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Alec Russell

Big Men, Little People: The Leaders Who Defined Africa Hardcover – October 1, 2000

by Alec Russell (Author)

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The Sixties were a heady time for Africans. All over the continent colonial flags were being lowered and Africans looked forward to freedom and a glittering future. But for most of the continent the last forty years have been a shattering experience. Since independence Africans have been terribly betrayed by the Europeans, the superpowers, and tragically, by their own leaders.
Can a new generation of leaders turn the tide? Will they learn from their predecessors' mistakes and fuel a new African renaissance? Or is Africa doomed to further decades of turmoil?
In this witty and informative book, Alec Russell answers these questions by telling the stories of his encounters with Africa's Big Men. Each one represents a theme which has shaped the continent: Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire, the "King of Kleptocracy" whose staggering 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, of course, Nelson Mandela, symbol of reconciliation and hope for an entire continent.
By any measure, this has been a terrible century for Africa. However 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 journalists keeping Moi's tottering regime in Kenya on its toes.
Big Men, Little People is a vividly written portrait of a continent, which avoids the usual stereotypes and dire prophecies and entertains from start to finish.

Print length

256 pages
Language

English
Publisher

NYU Press
Publication date

October 1, 2000
Dimensions

5.98 x 0.94 x 9.02 inches
ISBN-10

081477542X
ISBN-13

978-0814775424
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Sirin and Fine...render visible the complex lives of a profoundly maligned and misunderstood group--Muslim-American youth. They deploy surveys, focus groups, in-depth interviews, and identity maps to explore how Muslim-American youth are creating and re-creating themselves within these politically and socially charged times . . . This is a must read."
-M. Brinton Lykes, Lynch School of Education and Center for Human Rights and International Justice, Boston College

"This book provides a unique, powerful, rich, and nuanced understanding of identity development among Muslim-American youth. The publication of Muslim American Youth is a landmark event in developmental science."
-Richard M. Lerner, Bergstrom Chair in Applied Developmental Science, Tufts University

"This book will be particularly useful for any professional who needs well-researched support for what their instinct tells them their community needs."
-"VOYA Voices of Youth Advocates",

"This work complexly and richly captures the diversity in the lived identities of Muslim-American youth, highlighting the power and potential of mixed methodologies in studying the phenomenon of life on the hyphen."
-"Harvard Educational Review",

"With heart and eloquence, the authors illuminate vital concerns about our society's treatment of Muslim-American youth."
-"Youth Today",

About the Author

Alec Russell is the associate foreign editor of the Daily Telegraph. He was previously its Southern African correspondent, based in Johannesburg, and a stringer reporting on the Bosnian conflict.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ NYU Press (October 1, 2000)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 081477542X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0814775424
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.5 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.98 x 0.94 x 9.02 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #5,781,375 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2,690 in Historical African Biographies (Books)
- #4,881 in Non-US Legal Systems (Books)
- #5,025 in Comparative Politics

Customer Reviews:
8 ratings

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Ms H Grant

Men whose time has passed

Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2001

This is an easy, enjoyable book of interviews with a number of leaders of African countries - leaders who came to power when their newly decolonised countries attained independence. Alec Russell, foreign correspondent for The Telegraph newspaper, had personal interviews with "Big Men" ranging from Dr Hastings Banda to Kenneth Kaunda, and the character of each comes through clearly in the book. The author's main assertion is that most African countries were decolonised too quickly, without enough preparation, that certain "Big Men" were thrust into or stole positions of power for themselves and could not be prised out of them. By drawing a portrait of each unique personality, he also writes the biography of a specific historic period - the "Big Man" era, when men used their charismatic power to become national leaders and, after a while, dictators. This book is a fascinating insight into the post-colonial, triumph of independence and its failures. The reader cannot help but be relieved that these men's era is over - that the "Big Men" themselves have almost all died or lost power, and that there is a move towards 'democracy' at the start of the new century.

One person found this helpful

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Kevin M Quigg

The leaders who failed Africa.

Reviewed in the United States on July 6, 2002

A great read about the political system in much of Africa. Why are African countries failing, and the rest of the world is advancing. It is because of the horrible leadership of much of the African states. Russell details the misrule of Mobutu, Banda, Mugabe, Savambi,and Moi. South Africa under De Klerk and Mandela is an example to the rest of Africa, but even then the possibility exists that Africans may be disappointed by the eventual outcome. In ten more years, I would like to find what Russell says about the possibilities of Africa.

Helpful

an interesting survey

Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2003

THis is an enjoyable read. Informative as it is a good survey of post colonial leaders in Africa. Among those illustrated are Mandela, Neyere, Mobuto, Kenyatta and Eugene Terreblanche. He srveys different styles of leadership from the royal African kings to the dictators who defined the cold war in Africa. He also has a chapter on the white supremecist movement in South Africa. A good introduction to African leaders and politics.

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Top reviews from other countries

SunnyB

Informative and fascinating ....

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 1, 2015

Verified Purchase

Written by a journalist who lived and breathed African politics for some years and made it his business to understand the post-colonial issues. The result is a well informed read - quite weighty and lengthy, but fascinating.

It examines the move into independence of several of the previously colonised countries in sub-Saharan Africa and walks you through the problems they faced. It also looks at the issue of tribalism and its effects on African politics and corruption of those in power. This book gives the reader a better understanding of why making democracy work for Africa, has been so long and difficult process - and indeed something not yet achieved by a large number of African countries.

An in depth synopsis, well worth reading.

One person found this helpful

Peanuts

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 24, 2016

Verified Purchase

Read this and you may realise that irrespective of first world influence Africa is a tribal continent.

EmmyPeabody

Power corrupts

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 17, 2016

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