Afrikan Anti-colonial Leaders

Samora Machel of Mozambique

Somora Machel was born September 29, 1913 in a village in southern Mozambique. Machel attended Mission elementary school and completed it. Machel wanted a career as a nurse but he could not afford to pay for this career so he got a job working as a hospital assistant. Machel protested against the fact that black nurses where being paid less than white nurses even though they did the same job. His grandparents, along with his great grandparents were part of the rebellion against Portuguese colonial ruling. Machel's first wife's name was Josina and they got married in 1969 and had a child later that same year. By 1969 Machel had become commander in chief of FRELIMO (Front for the Liberation of Mozambique). In 1970, Machel gained presidency of the organization. In 1974 the Portuguese left Mozambique from being overpowered by the organization and the Mozambique citizens. On June 25, 1975 he became Mozambique's first president. Machel put together principles with FRELIMO that allowed peasants to have school and health clinics. RENAMO was an organization that was created to destroy these things made by FRELIMO. The economy suffered because of these acts. By this time he was married to Graca Machel(who later married Nelson Mandela). Machel died on October 19, 1986 in a fatal plain crash on his way back from an international meeting. Many people believe that this crash was not an accident and was set up by the government. His memory has not left the minds of any Mozambique citizens. He should be known throughout the world, by Afrikan-Americans specifically.