ABSTRACT
What can revolution imply for Africa? In the following discussion I take my cue from the compassionate Guinean who relieved me of the growing anxiety which I had developed at being labelled a ‘redfoot’ when, in 1979, I was doing research in Guinea-Bissau. I had worried a great deal about this, echoes of red terror in mind, until the tale of ‘redfeet’ was unravelled for me by this kind soul who had given me a lift. ‘You see’, he said like a schoolteacher, ‘since we had to gain independence through armed strug gle and since we are committed to socialism, we have attracted the attention of all of you, Europeans and Americans. Can’t manage a revolution at home so you’re looking for one in the Third World. First, it was China, then Vietnam, then Cuba, then Algeria. Today it is us. In a few years you will tell us that our revolution has failed and you’ll move on to some other place: Western Sahara perhaps?’ I protested, but to no avail, that I was no ‘redfoot’ but an academic. ‘Yes, of course’, he said, grinning.
