Book

After the Liberation is a bold political reckoning with the state of post-independence Africa. It asks a haunting question: What happens when those who fought for freedom become the architects of oppression? In this provocative and fearless debut, Emmanuel N. Mwaanikwa unpacks the legacy of Africa’s liberation movements, movements built on dreams of justice, unity, and self-determination, and contrasts them with the tragic failures of the Generation X leadership that followed. He lays bare how the revolutionary ideals of the Baby Boomers were betrayed by their successors, who inherited power but failed to dismantle colonial structures. Instead, they reinforced authoritarian rule, mismanaged economies, and weakened the very democratic institutions they were meant to uphold. Across case studies, from Zimbabwe to Zambia, Namibia to Mozambique, Mwaanikwa dissects how power was hoarded, dissent silenced, and youth disillusioned. He exposes the complicity of foreign powers and corporations in entrenching corrupt regimes, and challenges readers to confront uncomfortable truths about sovereignty, exploitation, and systemic betrayal. But After the Liberation is not merely a postmortem. It is a manifesto for a youth-led awakening, grounded in liberal socialism, civic engagement, and generational responsibility. It calls Africa’s millennials and Gen Z to reject inherited systems of greed and control, and instead reimagine a continent where leadership is accountable, institutions are just, and resources serve the many, not the few. This book is a mirror, a warning, and a call to arms. For activists, students, thinkers, and everyday citizens who believe Africa’s future must break from its post-independence past—this is your blueprint for revolution.