Interviews

More than 130 people were interviewed concerning their participation in the liberation struggle. The focus was on their personal stories; why did they become involved, what did they do and what contacts did they make?

Many of them knew each other and several share memories and momentums, but each and every story is also a unique testimony of personal sacrifices and international friendships in the fight for freedom.

In 2008 and 2009 interviews were also conducted with former activists on Iceland. This was done in an attempt to shed light on Icelandic involvement in the liberation struggles of Southern Africa, as no centralised archives exist on Iceland providing documentation on this involvement as yet.

All interviews by name

Browse all interviews, listed alphabetically by the interviewee's last name.

The list includes the following information:
Name | Interview date | Roles and/or affiliations | Countries concerned

Jump to:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N P R S T U V W

A

Ottilie Abrahams | 1995-03-16 | SWAPO—Student and SWAPO-Democrats in Sweden—Namibia National Front. Director of the Jakob Morenga Tutorial College | Denmark, Namibia, South Africa, Sweden

Ben Amathila | 1995-05-19 | SWAPO—Chief Representative to Scandinavia, West Germany and Austria— Secretary of Economic Affairs. Minister of Information and Broadcasting | Namibia

Dr Elizabeth Amukugo | 2005-06-11 | Member of the Executive Board of the Forum of African Parliamentarians for Education (FAPED) | Namibia, Sweden

Tommy Andersson | 2005-11-30 | Emmaus Stockholm Sweden | Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Sweden

Jaya Appalraju | 1995-09-14 | Student in Sweden. Executive Director of Matla Trust | South Africa, Sweden

Roland Axelsson | 1996-10-31 | SIDA—Regional coordinator of Swedish humanitarian assistance to Southern Africa—Private consultant | Sweden

B

Birgitta Berggren | 1996-03-27 | SIDA—Secretary to the Consultative Committee on Humanitarian Assistance—Head of SIDA’s section for Southern Africa Secretary General of the Swedish NGO Foundation for Human Rights | Sweden

Axel-Ivar Berglund | 2005-09-13 | Swedish missionary | South Africa, Sweden

Tore Bergman | 1997-02-10 | Church of Sweden Mission, Zimbabwe—Member of the Consultative Committee on Humanitarian Assistance | Sweden, Zimbabwe

Lóa Bjarnardottír | 2009-03-02 | Former activist and a professional photographer, currently working at a kindergarden in Iceland | Iceland

Magdalena Bjerneld | 2005-10-13 | Nurse. Africa Groups of Sweden | Angola, Sweden

Stig Blomquist | 1997-01-29 | LO/TCO—Miners International Federation—Regional adviser in Southern Africa | Sweden

Alex Boraine | 1995-09-12 | Progressive Federal Party—Director of the Institute for a Democratic Alternative in South Africa Vice-Chairperson of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission | South Africa

Roelof ('Pik') Botha | 1995-09-12 | National Party—Minister of Foreign Affairs Minister of Mineral and Energy Affairs | Finland, Namibia, South Africa, Sweden, Zimbabwe

Tozamile Botha | 2005-07-25 | Special Advisor to the Minister of Housing, IT Consultant | South Africa, Sweden

Johan Brisman | 2006-03-16 | Assistant Director General | Mozambique, South Africa, Sweden

C

Joaquim Chissano | 1996-05-02 | FRELIMO—Chief Representative to Tanzania—Secretary of Security—Prime Minister in the Transitional Government of Mozambique—Minister of Foreign Affairs—President of Mozambique | Mozambique

D

Georg Dreifaldt | 2005-12-06 | Africa Groups of Sweden and SIDA | Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe

E

Gora Ebrahim | 1995-07-22 | PAC—Secretary of Foreign Affairs Member of the National Assembly | Norway, South Africa, Sweden

Jóhanna K. Eyjólfsdóttir | 2008-10-23 | Director of the Icelandic Section of Amnesty International | Iceland

F

Rev. Rune Forsbeck | 2005-11-17 | Swedish Ecumenical Council | Namibia, South Africa, Sweden

G

Gerald Giose | 1995-12-06 | National Liberation Front/Yu Chi Chan Club—ANC/Umkhonto we Sizwe | South Africa, Sweden

Denis Goldberg | 2005-11-14 and 2006-04-20 | ANC, ex-underground, former political prisoner. Work for the Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry | South Africa, Sweden

John Gomomo | 1996-09-06 | Federation of South African Trade Unions—ANC—South African Communist Party President of the Congress of South African Trade Unions | South Africa, Sweden

