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Kenya's War of Independence: Mau Mau and its Legacy of Resistance to Colonialism and Imperialism, 1948-1990
Kenya's War of Independence restores Kenya's stolen history to its rightful place, stripped of colonial interpretations. In this expanded and revised version of his 1986 booklet, Kimaathi, Mau Mau's First Prime Minister of Kenya , Durrani covers Mau Mau's resistance to colonialism and neo-colonialism and reflects on its ideology, organisation and achievements. He sees Mau Mau in the larger context of Kenya's war of independence and looks at the influence of organised, radical trade unions as the engine of resistance, linking economic with political demands of working people. Additional chapters document the post-independence resistance by the underground December Twelve Movement-Mwakenya. Durrani captures the dynamism of transition from colonialism to "Imperialism replaced colonialism, African elites replaced White Settlers, neo-colonial government replaced colonial government. Resistance changed from the War of Independence to War of Economic Independence. Worker and peasant resistance is evident once again. History is on the march".
450 pages, Paperback
Published February 8, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 12, 2021
A comprehensive breakdown of the crimes against Kenya by the Brutish and the resistance that took place. Starting from the earliest anti-colonial resistance all the way to post colonial resistance, it contains a large amount of information of resistance in Kenya. At times gripping, at times a textbook, it has provided me with a good introduction to a broad variety of issues. Breaking down the context of anti-colonial resistance, with ideas cross pollinating between countries like Kenya, India, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Sudan, resistance to the Queen and her agenda crossed racial and religious boundaries.
Touted as a kikuyu movement, the author breaks down the myth of Kenyan resistance being confined to the 1 tribe. From the Somali youth league, to Kamba fighters, or a sikh gunmaker secretly supplying mau mau in the forest, the resistance to the brutish british crossed all lines of society. Understanding the infrastructure and strategy of the mau mau was particularly interesting as a blueprint for modern Kenyan unity. It certainly explains why Indians are a 44th tribe and wazungus are not.
Beyond this, the detailed and researched documentation of the atrocities committed by the British were also frankly shocking. The lack of acknowledgement or discussion, of nazi like atrocities, committd by a generation touting themselves as heroes, hit painfully close to home. The generation that fought in ww2, built concentration camps for millions of Kenyans, in the 1950s. It seems little was learned and the 'greatest' generation was equally capable of the evil they claimed to eradicate.
The author also highlights post-colonial regimes, the autocratic nature of the later governments and the movements against them. In addition, the whitewashing of Kenyan history to exclude the mau mau.
A truly impressive book, equal parts inspiring and horrifying, it has certainly inspired me to learn more about Kenyan resistance. Continue to read and study freedom fighters !
Touted as a kikuyu movement, the author breaks down the myth of Kenyan resistance being confined to the 1 tribe. From the Somali youth league, to Kamba fighters, or a sikh gunmaker secretly supplying mau mau in the forest, the resistance to the brutish british crossed all lines of society. Understanding the infrastructure and strategy of the mau mau was particularly interesting as a blueprint for modern Kenyan unity. It certainly explains why Indians are a 44th tribe and wazungus are not.
Beyond this, the detailed and researched documentation of the atrocities committed by the British were also frankly shocking. The lack of acknowledgement or discussion, of nazi like atrocities, committd by a generation touting themselves as heroes, hit painfully close to home. The generation that fought in ww2, built concentration camps for millions of Kenyans, in the 1950s. It seems little was learned and the 'greatest' generation was equally capable of the evil they claimed to eradicate.
The author also highlights post-colonial regimes, the autocratic nature of the later governments and the movements against them. In addition, the whitewashing of Kenyan history to exclude the mau mau.
A truly impressive book, equal parts inspiring and horrifying, it has certainly inspired me to learn more about Kenyan resistance. Continue to read and study freedom fighters !
November 7, 2022
An outstanding, if terribly edited, Marxist analysis of Kenya’s little studied War of Independence, one of the first anti-colonial wars in Africa.
Although more commonly known in the West as the ‘Kenya Emergency’ or the ‘Kikuyu Affair’, this, as the author correctly argues, is nothing more than an attempt by imperialism to de-legitimize the Kenyan peoples just struggle against colonial exploitation as an uprising of ‘uncivilized savages’.
Far from being ‘uncivilized savages’, the Mau Mau were a multiethnic (Kikuyu, Somali, etc., even Indians whom the British imported as labourers supported the struggle, most notably the Marxist trade unionist Makhan Singh), class conscious, and organized resistance movement. Their slogan “Land and Freedom” echoed the peasants of tsarist Russia, and the author draws numerous parallels between Mau Mau’s socialist, anti-colonial, anti-imperialist ideology, organizational methods and tactics with those of the July 26th Movement in Cuba.
All aspects of Kenya’s War of Independence and the Mau Mau are examined in the book: the role of trade unions, women, ethnic minorities (especially Indians whom brought with them the experiences of India’s struggle against British colonialism); the development of Mau Mau ideology, organization, leadership, etc.; the brutality of Britain’s repression, including detaining entire ethnic groups in concentration camps, starvation, and torture; the transition from colonialism to neo-colonialism when the British were defeated; and more.
I’d recommend this book for those interesting in colonial and liberation struggles.
Although more commonly known in the West as the ‘Kenya Emergency’ or the ‘Kikuyu Affair’, this, as the author correctly argues, is nothing more than an attempt by imperialism to de-legitimize the Kenyan peoples just struggle against colonial exploitation as an uprising of ‘uncivilized savages’.
Far from being ‘uncivilized savages’, the Mau Mau were a multiethnic (Kikuyu, Somali, etc., even Indians whom the British imported as labourers supported the struggle, most notably the Marxist trade unionist Makhan Singh), class conscious, and organized resistance movement. Their slogan “Land and Freedom” echoed the peasants of tsarist Russia, and the author draws numerous parallels between Mau Mau’s socialist, anti-colonial, anti-imperialist ideology, organizational methods and tactics with those of the July 26th Movement in Cuba.
All aspects of Kenya’s War of Independence and the Mau Mau are examined in the book: the role of trade unions, women, ethnic minorities (especially Indians whom brought with them the experiences of India’s struggle against British colonialism); the development of Mau Mau ideology, organization, leadership, etc.; the brutality of Britain’s repression, including detaining entire ethnic groups in concentration camps, starvation, and torture; the transition from colonialism to neo-colonialism when the British were defeated; and more.
I’d recommend this book for those interesting in colonial and liberation struggles.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews