Big Men, Little People : Encounters in Africa

by Alec Russell

For five years Alex Russell was the "Telegraph's" man in Africa. In this witty and informative book, he looks at Africa through his encounters with its Big Men. Each one represents a theme which has shaped Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire, the "King of Kleptocracy" whose corruption crippled Zaire, Jonas Savimbi, the life-long guerrilla and symbol of the Cold War's destructive legacy on the continent, the quixotic Hastings Banda, the ultimate product of colonialism and Nelson Mandela, symbol of reconciliation and hope for an entire continent. Despite Africa's 20th-century record, Russell detects signs of hope in the fledgling human rights troupe he encounters deep in the steamy heart of the Congolese jungle and in the group of journalist keeping Moi's tottering regime in Kenya on its toes.

Genres: Africa, History, Politics

Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Reza Amiri Praramadhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the turn of 20th century, Africa was also swept under the wave of democratization caused by the end of the Cold War. The author of this book is a seasoned journalist who managed to gain opportunity to interview some of the Big Men, who ruled over Africa. After reeling under colonial powers for so long, the wind of change brought opportunities for Africans to rule their destinies by themselves. However, some of them are definitely more hungry for power than anybody else. Set in the 1990s, this book discussed about how the Big Men, from Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire and Hastings Banda of Malawi to Nelson Mandela of South Africa and Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe dealt with the wave of democratization, to see their rule of the game suddenly change and how the deal with it. Throughout the book, three main problems of Big Men's rule of Africa are discussed, that is Corruption, Cult of personality, and Tribalism.

[Nancy Parker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good overview of African political events in the 1990's and the "Big Men" who ruled over specific countries.