Issue
5 - Concepts of Cabralism: On Cabral’s Intellectual Contributions
Corresponding Author(s) : Bongani Nyoka
Africa Development,
Vol. 42 No. 4 (2017): Africa Development: Special Issue on: ‘Emergence’ on Screen and on Stage
Abstract
This article evaluates Reiland Rabaka’s book, Concepts of Cabralism: Amilcar Cabral and Africana Critical Theory. In the context of calls for knowledge ‘decolonisation’ on the African continent, the book is relevant and important for a variety of reasons. In the first instance, Rabaka traces the genealogy of Amilcar Cabral’s intellectual and political thought to leading figures of the Negritude Movement such as Aimé Césaire and Léopold Sédar Senghor, and then to Frantz Fanon. In doing so, Rabaka argues that, unlike other revolutionaries, Cabral avoided an uncritical regurgitation of orthodox Marxism. Instead, Cabral studied the concrete conditions of his locale not only to lead the liberation struggles of his people, but also to enrich revolutionary theory. In this regard, he was able to critique and, where necessary, dispense with some of the taken-for-granted categories of orthodox Marxism. Ultimately, Rabaka sees Cabral not only as a ‘revolutionary nationalist’ and ‘revolutionary humanist’, but also as a critical theorist. Consequently, he suggests that Cabral should be read as contributing to ‘Africana critical theory’. This article will take up each of these issues in its proper course.
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- Abdullah, I., 2006, “Culture, Consciousness and Armed Conflict: Cabral’s Déclassé/ (Lumpenproletariat?) in the Era of Globalization”, African Identities 4(1): 99- 112.
- Birmingham, D., 1995, The Decolonization of Africa, Athens, OH: Ohio University Press.
- Cabral, A., 1979, Unity and Struggle: Speeches and Writings of Amilcar Cabral, New York: Monthly Review Press.
- Cabral, A., 2007, Unity and Struggle: Speeches and Writings, Pretoria: Unisa Press.
- Césaire, A., 1972, Discourse on Colonialism, New York: Monthly Review Press.
- Chabal, P., 1980, Amilcar Cabral as Revolutionary Leader, PhD Dissertation: Trinity College, University of Cambridge.
- Chabal, P., 1983, Amilcar Cabral: Revolutionary Leadership and People’s War, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Chaliand, G., 1969, Armed Struggle in Africa: With the Guerillas in Portuguese Guinea, New York: Monthly Review Press.
- Dadoo, Y., 1973, “Amilcar Cabral: Outstanding Leader of Africa’s Liberation Movements”, African Communist 53(2): 38-43.
- Davidson, B., 1964, “Profile of Amilcar Cabral.” West Africa (April 18), 427. Davidson, B., 1969, The Liberation of Guinea: Aspects of an African Revolution, Baltimore, MD: Penguin.
- Davidson, B., 1981, No Fist is Big Enough to Hide the Sky: The Liberation of Guinea and Cape Verde: Aspects of an African Revolution, London: Zed Books.
- Davidson, B. 1984, “On Revolutionary Nationalism: The Legacy of Cabral.” Latin American Perspectives 11(2): 15-42.
- de Braganca, A., 1976, Amilcar Cabral, Lisbon: Iniciativas Editorias. Fanon, F., 1961, The Wretched of the Earth, London: Penguin.
- Gordon, L., 1998, “The Problem of Biography in the Study of the Thought of Black Intellectuals”, Small Axe 4: 47-63.
- Gordon, L., 2000, Existentia Africana: Understanding Africana Existential Thought, New York: Routledge.
- Gordon, L., 2006, Disciplinary Decadence: Living Thought in Trying Times, Boulder, CO: Paradigm Publishers.
- Hamilton, R., 1979, “Lusophone African Literatures: Amilcar Cabral and Cape Verdean Poetry”, World Literature Today 53(1): 49-53.
- Ignatiev, O., 1984, Amilcar Cabral, Moscow: Progresso.
- Ignatiev, O., 1990, Amilcar Cabral, Muscova: Edicoes da Agencia de Imprensa Novosti.
- Irele, A., 1986, “The Negritude debate”, In A. Gerard (ed.), European-Language Writing in Sub-Saharan Africa, pp. 43-72. Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing.
- Jinadu, A., 1978, “Some African Theorists of Culture and Modernization: Fanon, Cabral and Some Others”, African Studies Review 21(1): 121-138.
- Lenin, V., 1999, Imperialism: The Highest Stage of Capitalism, Sydney: Resistance Books.
