African Leaders Who Influenced History: Issue 3

Author: Lu Ting'en
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-11-01
Features: The African Studies Center at Peking University was established in October 1998. The center was founded to integrate the African studies resources of various departments at Peking University, strengthen and promote African studies at the university, and advance the development of African studies in China. Its goal is to enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the people of China and African countries, as well as to foster exchanges between Chinese and international African scholars. Since its establishment, the center has successively organized a series of major activities, such as the "International Symposium on the Development of China-Africa Friendly Relations," which was attended by over 50 scholars from 12 countries, including China, Egypt, Tanzania, Nigeria, Morocco, Cameroon, Uganda, Angola, South Africa, and Chad. The center has also hosted the "Training Course for Economic and Trade Management Officials of Arabic Countries" and the "Training Course for Economic and Trade Officials of French-speaking African Countries." Additionally, it has provided consulting services for the China-Africa Cooperation Forum meetings held in 2000 and 2003. Currently, the center is a member unit of the China Ministry of Education's Expert Group for Educational Aid to Africa. The center also edits and publishes a series of African studies books, which timely reflect and introduce the achievements and developments of African studies at Peking University and in China. Two special issues, "China and Africa" (2000) and "Africa: Change and Development" (2002), were published in 2000 and 2002, respectively. This book reviews 23 contemporary African political figures and arranges them in chronological order based on their birth dates. These influential leaders, who have shaped the course of African history, are prominent figures on the African political stage. Although their experiences vary significantly, they can all be broadly categorized as follows: Haile Selassie, Kenyatta, Bourguiba, Bwani, Senghor, Nkrumah, Nasser, Mandela, Sékou, Touré, Nyerere, and Kaunda are the older generation of nationalist leaders who played crucial roles in securing independence for their countries and promoting post-independence development, as well as advancing the Pan-African movement. Mugabe, Bouteflika, Masire, Mubarak, Hassan II, Mobutu, Obasanjo, Bongo, and Kisekho represent the transitional generation of nationalist leaders who have served or are currently serving to further develop their countries and strengthen cooperation among African nations. Salim, Mbeki, and Museveni are a new group of leaders who emerged in the 1980s and 1990s, living in an era of rapid economic globalization. They are committed to the great cause of "African Renaissance," striving for lasting stability in African countries, seeking unity, and pursuing common development.