Colonial Hell in Africa

LORRAINE HANSBERRY

LES BLANCS 1970

This play came out in an extra-particular period for the world, and first of all for Africa. In 1970 North Africa, Saharan Africa (apart from Spanish Morocco), and Central Africa including the ex-Belgian Congo were independent. The only colonies that were left then were the Spanish and Portuguese colonies, and of course, Rhodesia and South Africa were in a strange situation, since they became independent under white violent colonial leadership at first imposing some kind of total rejection of the black population, known as apartheid in South Africa.

But so, from Angola and Mozambique down to South Africa, everything remained to be conquered, independence, majority rule, Black leadership, equality, etc. The Portuguese Revolution happened in 1974 and Franco died in 1975, and their colonies were finally granted their independence. Zimbabwe became independent in 1980, meaning ruled by the Black majority population. South Africa had to wait some more and in 1990 the transition could start after the liberation of Nelson Mandela.

Then, in 1970, this play was speaking very directly either about the last, white-governed, African colonies or semi-colonies, or it was alluding to a slightly older period, like for example, the ex-Belgian Congo liberated in 1960 under Patrice Lumumba…