Screening 'W.A.R Stories: Walter Anthony Rodney'- by Clairmont Chung

By Sanaa & Culture

Clairmont Chung exchanging a word about his book & documentary on
Walter Rodney with a fan from South Africa
at Soma Book Cafe in Dar in April 2013

On the 13^th of April'13 at Soma Book Café in regent estate near Morocco, Dar es Salaam; Clairmont through Soma invited a few inquisitive minds to come see the screening of a documentary titled ‘W.A.R Stories: Walter Anthony Rodney.’ 

Portraying the life of an activist from Guyana in the Caribbean (Walter Rodney was assassinated in his home country in 1980) through the words of those who knew him. Dr Walter A. Rodney the man in question spent a considerable time in Tanzania as a lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam during 1966-1968 and 1970-1973 where he wrote his most popular book ‘How Europe Underdeveloped Africa’.

The documentary as well accompanied a book on the same figure titled ‘Walter A. Rodney-A promise of Revolution'-written by Clairmont Chung. This book which was launched in the same month in Dar es Salaam at UDSM grounds. Was on display at the entrance with a red cover and a silhouette of a man with an Afro, wearing glasses and looking rather handsome in a rough 1970’s kind of way.

Abby Sykes accompanied by Present but Absent band
(with Sodoki (extreme right) and Vita Malulu left)
at the screening of W.A.R in Dar

As you got through the entrance you would be met with a live band ‘Present as Absent’ with their leader ‘Sodoki’ playing the guitar to smooth afro fusion beats. Also performing with them was Abby Sykes the guitar man, whose music coincidentally has a strong Caribbean influence.

Before long Clairmont was on stage after being introduced by Demere Kitunga the Director of Soma Book Café; in his address which was short and heartfelt he said. “I really appreciate you for coming. It’s good to know that you’re interested in history and the history of Africa…Walter A. Rodney believed in the uplifting and self emancipation of everyone…”

It was my first time hearing of this man Walter, already having spoken to Clairmont before the screening of the documentary I learned. Clairmont grew up in Guyana but now works as an attorney in New York. He had made this documentary within six years from his own pocket. The reasons being he was touched and inspired by this figure growing up and knew there’s more that the African youth of today can learn from him. "...By knowing more positive African male figures in their lives apart from Jay Z..." this he adds with a chuckle.

Finally it was time to see the documentary; though the subject matter was serious the soundtracks ensured a light vibe making it friendly to scholars as well as everyday individuals like myself. This involved reggae music when scenes came from Guyana and Jamaica and some bits of Afro pop fusion and acoustic drumbeats when the scenes came to Dar es Salaam.

The figures in the documentary included mono interviews with Amiri Baraka- the late acclaimed African American Author, Poet and Activist who met Walter in Dar es Salaam. Asha Rodney the daughter of Walter Rodney as well our own Prof Issa G. Shivji the retired Law Professor who was the first chair of the ‘Mwalimu Nyerere Pan African Studies’ at UDSM and Mr Walter Bgoya, the Director of ‘Mkuki na Nyota’ the publishing house that published ‘How Europe underdeveloped Africa by Dr Walter Rodney.

Having seen the documentary and now almost finishing the book, it’s with utmost delight to enter a world of African History that I can only recommend you read for yourself through this book available at Soma Book Cafe & TPH.

The documentary may be harder to reach for yourself as it’s not commercialized in his own words when audiences at the café asked where they could get hold of it. “This has been my baby and I strongly believe it shouldn’t be viewed without discussions afterward…”

Among the things I found interesting from the documentary was the assertions from Asha Rodney who mentions how her mother Pat Rodney held things together in the family; how without her it wouldn’t have worked out for them at all.

A still from the documentary that Clairmont Chung created
 in memory of Walter Rodney that he screens
privately around the world this was in Dar at Soma Book Cafe

Highlighting the need to bring to light the stories of women behind strong men activists in the limelight; as the responsibilities that shoulder these men means their family take a back seat. Case in point Walter lost his life at the tender age of 38 leaving three children when he was assassinated by a bomb which was given to him under the ruse of being a walkie talkie.

