Mr. Rotberg has seen things which no other historian has seen before—in particular, files relating to all the different kinds of local welfare and other associations of the 1930s and ’40s out of which the nationalist politics of the 1950s and ’60s emerged. This is exciting stuff, because it shows in convincing detail how far, when the moment for action came, the nationalist leaders were able to build upon an existing network of local associations in which the germ of nationalism was already present. Those who still believe that African nationalism was the work of a handful of unrepresentative agitators should read Rotberg’s book and think again… Rotberg has written a story of which every Malawian and Zambian will feel proud.

Mr. Rotberg has seen things which no other historian has seen before—in particular, files relating to all the different kinds of local welfare and other associations of the 1930s and ’40s out of which the nationalist politics of the 1950s and ’60s emerged. This is exciting stuff, because it shows in convincing detail how far, when the moment for action came, the nationalist leaders were able to build upon an existing network of local associations in which the germ of nationalism was already present. Those who still believe that African nationalism was the work of a handful of unrepresentative agitators should read Rotberg’s book and think again… Rotberg has written a story of which every Malawian and Zambian will feel proud.

Mr. Rotberg has seen things which no other historian has seen before—in particular, files relating to all the different kinds of local welfare and other associations of the 1930s and ’40s out of which the nationalist politics of the 1950s and ’60s emerged. This is exciting stuff, because it shows in convincing detail how far, when the moment for action came, the nationalist leaders were able to build upon an existing network of local associations in which the germ of nationalism was already present. Those who still believe that African nationalism was the work of a handful of unrepresentative agitators should read Rotberg’s book and think again… Rotberg has written a story of which every Malawian and Zambian will feel proud.