Pär Granstedt | 1996-06-03 | Centre Party—Association of Western European Parliamentarians Against Apartheid African European Institute | Sweden

Madi Gray | 2005-09-21 | Journalist | South Africa, Sweden

Kristjan Gúdlaugsson | 2008-10-24 | Former Secretary General of the Communist Party of Iceland | Iceland

Sigþrúður Gunnarsdóttir | 2008-10-23 | Children´s book publisher | Iceland

Margareta Gunnarsson | 2005-09-12 | ISAK. Welfare worker within the Church | South Africa, Sweden

Sigurlaug Gunnlaugsdottir | 2009-02-22 | Historian, currently Publishing Director at the Meteorological Office | Iceland

H

Birger Hagård | 1996-10-09 | Moderate Party | Sweden

Kristinn Halldór Einarsson | 2009-02-24 | Chairman of the Icelandic organisation for the blind and partly sighted | Iceland

Sven Hamrell | 1996-04-10 | Scandinavian Institute of African Studies—Swedish South Africa Committee— Member of the Consultative Committee on Humanitarian Assistance—Director of the Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation—Senior Adviser to the Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation | Sweden

Haukur Már Haraldsson | 2008-10-23 | Lecturer at the Department of Media and Information Technology, Reykjavik Technical College | Iceland

Gunnar Helander | 1996-02-12 | Church of Sweden Mission, South Africa—Founder of the Swedish Fund for the Victims of Racial Oppression in South Africa—Chairman of the Swedish South Africa Committee—Member of the Consultative Committee on Humanitarian Assistance—Vice Chairman of the International Defence and Aid Fund | Sweden

Ragnhildur Helgadóttir | 2009-02-23 | Law professor at Reykjavik University | Iceland

Carl-Henrik ('C.H.') Hermansson | 1996-11-22 | Chairman of the Swedish Communist Party and of the Left Party Communists | Sweden

Gylfi Páll Hersir | 2009-02-22 | Geophysicist | Iceland

Hadino Hishongwa | 1995-03-15 | SWAPO—Chief Representative to Scandinavia, West Germany and Austria Deputy Minister of Labour and Manpower Development | Namibia, Sweden

Lena Hjelm-Wallén | 1997-01-14 | Social Democratic Party—Minister of Education and of International Development Cooperation Minister for Foreign Affairs | Sweden

Rica Hodgson | 1995-09-19 | Congress of Democrats—ANC—International Defence and Aid Fund—Solomon Mahlangu Freedom College. Secretary to Walter Sisulu at the ANC Head Office | South Africa

Sigvarður Ari Huldarsson | 2009-02-23 | IT entrepreneur | Iceland

Roger Hällhag | 2005-06-30 | Student organisations, The Isolate South Africa Committee (ISAK) and social democratic organisations | Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Sweden

Bertil Högberg | 2005-09-14 and 2005-09-21 | Consultant. Churches, Bread and Fishes, Africa Groups, ISAK | Angola, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Sweden

I

Dr Indongo | 2005-06-15 | Physician to the Namibian President. Former Deputy Minister of Health | Namibia, Sweden

Mwangala Indongo | 2005-06-15 | Nurse | Namibia, Sweden

Mrs Mary Iyambo | 2005-06-15 | Laboratory Technologist, Head of the Walvis Bay Laboratory, State Hospital | Angola, Namibia, Sweden

J

Anita Jansson | 2005-08-22 | Africa Groups of Sweden (AGIS) | Denmark, Namibia, Norway, South Africa, Sweden, Zimbabwe

Anders Johansson | 1996-11-19 | Journalist and member of the Swedish South Africa Committee—Africa correspondent of Dagens Nyheter—Regional reporter of Dagens Nyheter | Sweden

Christer Johansson | 2005-05-20 | Practical Solidarity | Angola, Namibia, South Africa, Sweden, Zimbabwe

Helena Johansson | ISAK, The Swedish Confederation for Professional Employees | Namibia, South Africa, Sweden

Lotta Jonsson | 2005-12-10 | ISAK, The Left Party | South Africa, Sweden

Paulo Jorge | 1996-04-15 | MPLA—Director of Information Former Minister of Foreign Affairs | Angola

K

Kumbirai Kangai | 1995-07-19 | ZANU—Secretary of Transport and Social Welfare | Sweden, Zimbabwe