Also in the documentary was the assertion that Mr Rodney was a scholar who didn’t end his knowledge dissemination in the classroom. This was a man who integrated with the communities of Rasta Farais in Jamaica so much so. That when he was exciled in 1968 from Jamaica.

After learning of the ban, students at UWI, Mona where he was teaching began a demonstration under the leadership of the Guild of Undergraduates, closing down the campus and later gaining momentum from residents throughout the city. Resulting in millions of dollars lost from property damages and young lives being lost from the onslaught of the law enforcement.

It brings me pride that this man was then welcomed to Tanzania where though he had his political differences at times with our Mwl. Nyerere. He as well managed to give such rife knowledge to our university students at the time.

As Walter Bgoya pointed out in the documentary “University of Dar es Salaam back when Walter was here was filled with passionate exchanges on knowledge and social affairs…”

Reading further in the book you have Prof Shivji point out “The students were very militant, and at the revolutionary front…Then in 1968 we established the organ of the University Students African Revolutionary Front which was called Cheche. This was a cyclopedia student journal…In the first issue, Rodney had an article. He wrote something on labor.”

When the documentary finished we had a following discussion which revealed interesting thoughts on the work. Clairmont invited the audience to give their views of the social challenges we face today as Africans and whether we could draw anything useful from Walter's story.

A brave member managed to voice the need for Africans to not get too steeped in the idea of a conspirator from Europe against Africans. Rather that we’re all part of one human whole and any injustice on the Africans should be considered in a global context like any other injustice in the world.

This rose a bit of debate where a friend of Rodney’s who was among the audience responded and I quote “When I read ‘How Europe underdeveloped Africa’ I came to much the same thought as yourself mainly; whilst it was important for Walter to have written that book in that way. We have to remember that text is a text on an earlier one, namely the text by George Padmore about Africa Imperialism…”

A still from the documentary that Clairmont Chung created
 in memory of Walter Rodney that he screens
privately around the world this was in Dar at Soma Book Cafe

Another member didn’t agree, she was a current exchange student in UDSM at the time. Native to Nigeria but citizen of Germany-Olajumoke Adeyanju said “I don’t think you’ll find the solution of African problems by taking a world view, I think we have to reflect upon our selves. I am not saying that we have to segregate ourselves…I think we as Africans have to walk hand in hand and fight against these imperialist impacts”

Perhaps the summation came well from Clairmont himself “…The internal combustion engine that drives the car was invented by an African, the communication system that supports the cell phone was invented by an African, the air-conditioner was invented by an African…the internet was invented by an African descent individual…I could go on and on, the imperialist system doesn’t allow Africans to own knowledge…I don’t disagree with you mind you.

Because in the final analysis if there were no Africans in the world somebody else would pay that price and if they were only Europeans in the world they would be slaves too. In fact they were slaves; it’s the system…when we say Europe we don’t mean white people. We are really talking as Walter I think describes. A system controlled from Europe and its children but could we beat back that system without Europeans, more than likely not…”

As you can see this was one interesting discussion many more spoke including Usu Mallya of TGNP and Kepta Ombati of ‘Akiba Uhaki Foundation’ from Kenya.

Some curious minds at the screening of '
W.A.R Stories-Water Rodney' in
Dar es Salaam-SOMA including singer
songwriter Abby Sykes in the middle 

Walter Rodney the African Activist we were all inspired from who died trying to uphold the working class and oppressed in his country. Was the first African Caribbean man to call Indians black and mentioned toward the end of his life that the blackest man in South America was Fidel Castro. No wonder he could inspire such open discussion on ways forward for our social movements here in the country and with the African Diaspora at large.

Finally our evening came to an end sadly I forgot to ask Clairmont Chung to sign my copy of the book. Still I got a photo; honestly it’s a beautiful thing to engage in a cup of 20^th century African History. 

In a way that inspires and connects you to the larger responsibility we hold as the existing working class generation of this continent and country.

This article was first published in The East African Newspaper with this link to the online copy
http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/magazine/Story-on-the-life-of-Walter-Rodney-comes-to-Dar-/434746-1905612-item-1-11af63pz/index.html