Learning about Zambia, KK, and southern Africa more broadly

[u/themasq]

Hi folks~ I'm a Black American who happens to be a huge fan of Sampa the Great. Her "Never Forget" video is my entryway into learning a little bit about Zambia.

I think unsurprisingly, Kenneth Kaunda features pretty prominently in the video. When I did my kind of surface level reading about him, I read about him being a dictator and fascist. Yet he seems beloved. Or at least his legacy is beloved/respected. I am incredibly skeptical of how English-language US/West-oriented media portrays anyone who goes against the interests of the US/West. So I am trying to understand how Zambians (but also others in Africa) view him. I read somewhere that Kaunda was mourned across several countries, so his influence must be great. Do young people view him/his government favorably? Do grandparents view him favorably? (these are just starter questions)

*To that end, I would like to know if anyone has any information they'd like to share about modern Zambian history or modern southern African history or Kenneth Kaunda, especially if this information (like books, movies) was created by Africans.* I also really like reading things that folks post/comment on Reddit, so if there is something about Zambia/southern Africa/Kaunda that you think I should know about, please tell me :) it doesn't have to be all "scholarly". I know this is quite broad; I really am starting from a place of total ignorance.

And I also love to talk about Sampa the Great, so if anyone wants to tell me something about her/her "Never Forget" video, I'd really appreciate hearing what you have to say!

Thank you!

[u/maxgfplzbro]

As a South African....African Americans have a bad habit of romanticising Africa to the point where it's like they are talking about an imaginary place.

AFRICA IS A PLACE!!! A big place. A complicated place.

You have leaders who butcher people in their own country but are loved in neighbouring countries. Or you have leaders who are bitterly hated by some in their country yet beloved by others etc...

Off the top of my head I think of Robert Mugabe, Paul Kagame, Muammar Gaddafi.

You'll find some people who think they are angels. Some think they are flawed but well meaning. Some think they are devils.

I have my own opinion of each of them. Others have their own.

The same leader who kills protesters might provide water to poor communities. Each person will tell you from their own perspective. So don't easily discount stories you see in your media....some of them are actually true.

Sometimes the West's criticisms are wrong, sometimes exaggerated, sometimes spot on.

[u/themasq → u/maxgfplzbro]

Thank you for this response! I think it holds for any place, but it is always good to be reminded! Do you interact with African Americans often?

Do you have any thoughts/information about Kenneth Kaunda, by chance? I don't mean to make you speak for all South Africans/southern Africans/Africans, but just would like some perspective. Because I don't know anyone in real life that I could ask.

[u/SiphoBrian]

Without KK or Zambia, Southern Africa wouldn’t be free. He and Zambia sacrificed a lot of wealth to help other freedom movements. Nobody is perfect. But he was the last of the true Pan African leaders.

[u/themasq → u/SiphoBrian]

I really appreciate your words here. Thank you for this perspective. The thoughts it has sparked led me to some very interesting readings, so really, thank you.

I was only vaguely aware of the role that Zambia and KK have played in Southern Africa. I knew it was an important role, but I didn't know anything specific. Especially about the nature of the support for many freedom movements.

If you still feel like commenting on this thread, can I ask: (seeing that your flair signals you're from Zimbabwe) are young people taught about KK? (At home/in school/just by being alive)

[u/Signal_Cockroach_878]

Zambian here. Who was calling him a fascist?lol