Mozambique’s Samora Machel

“Allen the idealist and Barbara the sceptic joined forces to provide us with a portrait of a great African leader that is rich, loving, and incisive.” — Albie Sachs, from the foreword

“An all-encompassing book that covers the major events in Mozambique’s modern history … recommended to all scholars of Mozambique.” — American Historical Review

“Essential reading for anyone trying to understand the impact of Samora Machel on Mozambique and the African continent.” — William Minter, editor of AfricaFocus Bulletin

“Acutely attuned to the politics of memory, the authors scrutinize a diverse—often conflicting—array of public and private archival sources, memoirs, scholarly literature, and oral sources to assess the life of this remarkable, complex African leader.” — Edward A. Alpers, author of East Africa and the Indian Ocean

“Lively, accessible, and ideal for undergraduate teaching and the wider reading public." — Elizabeth Schmidt, author of Foreign Intervention in Africa after the Cold War: Sovereignty, Responsibility, and the War on Terror

“A comprehensive, up-to-date, expanded perspective on Samora Machel’s political thought, his contributions to international socialism, and his leadership. The authors knew Machel, and their exceptional access enriches the text with accounts of his personal life and controversial death.” — Kathleen Sheldon, author of Pounders of Grain: A History of Women, Work, and Politics in Mozambique

“The authors have achieved a compelling narrative of how Samora shaped post-colonial events in Mozambique and how the leader’s personality and life trajectory were transformed by these same events. Students and all those readers interested in learning more about Mozambique’s recent history will find this book a great introductory read.” — Ana Moledo, Connections: A Journal for Historians and Area Specialists