Jeanne Marie Penvenne

Politics in the Portuguese Empire : the State, industry, and cotton, 1926-1974

The creation of the Estado Novo, 1926-1936 the nature of the Portuguese textile industry the establishment of the cotton-growing regime intervention and industrialization - the Estado Novo, 1936-1946 the textile industry at war - new market, old machinery the intensification of the cotton campaign pretensions of democracy and development, 1946-1958 post-war crisis in the textile industry colonial cotton in transition the decline of the authoritarian regime, 1958-1974 a divided industry the collapse of Portuguese colonialism.

João dos Santos Albasini (1876–1922): the Contradictions of Politics and Identity in Colonial Mozambique

This essay considers the life and career of the leading Mozambican intellectual of the early twentieth century, Joao dos Santos Albasini (1876–1922). A journalist and political activist, Albasini took advantage of the political space opened by Portugals First Republic (1910–26) to challenge the articulation of colonial policy with respect to citizenship, land alienation, labor conscription and opportunities for education and economic participation. As a founding member of the Gremio Africano , a Lourenco Marques social group and political lobby, he helped launch the groups newspapers, O Africano (1908–19) and O Brado Africano (1918–74). With the Gremio newspapers as his vehicle, he sharply contrasted colonial and Republican ideals with the racism and injustice Mozambicans faced in the colonial capital of Lourenco Marques (today Maputo). The Portuguese deemed Albasini a worthy opponent, in part because of his ability to employ Portugals most revered cultural symbols with an ironic twist. The essay considers two sets of questions. The first set relates to the definition and analysis of issues Albasini highlighted and pursued. What was Albasinis political and social vision of possible choices within this seemingly fluid era? How does one recover and interpret Albasinis vision and style? Are their meaning and value to be found within the discourses of class struggle, ethnicity, assimilation and nationalism? To what extent did Albasinis vision shape contestation of political and social policy in colonial Mozambique in the critical first quarter of the twentieth century? A second set of questions confronts Albasinis place in local society and his legacy. Who comprised the Gremio Africano? What was it about Joao dos Santos Albasini that inspired Gremio members and subsequent generations of Mozambicans to view him as a beacon? What did the rest of the local population think about Albasini, during his lifetime and after? What was his impact, and how did it relate to the broader issues of politics, historical agency and identity in early twentieth-century southern African history?

Power, poets and the people: Mozambican voices interpreting history

Leroy Vails hallmark was the richness and texture of his work. In his writing, characters, relationships and processes emerged with clarity and purpose. His exceptional depth as a linguist supported his keen interest in history spoken, chanted and sung in African languages. He was as creative and exhaustive an archival scholar as he was rigorous with recorded and performed oral works. In partnership with Landeg White, the historian and linguist Vail wrote the rhythms, lyrics and body movements of performance into history. In partnership with Vail, the poet and literary critic White became a historian and went on to write better history than most historians.

In step with the times: mapiko masquerades of Mozambique

rope of eschewing the hagiography – that has plagued Mandela scholarship – while being faithful to intellectual detachment and yet still coming out with a very candid and informed survey/analysis of Nelson Mandela’s legacy, a man Barack Obama suggests is the “last great liberator of the twentieth century” regardless of the fact that “many commentators noted that Mandela’s revolution remains incomplete: the sharp inequalities 2

African Workers and Colonial Racism. Mozambican Strategies and Struggles in Lourenco Marques, 1877-1962

This history of the African working class in Lourenco Marques details the individual experiences of gang labourers, stevedores, domestic servants and petty clerks. By doing so, the author focuses attention on the human dimension of colonial racism.

Confronting Leviathan: Mozambique since Independence

Confronting Leviathan describes Mozambiques attempt to construct a socialist society in one African country on the back of an anti-colonial struggle for national independence. In explaining the failure of this effort the authors suggest reasons why the socialist vision of the ruling party, Frelimo, lacked resonance with Mozambican society. They also document in detail South Africas attempts to destabilize the country, even to the extent of sponsoring the Renamo insurgents. The dynamics of that insurgency and its roots in Mozambican society are examined as well as the process of negotiation that brought it to a close. Finally the authors analyze the more recent attempt to construct a liberal capitalist society in Mozambique. From their findings it appears that this may prove no easier than the construction of socialism.