Books what you is reading: Page 30 - The Arsenal discussion forum and community: One More in the Tolly

Books what you is reading

Burnwinter

Segway Yeah, that's a shame. I've enjoyed both some of his experiments and some of his more conventional stuff over the years.

jones

Finished A Month and a Day by Ken Saro-Wiwa, an Ogoni writer and activist who dedicated his life to fighting Shell and the Nigerian government for ruining his people's native land and livelihood. The book is a diary from detention/prison which was at times a strenuous read however the ending was as sudden and violent as any I've read, genuinely shook me up at the end. Probably one for @flobaba if he doesn't know it already but anyone with an interest in environmental matters should know his and his people's story.

Claudius

jones could be good. I remember following his story as a kid and his eventual murder by the government. By the way, while Americans grapple for an understanding of Trump, guys like Abacha (who killed Saro Wiwa) are the leadership precedents I most closely associate with Trump. If American politicians had spent more time understanding African politics in the last 40 years instead of constantly lecturing us about governance while they destabilised left leaning countries, then they might have a better appreciation of what Trump is.

jones

Started Cahier d'un retour au pays natal by Aimé Césaire. First bit of poetry or generally piece of fiction I've picked up in years and it manages to be more depressing than most non fiction books I've read lol.

I picked up a version with alternating pages in English and French to improve my French but I barely manage to understand the English version lol. Shouldn't come as a surprise but his mastery of the language is exceptional.

Burnwinter

Nice. Césaire's DISCOURSE ON COLONIALISM seems to be one of the texts that never gets old for scholars of colonial history, a bit like Fanon.

I read it years ago and absorbed its big thesis about European fascism evolving from colonial brutality. Never touched his poetry but I would bet it's great, as his polemic is fiery as fuck.

jones

Burnwinter Burnwinter yea it sure is, you should give it a try the bilingual version is by Bloodaxe with a little prelude to it that gives some background to some of the translations as well, good read.

Discourse on Colonialism is a seminal book in the field although prefer Fanon's works, think the latter aged better. Haven't read Discourse more than once while I must've gone through Les Damnes de la Terre at least five times over 20 years.

jones

Claudius agreed although while Abacha gave the order Shell's role in his execution shouldn't be ignored, they're at least equally as culpable. The government had him assassinated but Shell were the ones who paid for the hit.

Claudius

jones they weren't alone. I remember around the same time, Chevron bringing in Nigerian military to kill 2 protestors who had occupied one of its facilities and were demanding they contribute more to local development instead of just extracting.

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