- Mafeje, A., 1981, “On the Articulation of Modes of Production”, Journal of Southern African Studies 8(1): 123-138.
- Mafeje, A., 1991, The Theory and Ethnography of African Social Formations: The Case of the Interlacustrine Kingdoms, Dakar: CODESRIA Book Series.
- Mafeje, A., 1992, In Search of an Alternative: A Collection of Essays on Revolutionary Theory and Politics, Harare: SAPES Books.
- Magubane, B., 1968, “Crisis in African Sociology”, East African Journal 5(12): 21–40. Magubane, B., 1971, “Amilcar Cabral: Evolution of Revolutionary Thought”, Ufahamu: A Journal of African Studies 2(2): 71-87.
References
Abdullah, I., 2006, “Culture, Consciousness and Armed Conflict: Cabral’s Déclassé/ (Lumpenproletariat?) in the Era of Globalization”, African Identities 4(1): 99- 112.
Birmingham, D., 1995, The Decolonization of Africa, Athens, OH: Ohio University Press.
Cabral, A., 1979, Unity and Struggle: Speeches and Writings of Amilcar Cabral, New York: Monthly Review Press.
Cabral, A., 2007, Unity and Struggle: Speeches and Writings, Pretoria: Unisa Press.
Césaire, A., 1972, Discourse on Colonialism, New York: Monthly Review Press.
Chabal, P., 1980, Amilcar Cabral as Revolutionary Leader, PhD Dissertation: Trinity College, University of Cambridge.
Chabal, P., 1983, Amilcar Cabral: Revolutionary Leadership and People’s War, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Chaliand, G., 1969, Armed Struggle in Africa: With the Guerillas in Portuguese Guinea, New York: Monthly Review Press.
Dadoo, Y., 1973, “Amilcar Cabral: Outstanding Leader of Africa’s Liberation Movements”, African Communist 53(2): 38-43.
Davidson, B., 1964, “Profile of Amilcar Cabral.” West Africa (April 18), 427. Davidson, B., 1969, The Liberation of Guinea: Aspects of an African Revolution, Baltimore, MD: Penguin.
Davidson, B., 1981, No Fist is Big Enough to Hide the Sky: The Liberation of Guinea and Cape Verde: Aspects of an African Revolution, London: Zed Books.
Davidson, B. 1984, “On Revolutionary Nationalism: The Legacy of Cabral.” Latin American Perspectives 11(2): 15-42.
de Braganca, A., 1976, Amilcar Cabral, Lisbon: Iniciativas Editorias. Fanon, F., 1961, The Wretched of the Earth, London: Penguin.
Gordon, L., 1998, “The Problem of Biography in the Study of the Thought of Black Intellectuals”, Small Axe 4: 47-63.
Gordon, L., 2000, Existentia Africana: Understanding Africana Existential Thought, New York: Routledge.
Gordon, L., 2006, Disciplinary Decadence: Living Thought in Trying Times, Boulder, CO: Paradigm Publishers.
Hamilton, R., 1979, “Lusophone African Literatures: Amilcar Cabral and Cape Verdean Poetry”, World Literature Today 53(1): 49-53.
Ignatiev, O., 1984, Amilcar Cabral, Moscow: Progresso.
Ignatiev, O., 1990, Amilcar Cabral, Muscova: Edicoes da Agencia de Imprensa Novosti.
Irele, A., 1986, “The Negritude debate”, In A. Gerard (ed.), European-Language Writing in Sub-Saharan Africa, pp. 43-72. Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing.
Jinadu, A., 1978, “Some African Theorists of Culture and Modernization: Fanon, Cabral and Some Others”, African Studies Review 21(1): 121-138.
Lenin, V., 1999, Imperialism: The Highest Stage of Capitalism, Sydney: Resistance Books.
Mafeje, A., 1981, “On the Articulation of Modes of Production”, Journal of Southern African Studies 8(1): 123-138.
Mafeje, A., 1991, The Theory and Ethnography of African Social Formations: The Case of the Interlacustrine Kingdoms, Dakar: CODESRIA Book Series.
Mafeje, A., 1992, In Search of an Alternative: A Collection of Essays on Revolutionary Theory and Politics, Harare: SAPES Books.
Magubane, B., 1968, “Crisis in African Sociology”, East African Journal 5(12): 21–40. Magubane, B., 1971, “Amilcar Cabral: Evolution of Revolutionary Thought”, Ufahamu: A Journal of African Studies 2(2): 71-87.