Mozambique’s Opposition had DC Allies During the Cold War, but Maputo is Forgotten Amidst Current Conflict

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Central African Republic, Cold War, FRELIMO, Heritage Foundation, Invisible Children, Joseph Kony, MDM, Mozambique, Mozambique Presidential election, RENAMO, Zimbabwe

At the beginning of the year I noted that the DC policy community may come to regret the lack of focus on the situation in the Central African Republic following the forced departure of the incumbent President (and I reiterated those concerns a few months later).  I still find it strange that in a situation where the media portrays a Muslim minority taking control of a Christian majority nation via force and where Hezbollah is alleged to have some sort of presence, DC Africa watchers are not taking greater notice of this situation.  It is particularly odd that the Joseph Kony crusaders (like Invisible Children and Enough) are not being more visible during this conflict in light of claims that CAR’s President is negotiating for his surrender.  However, outsourcing diplomacy on this issue to France should help the US taxpayer.

Another situation marked by a distinct lack of interest in DC securocrat circles, though not as grave as that in the CAR, is the deteriorating security and political situation in Mozambique.  In October, RENAMO repudiated the 1992 Rome Peace Accord that ended the country’s long running civil war.  In recent months, RENAMO has launched attacks on civilians and government installations, resulting in numerous fatalities.  RENAMO is based very close to the Zimbabwean border and these actions have brought strong warnings from Harare, although as far as I can tell there has not been significant regional concern (and what of Zim following the July elections?).

Amidst this surge in violence, municipal elections were recently held.  Although the ruling FRELIMO party continues to dominate the political scene, the MDM, a breakaway faction of RENAMO, now governs three of Mozambique’s four largest cities.  In the 1980s, Cold War politics led to RENAMO opening an office within the conservative DC think tank, the Heritage Foundation.  Presidential elections for Mozambique are less than a year away.  Although I recognize that history has moved on from Cold War intrigues, I am very surprised that the DC Africa scene has not exhibited a greater interest in these tensions, particularly in light of Mozambique’s enhanced economic fortunes as of late.

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The Smithsonian Honors Nelson Mandela and Examines Punk in Southern Africa

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Evicted, Harare, Ivan Kadey, Kalahari Surfers, Maputo, Mozambique, My Africa Is, National Wake, Nelson Mandela, Nosa Garrick, Punk in Africa, Smithsonian Museum of African Art, South Africa, Zimbabwe

Lead singer of former interracial South African Punk band performing with guitar at far right (Nelson Mandela on wall)

Earlier today, I dropped by the Smithsonian Museum of African Art to check out a documentary on Punk music in southern Africa.  In early 2012, I saw one of my favorite African films courtesy of the museum, so I was optimistic about this film, despite lacking interest in the genre of music it explored.  The Museum, like so much of the world right now, is paying tribute to Mandela, and I was greeted by his image as I entered the building.  Meanwhile, the film, Punk in Africa, looks at the development of that genre in South Africa, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe from the 1970s to the present.  The producer of the film, Jeffrey Brown was on hand to engage in Q&A and one of the protagonists gave a brief live performance.

Good Things at the ASA

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African studies, African Studies Association, FRELIMO, impostors in Africa, Kwara State University, Marcus Garvey, Mozambique, RENAMO, UNIA

I ventured up from DC for the Friday sessions of the 56th annual meeting of the African Studies Association.  I missed the first session and I was presenting at another, so I only got to attend two sessions (which collectively constitute hundreds of panels).  Fortunately they were both outstanding.

Afro-themed Tales of my Cowardice*: Walking to Public Transport at Night in the US and Africa

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cowards in Africa, Greyhound in Africa, Johannesburg, Mozambique, Park Station, Tete, transit in Africa, walking in African cities, Zimbabwe

I ventured up to Baltimore for the day on Friday to present my research at the Association of Africa Studies Meeting (expect a brief post on that tomorrow).  It was great weather, I like to save money, and enjoy getting myself places on my own volition so I walked from the Greyhound Station to Harborfront hotel where the conference was being held.  It was a confusing walk (due to construction and the waterway) on my way there in the morning and it was downright terrifying on the way back at night.  Keep reading for some of my personal reflections on scary walks to public transport in Africa or in the US to attend African events, in descending order of terror.