throes of colonialism in Africa
Basil Davidson obituary
Radical journalist
and historian who charted the death throes of colonialism in Africa
Radical journalist
and historian who charted the death throes of colonialism in Africa Basil Davidson obituary
Radical journalist
and historian who charted the death throes of colonialism in Africa
Basil Davidson, who has died aged 95, was a radical journalist in the
great anti-imperial tradition, and became a distinguished historian of
pre-colonial Africa. An energetic and charismatic figure, he was dropped
behind enemy lines during the second world war and joined that
legendary band of British soldiers who fought with the partisans in
Yugoslavia and in Italy. Years later, he was the first reporter to
travel with the guerrillas fighting the Portuguese in Angola and Guinea-Bissau, and brought
their struggle to the world's attention.
great anti-imperial tradition, and became a distinguished historian of
pre-colonial Africa. An energetic and charismatic figure, he was dropped
behind enemy lines during the second world war and joined that
legendary band of British soldiers who fought with the partisans in
Yugoslavia and in Italy. Years later, he was the first reporter to
travel with the guerrillas fighting the Portuguese in Angola and Guinea-Bissau, and brought
their struggle to the world's attention.
For many years he was at
the centre of the campaigns for Africa's liberation from colonialism and
apartheid, endlessly addressing meetings and working on committees.
Extremely tall and with a shock of white hair, and possessing the
old-fashioned courtesy of the ex-army officer that he was – or even of
the country gentleman that he eventually became after his move to the
West Country – he was an unlikely figure at many of these often
incoherent and sometimes sectarian events, usually run by student
activists and exiles.
the centre of the campaigns for Africa's liberation from colonialism and
apartheid, endlessly addressing meetings and working on committees.
Extremely tall and with a shock of white hair, and possessing the
old-fashioned courtesy of the ex-army officer that he was – or even of
the country gentleman that he eventually became after his move to the
West Country – he was an unlikely figure at many of these often
incoherent and sometimes sectarian events, usually run by student
activists and exiles.
Among his friends were the historians Thomas
Hodgkin, EP Thompson and Eric Hobsbawm. The Palestinian scholar Edward Said placed him in a select band of
western artists and intellectuals with a sympathy and comprehension of
foreign cultures that meant that they had "in effect, crossed to the
other side".
Hodgkin, EP Thompson and Eric Hobsbawm. The Palestinian scholar Edward Said placed him in a select band of
western artists and intellectuals with a sympathy and comprehension of
foreign cultures that meant that they had "in effect, crossed to the
other side".
Born in Bristol, Davidson left school at 16,
determined to become a writer, though he first made his living by
pasting advertisements for bananas on shop windows in the north of
England. Moving to London, he found his way into journalism, working for
the Economist and then as the diplomatic correspondent of the Star, a
now defunct London evening paper.
determined to become a writer, though he first made his living by
pasting advertisements for bananas on shop windows in the north of
England. Moving to London, he found his way into journalism, working for
the Economist and then as the diplomatic correspondent of the Star, a
now defunct London evening paper.
In the late 1930s he travelled
widely in Italy and in central Europe, and his familiarity with its
geography and his capacity to learn its languages made him an obvious
candidate, when the war broke out, for the Special Operations Executive –
seeking to undermine the Nazi regime from within. His self-reliance,
and lack of interest in received wisdom, soon marked him out. When sent
out to Budapest, to stimulate the resistance forces in Hungary, he
crossed swords with the British ambassador, who ordered him to stop
storing plastic explosives in the embassy cellar.
widely in Italy and in central Europe, and his familiarity with its
geography and his capacity to learn its languages made him an obvious
candidate, when the war broke out, for the Special Operations Executive –
seeking to undermine the Nazi regime from within. His self-reliance,
and lack of interest in received wisdom, soon marked him out. When sent
out to Budapest, to stimulate the resistance forces in Hungary, he
crossed swords with the British ambassador, who ordered him to stop
storing plastic explosives in the embassy cellar.
In Cairo, he
worked on plans to drop agents into Yugoslavia, first to the royalists
and then, after much internal argument, to Tito's communist guerrillas.
Davidson was eventually parachuted into Yugoslavia himself, to join the
communists in the uncompromising territory of the Vojvodina, the plain
of the Danube valley across from Hungary. There, his exceptional
physical strength and bravery were tested to the utmost.
worked on plans to drop agents into Yugoslavia, first to the royalists
and then, after much internal argument, to Tito's communist guerrillas.
Davidson was eventually parachuted into Yugoslavia himself, to join the
communists in the uncompromising territory of the Vojvodina, the plain
of the Danube valley across from Hungary. There, his exceptional
physical strength and bravery were tested to the utmost.
When he
returned to Yugoslavia at the end of the war, his companion on the
visit, Kingsley Martin, editor of the New Statesman, recorded how "as we
entered the villages, people would run out crying 'Nicola, Nicola!'
(Davidson's partisan name) and, after kissing him on the cheek, carry us
both into their houses, where it was hard without offence to avoid
getting drunk on Slivovitza."
returned to Yugoslavia at the end of the war, his companion on the
visit, Kingsley Martin, editor of the New Statesman, recorded how "as we
entered the villages, people would run out crying 'Nicola, Nicola!'
(Davidson's partisan name) and, after kissing him on the cheek, carry us
both into their houses, where it was hard without offence to avoid
getting drunk on Slivovitza."
Davidson fought in Yugoslavia from
August 1943 to November 1944, then transferred to the Ligurian hills of
northern Italy. He and his partisan band seized Genoa before the arrival
of American or British forces.
August 1943 to November 1944, then transferred to the Ligurian hills of
northern Italy. He and his partisan band seized Genoa before the arrival
of American or British forces.
The war years marked him for ever.
He fell in love with the comradeship, the trust and the spiritual force
of endurance in the service of an ideal that he found with the
guerrilla fighters. The lessons he learned about the muddle of war were
important for his later work in Africa. In Angola and Guinea-Bissau in
the early 1970s, and in Eritrea almost 20 years later, he found
those same life forces and loved them. The subjective nature of his
response to this history in the making,
to deep friendships made and lost, made very painful the eventual
unravelling of so much that he believed in.
He fell in love with the comradeship, the trust and the spiritual force
of endurance in the service of an ideal that he found with the
guerrilla fighters. The lessons he learned about the muddle of war were
important for his later work in Africa. In Angola and Guinea-Bissau in
the early 1970s, and in Eritrea almost 20 years later, he found
those same life forces and loved them. The subjective nature of his
response to this history in the making,
to deep friendships made and lost, made very painful the eventual
unravelling of so much that he believed in.
The political lessons
were less personally rewarding, since his willingness to collaborate
with communists in battle would lead him in later life to be labelled by
the Foreign Office as a dangerous "fellow traveller". Davidson had
never been attracted to Marxism, but his wartime experiences with
Communist partisans coloured his general attitude towards the cold war
struggle, first in Europe and later in Africa. If communists were
prepared to fight against the Nazis, or later against South African
apartheid and Portuguese colonialism, that caused him no problems.
were less personally rewarding, since his willingness to collaborate
with communists in battle would lead him in later life to be labelled by
the Foreign Office as a dangerous "fellow traveller". Davidson had
never been attracted to Marxism, but his wartime experiences with
Communist partisans coloured his general attitude towards the cold war
struggle, first in Europe and later in Africa. If communists were
prepared to fight against the Nazis, or later against South African
apartheid and Portuguese colonialism, that caused him no problems.
At
the end of the war, a lieutenant-colonel awarded the Military Cross and
twice mentioned in dispatches, he turned again to journalism, working
first for the Times as one of its correspondents in Paris and then
as chief foreign leader writer in London. Out of tune at the Times, and
especially unhappy with the western intervention that crushed the
communist partisans in Greece, he left in 1949 to work for three years
as the secretary of the Union of Democratic Control (UDC),
the campaigning foreign affairs organisation set up by ED Morel during
the first world war.
the end of the war, a lieutenant-colonel awarded the Military Cross and
twice mentioned in dispatches, he turned again to journalism, working
first for the Times as one of its correspondents in Paris and then
as chief foreign leader writer in London. Out of tune at the Times, and
especially unhappy with the western intervention that crushed the
communist partisans in Greece, he left in 1949 to work for three years
as the secretary of the Union of Democratic Control (UDC),
the campaigning foreign affairs organisation set up by ED Morel during
the first world war.
At the same time he joined the staff of the
New Statesman, where he was soon viewed as Martin's heir apparent. It
was not to be. At both the UDC and the New Statesman, he earned the
undying hatred of Dorothy Woodman, Martin's companion, and was accused
of being a fellow traveller – "or worse". Unable to return as a
journalist to the Balkans, because of the cold war, he was taken by
chance to Africa, and the continent soon caught his imagination, never
to let go. Then, through an invitation from a group of South African
trade unionists, he met Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo and other leaders
of the African National Congress, about to launch its campaign
of defiance against the apartheid laws of the Nationalist government.
New Statesman, where he was soon viewed as Martin's heir apparent. It
was not to be. At both the UDC and the New Statesman, he earned the
undying hatred of Dorothy Woodman, Martin's companion, and was accused
of being a fellow traveller – "or worse". Unable to return as a
journalist to the Balkans, because of the cold war, he was taken by
chance to Africa, and the continent soon caught his imagination, never
to let go. Then, through an invitation from a group of South African
trade unionists, he met Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo and other leaders
of the African National Congress, about to launch its campaign
of defiance against the apartheid laws of the Nationalist government.
Injustice,
western hypocrisy and a whiff of revolution were enough to get him
firmly engaged: later, from 1969 to 1985, he was a vice-president of the
Anti-Apartheid Movement in Britain. He produced an important series
about his African journey for the New Statesman, and then wrote a book
about the crimes of apartheid. Soon he was listed as a "prohibited
immigrant", both in South Africa and in other parts
of white-ruled Africa. That area of work was now closed for him.
western hypocrisy and a whiff of revolution were enough to get him
firmly engaged: later, from 1969 to 1985, he was a vice-president of the
Anti-Apartheid Movement in Britain. He produced an important series
about his African journey for the New Statesman, and then wrote a book
about the crimes of apartheid. Soon he was listed as a "prohibited
immigrant", both in South Africa and in other parts
of white-ruled Africa. That area of work was now closed for him.
So
too was the New Statesman. On his return, Martin told him he was "proud
to publish the articles, [but] if you have to hive off to another
paper, I shall obviously understand".
too was the New Statesman. On his return, Martin told him he was "proud
to publish the articles, [but] if you have to hive off to another
paper, I shall obviously understand".
When he was offered a job as
an editor at Unesco, the British government vetoed his appointment.
Again, it was alleged that he was a fellow traveller, and that his
articles were quoted consistently in Moscow. Doubtless they were, since
they were very good, and Soviet reporters had even less access to Africa
than those from the west. Far from being soft on communists, Davidson
was accused during the treason trial of László Rajk in Hungary in 1949
of being an agent of the British secret service, as indeed he had been.
an editor at Unesco, the British government vetoed his appointment.
Again, it was alleged that he was a fellow traveller, and that his
articles were quoted consistently in Moscow. Doubtless they were, since
they were very good, and Soviet reporters had even less access to Africa
than those from the west. Far from being soft on communists, Davidson
was accused during the treason trial of László Rajk in Hungary in 1949
of being an agent of the British secret service, as indeed he had been.
Davidson
was rescued by the Daily Herald (1954-57) and then taken up by Hugh
Cudlipp at the Daily Mirror (1959-62). Encouraged to take an interest in
the Mirror's publishing activities in Nigeria, Davidson made regular
annual journeys through west, central and east Africa on the brink of
independence from colonialism. Soon he was plunged deep into unwritten
African history.
was rescued by the Daily Herald (1954-57) and then taken up by Hugh
Cudlipp at the Daily Mirror (1959-62). Encouraged to take an interest in
the Mirror's publishing activities in Nigeria, Davidson made regular
annual journeys through west, central and east Africa on the brink of
independence from colonialism. Soon he was plunged deep into unwritten
African history.