Birgitta Karlström-Dorph | 2005-11-29 | Swedish Legation in Pretoria, 1980s | Angola, Namibia, South Africa, Sweden

Peter Katjavivi | 1995-03-20 | SWAPO—Chief Representative to the United Kingdom and Western Europe—Secretary of Information and PublicityVice-Chancellor of the University of Namibia | Namibia, South Africa

Kenneth Kaunda | 1995-07-15 | President of Zambia President of the United National Independence Party | Sweden

Charles Kauraisa | 1995-03-20 | SWANU—Student in Sweden and Chairman of SWANU’s External Council Chairman of Rössing Uranium | Namibia, South Africa, Sweden

Ann-Marie Kihlberg | Gothenburg Africa Group, Gothenburg ISAK | South Africa, Sweden

L

Lúcio Lara | 1996-04-16 | MPLA—Secretary for Organization and Cadres | Angola, Sweden

Tomas Ledin | 1997-03-18 | Swedish musician and solidarity organizer | Sweden

Monica Lindh | 2005-12-03 | Falu Africa Group and Dala-ISAC | South Africa, Sweden

Sören Lindh | 1997-02-04 | Africa Groups in Sweden | Sweden

Stig Lövgren | 1996-02-21 | SIDA—Responsible for procurement to the liberation movements | Sweden

M

Lindiwe Mabuza | 1996-03-14 | ANC—Chief Representative to Sweden and the Nordic countries | South Africa, Sweden

Åke Magnusson | 1997-01-27 | Chairman of the Student Development Fund—Secretary to the 1977 Swedish committee on sanctions against South Africa Executive Director of the International Council of Swedish Industry | Sweden

Sekopi Malebo | 2005-07-15 | ANC, the Lutheran Church | South Africa

Reddy Mampane (aka 'Reddy Mazimba') | 1995-09-17 | ANC—Chief Representative to Tanzania and to Zimbabwe National Director of the African Development Corporation | Angola, South Africa, Zimbabwe

Trevor Manuel | 1995-09-08 | Western Cape Regional Secretary of the United Democratic Front—ANC | South Africa

Ottó Másson | 2009-02-24 | Postgraduate student in Philosophy at the University of Iceland | Iceland

Don Mattera | 2006-04-09 | Author, Poet, Journalist and Activist in 143 organisations | South Africa, Sweden

Thabo Mbeki | 1995-09-08 | ANC—Director of Information, Secretary of Presidential Affairs and of International Affairs. First Executive Deputy President of South Africa | South Africa

Ernst Michanek | 1996-03-19 | Director General of SIDA and Chairman of the Consultative Committee on Humanitarian Assistance—Vice Chairman of the International Defence and Aid Fund | Sweden

Nkutu Moalosi (aka David Kgabang) | 2005-11-25 | ANC office, Stockholm, from the late 1980s | Angola, Mozambique, South Africa, Sweden

Billy Modise | 1995-09-15 | ANC—Student and Chief Representative to Sweden High Commissioner of South Africa to Canada | South Africa

Janet Mondlane | 1996-04-30 | FRELIMO—Director of the Mozambique Institute Former National Director of International Cooperation | Mozambique, Sweden

Kay Moonsamy | 1995-09-14 | ANC—Treasury Department—Treasurer General of the South African Congress of Trade Unions Treasurer General of the South African Communist Party | South Africa

Sankie Mthembi-Mahanyele (aka ‘Rebecca Matlou’) | 1995-09-07 | ANC—Administrative officer at the ANC mission to Sweden and the Nordic countries—Deputy Secretary of International Affairs Minister of Housing | South Africa

Dirk Mudge | 1995-03-18 | National Party—Chairman of the Turnhalle Constitutional Conference Chairman of the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance | Namibia, South Africa, Sweden

Aaron Mushimba | 1995-03-16 | SWAPO — Chief Representative to Angola and to Zambia — Director of Namibia Project Engineers | Angola, Namibia, Sweden

Didymus Mutasa | 1995-07-25 | ZANU—Deputy Secretary of Finance ZANU-PF Administrative Secretary | Zimbabwe, Sweden

Mishake Muyongo | 1995-03-17 | Vice President of the Caprivi African National Union—Vice President of SWAPO— Vice President of the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance President of the DTA Party | Namibia, Sweden

Abel Muzorewa | 1996-11-26 | Leader of the African National Council and UANC—Prime Minister of Zimbabwe-Rhodesia Bishop of the United Methodist Church of Zimbabwe | Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Zimbabwe

