Council for the development of social science research in. This immediately places freire sidebyside with karl marx, where marx in the whole of capital, and all his life, wanted to restore humanity to itself. As you comrades know, our struggle is a political struggle because we week to conquer the rights of our people who should be free, sovereign. Amilcar cabral, who was the secretarygeneral of the african party for the independence of guinea and the cape verde islands paigc, was assassinated by portuguese agents on january 20, 1973. Culture, in this conception, is not about anything. Jun 24, 2015 at the same conference in havana where fidel paid homage to him, cabral delivered 1 of his best known speeches, the weapon of theory.
From the time of his assassination, on january 20, 1973 cabral forever symbolises our determination to freedom as a race and as humanity at large. Pdf resistance and decolonization by amilcar cabral. The first hypothesis implies the genocide of the indi genous population and, creates a void which takes away. History of the paigc allafrican peoples revolutionary. Cabral, one of africas most prescient and principled meaninggiving nationalists. Overcoming the aversion to new theory and new praxis in africana studies and critical social theory 285 bibliography 307 index 415 about the author 431 vii contents.
Through his framing of theory to explain the condition of the african in his country he became a leading thought powerhouse against the structured subalternity of the african in the global order. The weapon of theory is relevant to our course as a whole, and to all our courses, for that matter. January 20th marks the anniversary of the death of amilcar cabral, the father of the independence of guinea bissau and cape verde. The weapon of theory address delivered to the first tricontinental conference of the peoples of asia, africa and latin america held in havana in january, 1966. At a later stage in this course we will return to amilcar cabral and to the great singlevolume compendium of his work called unity and struggle, recently republished in english in south africa. Chilcote, amilcar cabrals revolutionary theory and practice. Pdf revisiting cabrals weapon of theory researchgate. This book, first published in 1983 by cambridge university press and now issued for the first time in paperback with a new preface, tells the story of amilcar cabral who, as head of paigc, guineabissaus nationalist movement, became one. Address delivered to the first tricontinental conference of the peoples of asia, africa and latin america held in. This article retraces the weapon of theory thesis that was propounded by the charismatic, intellectually gifted and revolutionary leader of the liberation forces of guinea bissau, amilcar cabral.
The text for this week download linked below is amilcar cabrals speech on national liberation and culture. The weapon of theory by amilcar cabral 1966 address delivered to the first tricontinental conference of the peoples of asia, africa and latin america held in havana in january, 1966. Address delivered to the first tricontinental conference of the peoples of asia, africa and latin america held in havana. As you comrades know, our struggle is a political struggle because we week to conquer the rights of our people who should be free, sovereign which means selfdirectingconquering our lands national independence.
For information more detailed e, appointedly, on its. Antiracism and emancipation in the thought and practice of cabral. Amilcar cabral tell no lies, claim no easy victories. This, for example, is the case with the socalled theory of progressive assimilation of native populations, which turns out to be only a more or less violent attempt to deny the culture of the people in question. Another theory claims that ahmed sekou toure, jealous of cabrals greater. Amilcar cabrals materialist theory and practice of culture and ethnicity. It is for example so in the case of the socalled theory of the progressive assimilation of native populations, which turns out to be no more than an attempt to destroy more or less violently, the culture of the people. The struggle against our own weaknesses, one expects that his focus is on the struggle against the weaknesses of the national liberation movement which is but one of a few issues that amilcar cabral deals with in his speech the weapon of theory.
In less than twenty years of active political life, cabral led guineabissaus nationalists to the. Jan 01, 1973 amilcar cabral, who was the secretarygeneral of the african party for the independence of guinea and the cape verde islands paigc, was assassinated by portuguese agents on january 20, 1973. Race, the national question, empire, and socialist strategy 2009. Weapons of theory employing amilcar cabral in the present nigel. Amilcar cabral as a nationalist visionary whose political party, later guerrilla movement, was the only successful military take over of an african colonial territory. Under his leadership, the paigc liberated threequarters of the countryside of guinea in less than ten years of revolutionary struggle.