For a family man with three small sons, this was
not an ideal profession. It was unfashionable, badly paid and meant long
periods away from home. Davidson was no longer a journalist, yet nor
was he a tenured academic. His wife, Marion Young, whom he had married
during the war – she had also worked in SOE in Italy – somehow held
their life together.
not an ideal profession. It was unfashionable, badly paid and meant long
periods away from home. Davidson was no longer a journalist, yet nor
was he a tenured academic. His wife, Marion Young, whom he had married
during the war – she had also worked in SOE in Italy – somehow held
their life together.
Books now began to pour out. The self-taught
Davidson had an elegant prose style, at home with both fact and fiction.
He wrote five novels and more than 30 other books. These were mainly
about African history and included classic textbooks still in use
in both east and west Africa. Davidson was enthused early on by the end
of British colonialism and the prospects of pan-Africanism in the 1960s,
and he wrote copiously and with warmth about newly independent Ghana and its leader, Kwame Nkrumah. He
went to work for a year at the University of Accra in 1964.
Davidson had an elegant prose style, at home with both fact and fiction.
He wrote five novels and more than 30 other books. These were mainly
about African history and included classic textbooks still in use
in both east and west Africa. Davidson was enthused early on by the end
of British colonialism and the prospects of pan-Africanism in the 1960s,
and he wrote copiously and with warmth about newly independent Ghana and its leader, Kwame Nkrumah. He
went to work for a year at the University of Accra in 1964.
Later
he threw himself into the reporting of the African liberation wars in
the Portuguese colonies, particularly in Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde
and Guinea-Bissau. Following in the steps of the great campaigning
journalist Henry Nevinson, who had reported from Angola in 1905, he made
an epic journey on foot half a century later that took him into the
liberated areas of eastern Angola with the Popular Movement for the
Liberation of Angola. The MPLA became the government at independence in
1975 and the epicentre of the cold war struggle in Africa.
he threw himself into the reporting of the African liberation wars in
the Portuguese colonies, particularly in Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde
and Guinea-Bissau. Following in the steps of the great campaigning
journalist Henry Nevinson, who had reported from Angola in 1905, he made
an epic journey on foot half a century later that took him into the
liberated areas of eastern Angola with the Popular Movement for the
Liberation of Angola. The MPLA became the government at independence in
1975 and the epicentre of the cold war struggle in Africa.
Over
the years the elaborate, CIA-run propaganda campaigns in favour of the
MPLA's main rival movement, Unita, led by Jonas Savimbi and aided by the secret
invasions of the apartheid regime, frequently stumbled against
Davidson's authoritative counter-version. His scorn for the mainstream
journalism that swallowed the western line on Angola was legendary. On
Rhodesia, too, both the media and British government's equivocation and
connivance with South Africa's support for the white regime found no
more scathing critic than Davidson.
the years the elaborate, CIA-run propaganda campaigns in favour of the
MPLA's main rival movement, Unita, led by Jonas Savimbi and aided by the secret
invasions of the apartheid regime, frequently stumbled against
Davidson's authoritative counter-version. His scorn for the mainstream
journalism that swallowed the western line on Angola was legendary. On
Rhodesia, too, both the media and British government's equivocation and
connivance with South Africa's support for the white regime found no
more scathing critic than Davidson.
In the 1980s, with most of the
African liberation wars now won – except for South Africa's – Davidson
turned much of his attention to more theoretical questions about the
future of the nation state in Africa. He remained a passionate advocate
of pan-Africanism. In 1988 he made a long and dangerous journey into
Eritrea, writing a persuasive defence of the nationalists' right to
independence from Ethiopia, and an
equally eloquent attack on the revolutionary leader Colonel Mengistu and
the regime that had overthrown Haile Selassie. Davidson was invited to
Havana to discuss the long-running Ethiopia-Eritrean war after the
Cubans threw their weight behind Africa's latest revolution. He was
irritated by the personal enthusiasm of Fidel Castro for Mengistu, and
by the large numbers of Cuban troops sent to help him in his border war
against Somalia – although they did not fight in Eritrea. Davidson
expressed no surprise at Cuba taking on a new African protege, but he
retained his own unfavourable view of Mengistu.
