Cuba, une odyssée africaine (Cuba: An African Odyssey)

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hardy c Outstanding documentary describing the important role Cuba played in liberating Africa from imperialism, despite America's best efforts to protect the apartheid regime in South Africa and the reactionary stooges of Washington (like Zaire.) For those interested in the Cold War and Third World geopolitics, this is real gem. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review walter m "Cuba: An African Odyssey" starts with footage of Nelson Mandela's visit to Cuba, his first international travel after being released from prison, so he can thank Fidel Castro in person for all the help and wondering when he will return the favor by visiting his country. While also shining a spotlight on independence struggles that are hardly given any mention at all, this informative and fascinating documentary shows, much to the dismay of many a moderate, Cuba did a good deal to help the ANC during its long fight. But anyone expecting a one-sided piece of propaganda here is sure to be disappointed, as the documentary points out that while the Cubans were rightly revered by Africans seeking true independence, they also made more than their share of mistakes, starting in the Congo in 1960. The film not only uses little seen archival footage but also interviews from every possible angle with not only Cubans(including Castro himself), but also former representatives of the American CIA and State Department, Soviet Politburo and the white South African Apartheid government. In precise detail, the documentary recounts the Cold War mentality that had such a deleterious effect on many lives in Africa.(One former Politburo member mentioned that any military activity in Europe could have led to World War III, so Africa, with its mineral wealth, became a giant hunting ground.) There is an irony in that Castro and Patrice Lumumba first approached the United States before being rebuffed, and Lumumba's first mistake was making no pretense of his turning to the Soviet Union for aid, thus making him too dangerous to live for some.(At least, he did not seek help from South Africa like UNITA did in Angola.) That's where Cuba comes in, acting independently, espousing an internationalist approach that finally bore fruit in Guinea-Bissau. Later, a lot of the Portugese officers who served there would instigate the Carnation Revolution in their home country which would lead to independence in Angola and then civil war where 500,000 Cuban soldiers would serve, about 10,000 of them dying for their cause. And that's when South Africa comes back into the conversation. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Cuba, une odyssée africaine (Cuba: An African Odyssey)

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