N

Miguel N'Zau Puna | 1996-04-17 | UNITA—Secretary General and Political Commissar of the Armed Forces for the Liberation of Angola (FALA)—Leader of the Movement for Democratic Reflection (TRD) | Angola, Sweden

Festus Naholo | 1995-03-15 | SWAPO—Secretary of Logistics SWAPO Coordinator and Secretary of Economic Affairs | Namibia, South Africa, Sweden

Indres Naidoo | 1995-12-07 | ANC—Umkhonto we Sizwe—South African Communist Party. ANC Senator | South Africa

Beyers Naudé | 1995-09-15 | Director of the Christian Institute of Southern Africa—South African Council of Churches. Director of the Ecumenical Advice Bureau | Denmark, Norway, South Africa, Sweden

Ruth Neto | 1996-04-16 | MPLA President of the Organization of Angolan Women (OMA) | Angola, Sweden

Zedika Ngavirue | 1995-03-17 | SWANU—Student in Sweden and Chairman of SWANU’s External Council Director General of the National Planning Commission | Namibia, Sweden

Helena Nilsson Lannegren | Centre Party Youth League (CUF) and Women's League | Angola, Namibia, South Africa, Sweden

Hillevi Nilsson | 1997-02-04 | Africa Groups in Sweden | Sweden

John Nkomo | 1995-07-21 | ZAPU—Secretary of Administration Minister of Local Government and Rural Development | Sweden, Zimbabwe

Karl Gunnar (KG) Norén | 2005-09-06 | ISAK | Denmark, South Africa, Sweden

P

Johan Peanberg | 2005-08-09 | Swedish Municipal Worker’s Union | Guinea-Bissau, Namibia, South Africa, Sweden

Barney Pityana | 1997-01-23 | President of the South African Students Organisation—Black Consciousness Movement—ANC—Director of the Programme to Combat Racism of the World Council of Churches Chairman of the South African Human Rights Commission | South Africa

Hifikepunye Pohamba | 1995-03-15 | SWAPO—Chief Representative to Tanzania—Secretary of Finance and Administration / National Treasurer Minister of Home Affairs | Namibia, South Africa, Sweden

R

Jorge Rebelo | 1996-05-01 | Former FRELIMO—Secretary of Information | Mozambique, Sweden

Lennart Renöfält | Africa Groups and ISAC | Guinea-Bissau, South Africa, Sweden

Albert Ribeiro-Kabulu | 1996-05-05 | MPLA—Director of the Service for Radio and Telecommunications Minister of Industry and Energy Ambassador of Angola to Zimbabwe | Angola, Sweden

Laetitia Rispel | 2006-12-15 | Human Sciences Research Council in Pretoria | South Africa, Sweden

Holden Roberto | 1996-04-17 | President of FNLA | Angola, Sweden

Berit Rylander | Teacher, Sida | Angola, Namibia, South Africa, Sweden

Sten Rylander | Swedish ambassador | Angola, Namibia, South Africa, Sweden

S

Salim Ahmed Salim | 1995-11-16 | Minister of Foreign Affairs and Prime Minister of Tanzania Secretary General of the Organization of African Unity | Sweden

Marcelino dos Santos | 1996-05-03 | FRELIMO—Secretary General of CONCP—FRELIMO Secretary of External Affairs and Vice-President Former Minister of Development and Economic Planning, and President of the National Assembly | Mozambique, Sweden

Pierre Schori | 1996-06-28 | Social Democratic Party—International Secretary—Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Minister of International Development Cooperation | Sweden

Sydney Sekeramayi | 1995-07-27 | ZANU—Student in Sweden—Deputy Secretary of Health, Minister of State for National Security | Zimbabwe, Sweden

Dr Abisai Shejavali | 2005-06-14 | Council of Churches | Angola, Namibia, Finland

Andreas Shipanga | 1995-03-20 | SWAPO—President of SWAPO-Democrats Former Minister of Economic Affairs, Mining and Sea Fisheries in South West Africa/Namibia | Namibia, Sweden

Steingrimur Sigfússon | 2008-10-24 | Chairman of the Left-Green Movement and Member of Parliament | Iceland

Walter Sisulu | 1995-09-15 | ANC—Secretary General. Former ANC Deputy President—Senior adviser to the President of South Africa | South Africa, Sweden

