Illustration by Abro

The African continent suffered immensely at the hands of European imperialist powers who destroyed and plundered its resources, enslaved its people and forced them to work in the North and South Americas or on the great plantations of the Caribbean Islands. As they occupied the territory and ruled over the tribes, the locals were subjected to political exploitation and economic deprivation. However, they learnt the value of liberty, independence and self-respect and three African leaders emerged to play a historical role to retrieve their lost dignity and honour.

In 1791, the half-a-million population of Indian slaves from the French colony Saint Domingo revolted against their white master. The revolution which was an indirect result of the events that occurred in France in 1789 differed from the French and Russian Revolutions because it was initiated by the most exploited population of the slaves, who were neither influenced by an enlightenment movement of thinkers and philosophers nor had an ideological base or ambitious revolutionary parties which could lead them to victory.

These slaves derived their political consciousness as a result of exploitation, degradation and the brutal treatment of their masters. It is a wonder that such a community could produce a dynamic leader who laid the ragtag army of slaves to fight against the most powerful imperial power of the day.

Toussaint L’Ouverture (d.1803) was a slave who served as a coachman to his white master and joined the revolutionary army as a soldier and later rose to higher ranks. He successfully fought against the French army, defeated them and declared the island as the Republic of Haiti.

History teaches us that the need for reconciliation is self-evident

After the successful liberation from exploitation, he now faced the challenge of building a post-revolutionary society. Toussaint had fully realised that the former African slave population was cut off from its cultural roots and had become fully absorbed in French customs, values and traditions.

Therefore, his vision was to build a society after reconciliation with the whites, the Mulattos and the Africans. Therefore, when he asked some white families to come back and take charge of their plantation, this policy of his angered and disappointed his fellow revolutionaries. To them, the object of revolution was not only to get liberation from slavery but also to occupy the land on which they toiled. While Toussaint was determined to follow his reconciliation policy, his cousin, who was a prominent leader, raised his voice against it. Toussaint ordered his execution but his policy of reconciliation failed when he was arrested by the French and sent to France where after languishing for a few years in prison, he died.

After the departure of Toussaint, the revolutionary forces against the French abandoned the policy of reconciliation, expelled the white population and distributed land among the slaves. Tahiti became a black republic which inspired the revolutionary leaders of South America. Simon Bolivar, the great, radical leader once took refuge in Tahiti against the Spanish forces. However, Tahiti experienced different political systems and could not become stabilised and prosperous. It faced the opposition from its neighbours, the great powers of Europe and the United States. It retains its independence despite internal and external challenges.

Another important African leader is Robert Mugabe, who fought against British colonialism and liberated his country which was known as Rhodesia. During the colonial period, a large number of white people settled in this country and ruled over the majority of Africans, occupying vast tracts of landed property and enjoying privileges and concessions as rulers.

After independence, its name was changed from Rhodesia to Zimbabwe. A section of the white population, feeling uncomfortable with the African rule, left the country and returned to England. Mugabe and his government did not follow the policy of reconciliation but allowed the local population to occupy the agricultural land, but had tolerance for those whites who decided to stay back in the country. This policy created an uproar in the West and Mugabe was accused of being a tyrant and dictator. The West boycotted diplomatic relations with Zimbabwe, which is depicted as a failed nation. Still it is surviving against all opposition and trying to end the white hegemony.

Taking yet another example, Nelson Mandela (d.2014) was released from prison after 27 years and elected as the first Black President of South Africa. Although, he and the black population of South Africa suffered humiliation and insult during the Apartheid government, once he assumed power, he and his party decided not to take any revenge against the misdeeds of the white rulers, but strengthen the political government after adopting the reconciliation policy. This democratic revolution did not bring radical changes as a result of a democratic revolution. Though the Apartheid came to an end, the difference between the whites and the blacks continues socially and economically. However, the black population believes that slowly and gradually without any bloodshed, it would replace the white population and control all the state institutions. Nelson Mandela was successful in his policy of reconciliation, while Toussaint failed because of the French betrayal.

Both the leaders of Haitian Revolution and Robert Mugabe had no choice but to adopt the policy of separation to satisfy those who suffered at the hands of the white people. Their reward was the success of the revolution and independence from colonialism. In case of South Africa, the blacks displaced the whites without breaking away from or replacing the old institutions. It will take the black population some time to be rewarded fully for their independence.

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, July 5th, 2015

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