African liberation wars now won – except for South Africa's – Davidson
turned much of his attention to more theoretical questions about the
future of the nation state in Africa. He remained a passionate advocate
of pan-Africanism. In 1988 he made a long and dangerous journey into
Eritrea, writing a persuasive defence of the nationalists' right to
independence from Ethiopia, and an
equally eloquent attack on the revolutionary leader Colonel Mengistu and
the regime that had overthrown Haile Selassie. Davidson was invited to
Havana to discuss the long-running Ethiopia-Eritrean war after the
Cubans threw their weight behind Africa's latest revolution. He was
irritated by the personal enthusiasm of Fidel Castro for Mengistu, and
by the large numbers of Cuban troops sent to help him in his border war
against Somalia – although they did not fight in Eritrea. Davidson
expressed no surprise at Cuba taking on a new African protege, but he
retained his own unfavourable view of Mengistu.
The eventual turn
towards repressive government taken by his friends in the Eritrean
leadership, when other leaders to whom he had been close were imprisoned
in Asmara, was a sad rerun of a similar political trajectory he had
witnessed in post-independence Angola. He did not like talking over
these matters, but he did not disguise his disappointment. Critics from
the right were swift to condemn the early judgments that he had made
about these revolutions that had turned sour, and even some of his
friends would have welcomed more debate.
towards repressive government taken by his friends in the Eritrean
leadership, when other leaders to whom he had been close were imprisoned
in Asmara, was a sad rerun of a similar political trajectory he had
witnessed in post-independence Angola. He did not like talking over
these matters, but he did not disguise his disappointment. Critics from
the right were swift to condemn the early judgments that he had made
about these revolutions that had turned sour, and even some of his
friends would have welcomed more debate.
In 1984 Davidson embarked
on a new career in television, making Africa, an eight-part history
series for Channel 4. He was excellent on screen, bringing to an
unexpectedly wide audience a vision of Africa far from the usual
famine-and-corruption cliches that annoyed him so much. His alternate
version of African reality reached further and deeper than he had
imagined possible, though he continued to write, producing notably The
Black Man's Burden: Africa and the Curse of the Nation-State (1992); the
collection of essays The Search for Africa (1994); and his final book,
West Africa Before the Colonial Era: A History to 1850 (1998).
on a new career in television, making Africa, an eight-part history
series for Channel 4. He was excellent on screen, bringing to an
unexpectedly wide audience a vision of Africa far from the usual
famine-and-corruption cliches that annoyed him so much. His alternate
version of African reality reached further and deeper than he had
imagined possible, though he continued to write, producing notably The
Black Man's Burden: Africa and the Curse of the Nation-State (1992); the
collection of essays The Search for Africa (1994); and his final book,
West Africa Before the Colonial Era: A History to 1850 (1998).
He
received honorary degrees and appointments from many universities,
including Edinburgh, Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, Turin, Ghana and
California, and was also decorated by Portugal and Cape Verde for his
services to their history. Apart from his military medals, the British
state was studiously uninterested in recognising his talents and his
service.
received honorary degrees and appointments from many universities,
including Edinburgh, Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, Turin, Ghana and
California, and was also decorated by Portugal and Cape Verde for his
services to their history. Apart from his military medals, the British
state was studiously uninterested in recognising his talents and his
service.
He relished the irony of being decorated with great
warmth in 2002 by the prime minister of Portugal – once an activist
against the fascist regime that Davidson had done so much to bring down.
And when the Cape Verde government chose to decorate him in 2003 in an
Angolan embassy where the ambassador was a former prominent official of
his old opponent Unita, he remarked drily on the surprising
reconciliations demanded of those who live long enough.
warmth in 2002 by the prime minister of Portugal – once an activist
against the fascist regime that Davidson had done so much to bring down.
And when the Cape Verde government chose to decorate him in 2003 in an
Angolan embassy where the ambassador was a former prominent official of
his old opponent Unita, he remarked drily on the surprising
reconciliations demanded of those who live long enough.
He is
survived by Marion and his sons.
survived by Marion and his sons.
• Basil Risbridger Davidson,
historian and campaigner, born 9 November 1914; died 9 July 2010
historian and campaigner, born 9 November 1914; died 9 July 2010
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