IN 2013, SOUTH AFRICAN SOLDIERS WERE DEPLOYED AS PART OF THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY (SADC) TROOPS WITHIN THE UNITED NATIONS’ FORCE INTERVENTION BRIGADE (FIB), WHICH SUCCESSFULLY DEFEATED THE M23 REBEL GROUP. THIS OPERATION INVOLVED COLLABORATION WITH OTHER SADC NATIONS, NOTABLY TANZANIA AND MALAWI. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RWANDA AND SOUTH AFRICA HAS BEEN STRAINED, LARGELY DUE TO THE PRESENCE OF RWANDAN DISSIDENTS IN EXILE IN SOUTH AFRICA. KEY FIGURES AMONG THESE EXILES INCLUDE FORMER HEAD OF INTELLIGENCE PATRICK KAREGEYA, WHO ARRIVED IN SOUTH AFRICA IN 2008, AND THE FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE RWANDAN ARMY, KAYUMBA NYAMWASA, WHO FOLLOWED IN 2010.

Lexicographer Kory Stamper notes that by the 1930’s, in the US, the word “thug” meant a gangster but in the 1960’s and 70’s, civil rights protestors began to be branded with the label, as well as those a part of the anti-Vietnam War movement—usually one and the same. The racial revolts of the 60’s—more commonly known as the race “riots”—which spread across the urban and rural US were caused by the racial inequalities that the civil rights movement protested against.

On the 8th of March 1971, “The Fight of the Century” was taking place in Madison Square Garden in New York City between undefeated heavyweight champions Muhammad Ali and Joe Fraizer. Fraizer held the title but Ali hadn’t lost it by defeat, he was stripped of his belt and had his boxing licence suspended. This followed his refusal to register for the military draft in 1967, claiming exemption as a minister of the religion of Islam; Ali had yet to convert to Sunni Islam (later holding an appreciation for Sufism) and was still a member of the Nation of Islam.

Western imperialism has profoundly influenced the socio-political landscape of many nations, especially in Africa, where colonialism's legacy remains contentious. The imposition of Western values and governance disregarded indigenous cultures, leading to lasting ramifications. Colonial powers exploited resources and labor, undermining local economies and autonomy. Education systems introduced by colonizers minimized local knowledge and altered narratives of history and identity, often viewing local populations as inferior. Today, the consequences manifest as economic disparities, social unrest, and cultural dislocation. Movements for decolonization and cultural reclamation emphasize the need to honor indigenous legacies. In a world still echoing imperialism, marginalized voices reclaim narrative space through art and literature, asserting their own stories against a historically dominant Western perspective.