Indeed, many contemporary observers of war use a version of just war theory articulated 20 years ago by u. Oct 31, 2012 in the first sentence of paulo freires pedagogy of the oppressed attached, pleased find chapter 1, or use the link below freire problematises humanisation. The resilience of the guinean people and paigc in the face of brutal military oppression represents the legacy of the great revolutionary panafrican thinkers in general and in particular the ideas. Schiefer, ulrich revolutionary theory and practice. Speeches and writings of amilcar cabral, unity and struggle read, pp. Cabral is among the great figures of our time these texts provide the evidence. The weapon of theory amilcar cabral and africana critical theory reiland rabaka 8. Speech to the first solidarity conference of the peoples of africa, asia, and latin america havana, 3 12 january 1966.
In addition, i occasionally will send out articles and links via the. Kwame nkrumahs position on atheism within the marxist philosophical system occasions doubts in the minds of some revolutionary forces regarding his marxist essence and credentials. This paper explores liberation movement theory from educational and historical standpoints. Cabral is among the great figures of our timethese texts provide the evidence.
The weapon of theory, a speech at the tricontinental conference in. The weapon of theory, speech given at the first tricontinental conference of the. He sees this deficiency as the greatest if not just one of the greatest weaknesses in the national liberation process. This article retraces the weapon of theory thesis that was propounded by the charismatic, intellectually gifted and revolutionary leader of the liberation. There are numerous technical documents produced by amilcar cabral at the time. The weapon of theory, speech at the first tricontinental conference of the peoples of asia, africa and latin america, havana, january. And the case he makes for the weapon of theory, linked to his critique of. The majority of his writings are party documents, and they reflect the very specific. In september 24, in the forests of madina do boe, the paigc unilaterally declared the independence of guineabissau. Tamba mbayo, muslim interpreters in colonial senegal, 18501920.
S amilcar cabral say, harmonising the economic and political domination of these people with its cultural personality. The social and political thought of amilcar cabral. Amilcar cabral, cabralism, and africana critical theory reiland rabaka b. Liberation movement theory is defined as a theory in which the oppressed seek personal, political, and social development through freedom from domination. The assassination of amilcar cabral brought no joy for the portuguese army as the guerrilla fighters intensified their struggle. University of groningen african political philosophy, 1860. At a later stage in this course we will return to amilcar cabral and to the great singlevolume compendium of his work called unity and struggle, recently republished in english in. Pdf files of the reading text are attached, including six more lectures of frederick douglass.
Chilcote amilcar cabral, a littleknown revolutionary intellectual and head of the major nationalist movement fighting the portuguese in their territories of portuguese guine and the cape verde islands, has experienced considerable success as leader of an african independence struggle. National liberation and culture amilcar cabral transition. Amilcar cabral, who was the secretarygeneral of the african pa. As a suitable introduction to the new course we are using amilcar cabral s weapon of theory. Ethnicity, national identity and social conflict content intelligible in terms of anything other than itself. Address delivered to the firsttricontinental conference of the peoples of asia, africa and latinamerica held in havana in january, 1966. Today were going to talk a bit about another important aspect of resistance, which is economic resistance. To those who see in it a theoretical character, we would recall that every practice produces a theory, and that if it is true that a revolution can fail even though it be based on perfectly conceived theories, nobody has yet made a successful revolution without a revolutionary theory. As a suitable introduction to the new course, herewith attached is amilcar cabrals weapon of theory. Cabral 1966 employs this double principle as a weapon of theory for radical struggle by using an indigenous proverb that reinforces the idea of locality as also endogenous.
If any of us came to cuba with doubts in our mind about the solidity, strength, maturity and vitality of the cuban revolution, these doubts. The weapon of theory by amilcar cabral marxists internet archive. As such, i just thought about leaving you with some of his most famous quotes. Apr 21, 1983 this book, first published in 1983 by cambridge university press and now issued for the first time in paperback with a new preface, tells the story of amilcar cabral who, as head of paigc, guineabissaus nationalist movement, became one of africas foremost revolutionary leaders. Amilcar lopes da costa cabral was a bissauguinean and cape verdean agricultural. This extract from cabral s memorial lecture for eduardo modliane is translated by nii osah m1li. In march 1973, the guerrillas acquired a new weapon namely stella, groundtoair missile which effectively neutralized the air superiority of the portuguese army. If any of us came to cuba with doubts in our mind about the solidity, strength, maturity and vitality of the cuban revolution, these doubts have been removed by what we have been able to. Amilcar cabral, in the weapon of theory, primarily addresses the prevailing state of ideological deficiency in the national liberation movement. Asian americans and the third world movement spring 2011 tuesdaythursday 11. Accordingly, if a difference can be shown to derive from rational matters of political economy for example, then it is deemed not to be in any significant sense cultural. Mediations of knowledge and power in the lower and middle senegal river valley. Cabral, amilcar 1969a, revolution in guinea selected texts, translated and. At a later stage in this course we will return to amilcar cabral and to the great singlevolume compendium of his work called unity.
