**African Anarchism: The History of a Movement** is a 2001
[book](List_of_Libertarian_Socialist_Books "wikilink") by [Sam
Mbah](Sam_Mbah "wikilink") and I.E. Igariwey that covers the history and
potential for an [anarchist](Anarchism "wikilink") revolution across
Africa.

## Summary

### Chapter 1: What Is Anarchism?

### Chapter 2: Anarchism In History

### Chapter 3: Anarchistic Precedents in Africa

### Chapter 4: The Development of Socialism in Africa

### Chapter 5: The Failure of Socialism in Africa

### Chapter 6: Obstacles to the Development of Anarchism in Africa

### Chapter 7: Anarchism’s Future in Africa

The failures of [capitalism](capitalism "wikilink") and [authoritarian
socialism](Authoritarian_Socialism "wikilink") offer hope for
[anarchism](anarchism "wikilink") as a political project. Throughout
history, the overall tendency in the development of human society has
been toward social equality and greater individual freedom. The pace has
seemed agonizingly slow and there have been innumerable setbacks, but
the overall trend is undeniable. Change has been the one constant in
this development, and it almost certainly will be the one constant in
the future.

Africa has possibly been the worst victim of capitalism and
authoritarian socialism, having its resources bled try from colonialism
and its population annihilated by the tens of millions to fund a slave
trade and imperial ambitions. Multinational corporations and the IMF
have destroyed the ability for the continent to develop itself, leaving
it poor. The rapid loss of wealth have also triggered numerous civil
wars and orgies of violence, disintegrating of the
[state](State_\(Polity\) "wikilink"). Many of these issues are placed on
'natural' racism, but these tensions were flamed by capitalists and
governments to suit their own interests.

An anarchist movement in Africa might be very easy to build, as it lacks
a clear and stable system of states and capitalism. What is needed is a
long-term program of class consciousness building, relevant education,
and increased individual participation in social struggles. For Africa
in particular, long-term development is possible only if there is a
radical break with both capitalism and the state system - the principal
instruments of our arrested development and stagnation. Anarchism is
Africa’s way out.

## External Links

  - [African Anarchism: The History of a
    Movement](https://libcom.org/files/African%20Anarchism%20-%20Mbah%20and%20Igariwey.pdf)
    at [libcom.org](libcom.org "wikilink")
  - [African Anarchism: The History of a
    Movement](https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/sam-mbah-i-e-igariwey-african-anarchism-the-history-of-a-movement)
    at [theanarchistlibrary.org](theanarchistlibrary.org "wikilink")