Africa In Retrospect

This episode refutes the claims that African countries have been falling into a debt trap by trading with China.

This episode refutes the idea that World War II politicized and radicalized African servicemen to the point of returning home after the war and leading fight for independence. African Veterans were more concerned with social mobility when they returned from war. Which is why there is evidence of them joining the colonial police forces that repressed nationalist movements as opposed to joining and leading the fight for independence.

This episode puts the Uganda Police's reputation of brutality and corruption into historical perspective. The police's force's reputation for brutality is rooted in the colonial history of the police, while the corruption is linked to the post-independence political turmoil that Uganda went through.

The Ghana Police is believed to be the most corrupt government institution in that country. Apart from corruption, it is also accused of using excessive force or brutality when dealing with peaceful protests. This episode discusses these challenges, and uses the history of the Ghana Police to explain where it all went wrong, and how the colonial legacy has a lot to do with this problem.

This is a brief history of the Kenya Police, from the colonial period up to the post-independence era. In light of the envisaged deployment of the Kenya Police to the Caribbean nation of Haiti, I explore the history of this police force, and share my opinion on whether I think it will succeed in that mission. Other areas discussed are the Kenya Police's alleged brutality and other forms of misconduct.

Episode 2 traces the history of the police in Zimbabwe from colonization and company rule, to independence. Simon explains how the British South Africa Police maintained colonial rule in Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe). Other themes covered on the episode are racial hierarchy, invasions, rebellions, and more.

In this first episode of the Colonial Police and Militaries Series, Simon discusses the history of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). Within the context of of the recent #EndSARS protests, Simon tried to make a connection between the NPF's current reputation and it's history.

In this episode, Simon provides an introduction to police and military forces in British colonial Africa. The episode sets the tone for the series that explores the nature of British colonial rule through the colonial police and militaries.