Thursday, June 13th 1974.

Footage of Samora Machel, the leader of FRELIMO (Frente de Libertação/Mozambique Liberation Front), the African guerrilla movement then seeking independence from Portugal rejecting a peace proposal from the new Portuguese government, a military regime which had overthrown the right-wing authoritarian Estado Novo regime on April 25th 1974.

Speaking at an OAU Summit in Mogadishu, Somalia, Machel described Portuguese colonialism in southern Africa as "the most decadent and corrupt form of foreign domination."

Reuters Text:

The leader of the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo), Mr. Samora Machel, rejected the proposals out of hand. He said the portuguese proposals - which include a referendum and the pledge of self-determination -- were insults to the people of Mozambique.

Mr. Machal described Portugal's policies in Mozambique as "the most decadent and corrupt forms of foreign domination", and he claimed conditions were now favourable for their destruction. The guerrilla leader said constant work by Frelimo had alerted the masses to the justice of their cause and their battle against the Portuguese. Although the territory was still under military occupation, " the manifestations" in all urban centres had demonstrated the solidarity of the Mozambique people.

Without distinction, the people - of all races, ethnic groups, religious beliefs and social origins - were demanding national independence and total adherence to the principles and programmes of Frelimo. Mr. Machel said the determination and unity was forged in clandestine battle, in suffering and in torture, in prison and in concentration camps". He said the ten-year guerrilla war, directed by Frelimo, had strengthened the determination and unity of the Mozambique people against "colonialist aggression." Later in his speech, Mr. Machel referred to the dialogue now under way between Frelimo and the Portuguese Government.

He said it could not develop into proper negotiations until Portugal recognised Mozambique's right to total and absolute independence. He added that Frelimo would also have to be recognised as the Mozambique people's legitimate representative.

Source: Reuters News Archive.

Brass casting, making pottery and firing it, wood carving, spinning, weaving, stamping adinkra cloth, dyeing with indigo, smelting and forging iron, and more. From Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Ghana, Nigeria.

War and the Diamonds of Sierra Leone.

⁣World News Today | 11 MAY 2021 | Eye Africa Tv - Gambia

This year, Europe has seen unprecedented numbers of refugees and other migrants cross over its borders - well in excess of 350,000 people, who - driven by fear of war and terror or by poverty and the promise of a better life - have made the treacherous journey by land and sea out of the Middle East and Africa.

Very few of them will have official status or the right documents, most are short of money and don't know how they will survive, but all hope they will find a safe haven - be it temporary or permanent - in a continent that seems peaceful, prosperous and secure. And for some - the fortunate minority - that is indeed what they will find. They will be taken care of. But many won't. Desperate, vulnerable and ever fearful of deportation as illegal immigrants, they will be forced to live on the margins, to go wherever they can, and take on whatever work they can get to survive.

And that can lead them wide open to exploitation.

This is the illuminating story of just one group of last summer's arrivals: migrants into southern Italy who became reluctant recruits in a vast army of casual farm labourers. It is a story that says as much about modern Europe as it does about the migrants as the story touches the tens of millions of the continent's citizens who purchase or consume one of Italy's most famous foodstuffs: its rich, sweet, sun-ripened tomatoes.