THE ANC'S WAR AGAINST APARTHEID, Umkhonto we Sizwe and the liberation of South Africa

268pp., illus., paperback, Indiana University Press, Bloomington, 2018

ISBN: 9780253032294

Stephen Davis uses oral testimonies and the heroic myths that were constructed after 1994 to demonstrate that the history of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing of the ANC, is more complicated and ambiguous than previous accounts suggest, revealing the contradictions of the liberation struggle and its political manifestations.

“This is an important and timely study, highly readable, solidly researched, and well written. It provides a fascinating and provocative engagement for those interested in histories of liberation, armed struggles, and informal armed formations.” Nicky Rousseau, University of the Western Cape

“Stephen Davis charts new territory in a bold and lively fashion. Apart from furthering our knowledge and understanding of MK, he contributes significantly to scholarship on liberation movements more broadly. Essential reading.” Gary Baines, author of South Africa's Border War

Stephen Davis is Associate Professor of History at the University of Kentucky.