Ndabaningi Sithole | 1995-07-25 | President of ZANU, Chairman of the Zimbabwe Liberation Council and President of ZANU-Sithole President of ZANU-Ndonga | Sweden, Zimbabwe

Sunna Snaedal | Medical Doctor at the Karolinska Hospital, Sweden | Iceland

Anders Stendalen | 2005-10-09 | Swedish Mine Workers Union (Gruv) | South Africa, Sweden

Garth Strachan | 1995-09-10 | ANC—Umkhonto we Sizwe—South African Communist Party—Director of the Education, Resource and Information Project / Voter Education and Election Training Unit Responsible for fundraising at the South African Communist Party | South Africa

Yngve Sunesson | 2005-09-16 | Centre Party Youth League | Namibia, South Africa, Sweden

Gestur Svavarsson | 2009-02-22 | Bank IT Technician | Iceland

Bengt Säve-Söderbergh | 1997-01-14 | SIDA—Head of the Africa section in the Department for International Development Cooperation, Ministry for Foreign Affairs—Secretary General of the International Centre of the Swedish Labour Movement (AIC)—Under-Secretary of State for International Development Cooperation in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs Secretary General of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance | Sweden

Sverker Sörlin | Professor | Angola, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Sweden

T

Nilo Taapopi | 2005-06-13 | Accounting Officer of the City of Windhoek | Angola, Namibia, Sweden

Carl Tham | 1997-01-14 | Liberal Party, later Social Democratic Party—Director General of SIDA and Chairman of the Consultative Committee on Humanitarian Assistance Minister of Higher Education | Sweden

Birna Thórdardóttir | 2008-10-24 | Former activist, currently cultural guide in Reykjavik | Iceland

Mohammed Tikly | 2005-07-25 | Coordinator of the Somafco Collection, Batlagae Trust | Denmark, Finland, Norway, South Africa, Sweden

Andimba Toivo ya Toivo | 1995-03-17 | SWAPO—Secretary General Minister of Mines and Energy | Namibia, Sweden

Josiah Tungamirai | 1996-06-07 | ZANU/ZANLA—Political Commissar Former Air Marshal | Sweden, Zimbabwe

U

Ben Ulenga | 1995-03-16 | SWAPO—Secretary General of the Mineworkers Union of Namibia Deputy Minister of Wildlife, Conservation and Tourism | Namibia, South Africa, Sweden

V

Jorge Valentim | 1996-04-18 | UNITA—Secretary for Information | Angola, Sweden

Howard Varney | 2005-11-26 | Student Activist, End Conscription Campaign, Legal Resources Centre | South Africa, Sweden

Jacinto Veloso | 1996-04-29 | FRELIMO Former Minister of Security, Economic Affairs and of Cooperation | Mozambique, Sweden

Dick Urban Vestbro | 2005-08-10 | Africa Groups of Sweden and early ISAK | Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, South Africa, Sweden

Sérgio Vieira | 1996-04-29 | Former Minister of Security and of Agriculture | Mozambique, Sweden

W

Magnus Walan | Uppsala Africa Group and ISAK | South Africa, Sweden

Bo Westman | Sida | Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, Sweden

Solveig Wickman | 2005-09-05 | LO-TCO Secretariat for International Trade Union Development Cooperation, Sweden | Namibia, South Africa, Sweden, Zimbabwe

Lester Wikström | 2005-11-22 | Church of Sweden | Namibia, South Africa, Sweden, Zimbabwe

Craig Williamson | 1996-04-23 | National Party—Military intelligence officer and commander of foreign operations— Deputy Director of the International University Exchange Fund—Member of the President's Council. Executive Outcomes | South Africa

David Wirmark | 1996-02-22 | Liberal Party—General Secretary of the World Assembly of Youth—Member of the 1977 committee on sanctions against South Africa—Ambassador of Sweden to Tanzania Board member of the Swedish International Liberal Center | Sweden

Per Wästberg | 1996-02-28 | Founder of the Swedish Fund for the Victims of Racial Oppression in South Africa—Swedish South Africa Committee—Board member of the International Defence and Aid Fund—Vice President of Swedish Amnesty International—Member of the Consultative Committee on Humanitarian Assistance—Chief editor of Dagens Nyheter Member of the European Academy of Arts and Sciences | Sweden

Interviews by country

The interviewees have also been listed according to the various countries their stories concern.

A person can therefore be listed under Sweden, because he/she is Swedish, but also under Angola and under Mozambique for having worked in/with those countries or related liberation movements.