This text was originally delivered on february 20, 1970. Using the weapon of theory to return to the sources of revolutionary decolonization and revolutionary reafricanization 227 7 africana critical theory. In this he says that, national liberation and social revolution are not exportable commodities. Amilcar cabral and the panafrican revolution ameth lo 5. Theory of revolution and background to his assassination. The civil rights and antiwar activism of the 1960s emerged against a background of prosperity for the middle classes. National liberation and neocolonialism 101 study packet peoples liberation university, january 20. Always bear in mind that the people are not fighting for ideas, for the things in anyones head. Article information, pdf download for tribe, class and nation. As the book is out of print and difficult to find, i referred to the transcript of the speech on, which has no pagination, for my citations.
Jan 12, 20 the weapon of theory is relevant to our course as a whole, and to all our courses, for that matter. The weapon of theory a speech given by amilcar cabral in cuba explains the necessity of ideas in defining the peoples struggle for liberation. Amilcar cabral and the concept of revolutionary thoughtpower. This speech was originally delivered on february 20, 1970, as part of the eduardo mondlane memorial lecture series at syracuse university, syracuse, new york.
This model attempts to build collective power through democratic efforts while also challenging the deeply rooted systems of. Jan 12, 2012 the weapon of theory is relevant to our course as a whole, and to all our courses, for that matter. International studies political science africana studies. Presuppositions and objectives of national liberation in relation to social structure. He is one of those africans who contributed indispensable new lessons to the universal revolutionary legacy. This book, first published in 1983 by cambridge university press, and now issued for the first time in paperback with a new preface, tells the story of amilcar cabral who, as head of the paigc, guineabissaus nationalist movement, became one of africas foremost revolutionary leaders. Ris procite, reference manager, endnote, bibtex, medlars, refworks. We find it unfortunate that though he rereads the weapon of theory before his presentation he draws strange conclusions as to what amilcar cabral says therein. They are fighting to win material benefits, to live better and in peace, to see their lives go forward, to guarantee the future of their children. If any of us came to cuba with doubts inour mind about the solidity, strength, maturity and vitality of thecuban revolution, these doubts have been removed by what we have beenable to see. A people who free themselves from foreign domination will be free culturally only if, without complexes and. Che guevara message to the tricontinental 1967 course 4. The weapon of theory amilcar cabral on a stamp of guinea bissau we therefore see that both in colonialism and in neocolonialism the essential characteristic of imperialist domination remains the same. Amilcar cabral an agronomist before his time carlos schwarz 6.
Introductions, investigations, and interpretations a. First, in this sense, it is impossible to achieve such things as labour money, or the. This article retraces the weapon of theory thesis that was propounded by the. Catholic bishops in response to the problems of nuclear weapons and nuclear war. Although all theories that oppose the subordination of women can be called feminist, beyond this common denominator, feminisms vary in terms of what they see as the cause of womens subordination, alternatives to patriarchal society, and proposed strategies to achieve the desired change. National liberation and culture amilcar cabral this text was originally delivered on february 20, 1970. Cabral is the most profound and the most sublime of african revolutionary writers.
International studies political science africana studies mw 12. Always bear in mind that people are not fighting for. Feb 08, 2012 amilcar cabral the text for this week download linked below is amilcar cabrals speech on national liberation and culture. The cabral era strategic and foreign policy objectives richard a. National liberation and culture amilcar cabral transition, no. Amilcar cabraloutstanding leader of african liberation movementa. Amilcar cabral say, harmonising the economic and political domination of these people with its cultural personality.