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White Malice

The CIA and the Covert Recolonization of Africa

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About this listen

 Filled with “fascinating information, original research, and bold ideas” (NPR), a revelatory account of how African Independence was systematically undermined by the US

In 1958 in Accra, Ghana, the Hands Off Africa conference brought together the leading figures of African independence in a public show of political strength and purpose. The charismatic Kwame Nkrumah, who had just won Ghana’s independence, led a determined appeal for Pan-Africanism. Young, idealistic leaders across the continent, as well as African Americans seeking civil rights at home, heeded his call. Yet, a moment that signified a new era of African freedom simultaneously marked a new era of foreign intervention and control.

In White Malice, Susan Williams unearths the CIA’s covert operations from Ghana to the Congo to the UN, which frustrated the attempts of Africa’s new generation of nationalist leaders to establish democratic governance. These revelations dramatically upend the conventional wisdom that African nations failed to establish effective, democratic states on their own accord. As the old European powers moved out, the US moved in.

Drawing on original research and recently declassified documents, Williams introduces readers to idealistic African leaders and to the secret agents, ambassadors, and even presidents who deliberately worked against them, forever altering the future of a continent. Africa Military Weapons & Warfare
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Most relevant
I really cared about this book or I couldn't have listened to the audio. The reader's inability to pronounce the names of celebrated Africans, and others, who repeatedly crop up in the text drove me to distraction. The relentlessly uninflected tone that sounded like an AI bot, coupled with an apparently blanket ignorance of any language other English - and even there, there were egregious mistakes (bespeckled for bespectacled) - was sorely trying. The period of history and the events described are so well researched and the story so important that I persevered, suffering all the way. Surely it's part of the production company's responsibility to ensure their readers understand what they're reading and can pronounce names correctly? W-oh-le S (instead of sh) oyinka. Mpa- huge breath-hlele. Paul Robe-e-son. Gbedemah as Ga-ba-demah. Ndjamena as Ndjaminina. (Présence) Africaine as African. Lomé as Lome. Kaunda as Kwanda. Nyerere as Nigh-rer. French words anglicised. Portuguese words mangled. I could go on but I'll spare you. This is a brilliant and important book that's better read than listened to.

Riveting narrative spoilt by cloth-eared reader.

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The level of research to write this book is truly phenomenal. Stories are eye opening and leave you wondering how much information is not discussed regarding historic events of great significance changing the course for Africa and the West indefinitely.

Very interesting book. Highly recommended

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Interesting book - shocking reading. Very tough to keep listening and follow narrative. The reader’s Weird intonation and pauses surprisingly distracting.

tough listening

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Terrible, robotic narration, sounded like an early-day AI recording. Also shameful that the narrator didn’t even bother trying to get the pronunciation of African names right. I’m not even a third into the story and have decided to just go buy the actual book.

Just read the book, don’t bother with the audiobook!

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