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Revolution In Zanzibar: An American's Cold War Tale
The Cold War exploded in Zanzibar in 1964 when African rebels slaughtered one of every ten Arabs. Led by a strange, messianic Ugandan, Cuban-trained factions headed the rebels, making Zanzibar (in the eyes of Washington) a potentially cancerous base for the communist subversion of mainland Africa. Exotic Zanzibar -- fabled island of spices, former slave-trading entrept, and stepping-off point for 19th century expeditions into the vast interior of the Dark Continent -- had succumbed to the terror of 20th century revolution and Cold War intrigue. In the vivid, eyewitness tradition of The Bang Bang Club and The Skull beneath the Skin , Donald Petterson weaves an engrossing tale of human drama played out against a background of violence and horror. As the only American in Zanzibar throughout the revolution, Petterson reports with the inside authority of a highly placed diplomatic observer, illuminating how the current troubles in Zanzibar are rooted in the Cold War and the revolution of 1964.
304 pages, Paperback
First published April 8, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 27, 2015
This book is great! It gives a American diplomatic eye-view of the scene in Zanzibar before, during, and after the revolution.
Is it totally accurate? I would really have no easy way to verify it anyways. Is it biased? Perhaps. But from everything I can see, Donald does a fine job and seems to report things very fairly.
He seems to be more concerned about reporting facts than putting a "spin" on things or giving interpretations, which is a good thing! Far from being "bland", this book is written very well and did a fine job of captivating my attention.
Please do yourself a favour, if you are interested in the often turbulent history and politics of East Africa, get this book!
Is it totally accurate? I would really have no easy way to verify it anyways. Is it biased? Perhaps. But from everything I can see, Donald does a fine job and seems to report things very fairly.
He seems to be more concerned about reporting facts than putting a "spin" on things or giving interpretations, which is a good thing! Far from being "bland", this book is written very well and did a fine job of captivating my attention.
Please do yourself a favour, if you are interested in the often turbulent history and politics of East Africa, get this book!
March 26, 2008
The author's son is a coworker of mine. He thought I'd like it. It is a nicely written book. I enjoyed reading it.
Coincidentally, I met the author, years before he wrote this. I visited Zimbabwe when he was the US Ambassador there and met him at the embassy.
Coincidentally, I met the author, years before he wrote this. I visited Zimbabwe when he was the US Ambassador there and met him at the embassy.
December 9, 2021
The political development of Zanzibar, Karume's closeness with Communist nations like East German, Russia and China and having Marxists in Revolutionary Government —Babu, Hanga, Mahfoudh etc threaned US to take action and reconsider Nyerere's vision of uniting Two countries so as to control the communist influence.
Generally, if you don't have enough time to read the whole book, just read Chapter 11 called RED TIDE RISING. The central message of the book is there.
Here is the excerpt:
On March 8, I went to the playing fields on the outskirts of town near the site where, only three months earlier, the independence ceremony had been held. Some 10,000 people stood sweltering in the midafter-noon sun while President Karume spoke. Karume was presented by Babu, who himself had been introduced to the crowd by Ali Mafoudh, dressed as usual in his Cuban combat fatigues.That it was these two,and not any of the African nationalists,who shared the dais with Karume was not a good sign.
Working my way to the front of the crowd so I could hear clearly, I took notes as Karume, speaking forcibly in good Swahili, declared that thenceforth,“the People’s Republic of Zanzibar”was a one-party state.
The Afro-Shirazi Party would be the only political party in the coun-try. Next, he announced that all land was nationalized and that all property,including plantations,that former governments had given or sold to capitalists now belonged to the government.All racially based private clubs—“Hindu, Bohora, Arab, Comorian, etc., etc.”—were nationalized.
Karume got his loudest applause when he told the crowd the new government promised that by June 1,1964,less than three months away, every inhabitant of Zanzibar would have a better way of life. He spoke extemporaneously.Two days later, the government released a statement with further details of the new policy.It explained that the better way of life by June 1 included a promise of full employment for all the people of Zanzibar and Pemba. Furthermore, the government would immedi-ately set up good homes for the care of the elderly, and promised that “every modern equipment will be installed in these homes.” These promises would turn out to be the first of many that Karume’s govern-ment would be unable to fulfill.
The statement referred to previous governments as “reactionary”and “puppets”and labeled capitalists as “exploiters.”The Communist jargon, nationalization of all land, and seizure of private property were seen in the West as clear signs that Babu and company were calling the shots and that Karume was under their spell. The worry in Washington and London about where Zanzibar was headed went up a notch
Generally, if you don't have enough time to read the whole book, just read Chapter 11 called RED TIDE RISING. The central message of the book is there.
Here is the excerpt:
On March 8, I went to the playing fields on the outskirts of town near the site where, only three months earlier, the independence ceremony had been held. Some 10,000 people stood sweltering in the midafter-noon sun while President Karume spoke. Karume was presented by Babu, who himself had been introduced to the crowd by Ali Mafoudh, dressed as usual in his Cuban combat fatigues.That it was these two,and not any of the African nationalists,who shared the dais with Karume was not a good sign.
Working my way to the front of the crowd so I could hear clearly, I took notes as Karume, speaking forcibly in good Swahili, declared that thenceforth,“the People’s Republic of Zanzibar”was a one-party state.
The Afro-Shirazi Party would be the only political party in the coun-try. Next, he announced that all land was nationalized and that all property,including plantations,that former governments had given or sold to capitalists now belonged to the government.All racially based private clubs—“Hindu, Bohora, Arab, Comorian, etc., etc.”—were nationalized.
Karume got his loudest applause when he told the crowd the new government promised that by June 1,1964,less than three months away, every inhabitant of Zanzibar would have a better way of life. He spoke extemporaneously.Two days later, the government released a statement with further details of the new policy.It explained that the better way of life by June 1 included a promise of full employment for all the people of Zanzibar and Pemba. Furthermore, the government would immedi-ately set up good homes for the care of the elderly, and promised that “every modern equipment will be installed in these homes.” These promises would turn out to be the first of many that Karume’s govern-ment would be unable to fulfill.
The statement referred to previous governments as “reactionary”and “puppets”and labeled capitalists as “exploiters.”The Communist jargon, nationalization of all land, and seizure of private property were seen in the West as clear signs that Babu and company were calling the shots and that Karume was under their spell. The worry in Washington and London about where Zanzibar was headed went up a notch
July 9, 2019
An interesting account of an obscure but fascinating topic; the Zanzibar Revolution.
Essentially, in the 1960s, a group of African radicals were incited to rise up and slaughter a significant proportion of the Arab and South Asian population of the Sultante who had been established there for a couple of centuries. I first found out about this incident from the Italian film "Africa Addio" (about the decolonisation of Africa) which features some quite brutal footage of the massacres that happened there, in the film, Arabs in their white dish-dashes are shown walking in "death marches", where they are subsequently gunned down into open pits.
The racially motivated "revolution" was led by John Okello, a unique Ugandan personality who appeared to blend African Protestantism with Marxism and Africanist Black nationalism in an usual way that warlords in the African Continent (more recent time the wars in Liberia, etc) still do to the present day. A particularly unusual feat considering that Zanzibar is 99% Muslim. Okello's men were sponsored in this by Fidel Castro's Cuba and the Communist Bloc, but also by the Israeli Mossad, in the person of David Kimebe of Iran-Contra fame.
Essentially, in the 1960s, a group of African radicals were incited to rise up and slaughter a significant proportion of the Arab and South Asian population of the Sultante who had been established there for a couple of centuries. I first found out about this incident from the Italian film "Africa Addio" (about the decolonisation of Africa) which features some quite brutal footage of the massacres that happened there, in the film, Arabs in their white dish-dashes are shown walking in "death marches", where they are subsequently gunned down into open pits.
The racially motivated "revolution" was led by John Okello, a unique Ugandan personality who appeared to blend African Protestantism with Marxism and Africanist Black nationalism in an usual way that warlords in the African Continent (more recent time the wars in Liberia, etc) still do to the present day. A particularly unusual feat considering that Zanzibar is 99% Muslim. Okello's men were sponsored in this by Fidel Castro's Cuba and the Communist Bloc, but also by the Israeli Mossad, in the person of David Kimebe of Iran-Contra fame.
September 16, 2022
Who doesn't love an aromatic, ambrosial tale of reprisal--teeming with delineations of beatings, decapitations, human flesh torched & mutilations? Indeed, this may appear macabre--but when you read the history of the oppressed Zanzibari's, their retribution has you buoyantly serving as their apologist! The most lurid account: Arabs being castrated, then impetuously fed the product of the severing. The mortality quantum of Arab & Indian islanders were, allegedly, 20,000 and 2,000, respectively. Unfortunately, we'll never know if those figures are veracious, as they vary as abundantly as the quantity of torture methods applied to the hapless victims. My only con was the brevity of the book. I was so engrossed by its content, I voraciously craved more!
July 15, 2024
Insightful, with a good mix between personal anecdotes and high level (political) summaries.
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July 18, 2009The experience of the only American to remain in Zanzibar during the entire short-lived 1964 revolution. Particularly interesting since I was there a little over a year ago and can picture many of the places. Would go back to Stone Town in a heartbeat. One of those “magical” places like Antigua (Guatemala), Bali (Indonesia), Bruges (Belgium), and Sarajevo (Bosnia-Herzegovina).
December 11, 2008
A little dry and overly-detailed, but good historical perspective from an American foreign service officer who was posted on Zanzibar before and after the revolution in 1964.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews