November marks an important historical point in Cuban and Southern African relations. Invited by the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), Cuba landed in Angola in November 1975 and their subsequent military activities led to the defeat of the once mighty South African Army. The door for the liberation of Namibia and South Africa were opened. A slice of this history was captured in a film, Kangamba.

"Kangamba is one of the most serious dramatic films I have ever seen," Fidel Castro said. In his insightful review of the film, the former president reflected on important themes of Cuba's military role in Angola. According to Fidel, "The movie story will show even more impressive episodes where the massive heroism of Cubans and Angolans shone up to the humiliating defeat of apartheid." Fidel gave more than hope, he offered more than he had. Indeed, he is one of, if not the most exemplary of the world leaders of the 20th and 21st centuries.

This film was released to mark the important anniversary of a particular battle that took place at Cangamba, four years after another historic and brilliant military victory at the Battle of Cuanavale. In his reflections, Fidel described the "dramatic experiences" that informed the production of the film as that which was generated from a "wrong Soviet strategy advice to the Angolan high command" that led to an offensive against the US and South African-backed UNITA forces led by Jonas Savimbi. The offensive provoked an extensive military response from the white supremacist South African army. His reflections revealed that Cuba responded with one of the massive military offensives that defeated the white supremacist army and as Fidel reflected, "We favoured the independence of Namibia." Fidel notes the critical nature of the battle and that "it was at the end of the last battles when the Cuban combatants took the risk of being hit - this time with their Angolan brothers - by the nuclear weapons that the US administration provided to the hateful apartheid regime".

In notes on Cuba's role in the liberation of Southern Africa, the writer traced Cuba's relationship with the liberation struggles in Africa, in particular the MPLA and Angola. We heard in those days the alliance of the West and South Africa, and the exploits of the latter in domineering Southern Africa, having the entire region under curfew. In August 1975, South Africa invaded Angola and by November of the same year, Cuba, with the help of some Caribbean countries, acceded to the request of the MPLA for assistance to defend its sovereignty. The rapid deployment of "Operation Carlota", named after "the leader of a revolt against slavery that took place in Cuba, November 5, 1843", was accompanied by a brisk repelling of the South Africans from Angola. This first defeat of the South Africans was associated with new developments in South Africa and global political relations regarding support for the liberation activities in southern Africa.

Cuba's military activities and victories in Angola were followed by the 1976 Soweto uprisings that shook the structures of apartheid. I recall the 1978 massacre of innocent Namibians (SWAPO) in a refugee camp to the intervention of the United Nations in response to the genocidal actions of the white supremacists. I recall also the role of Michael Manley. He too played a major role in this process. I recalled Henry Kissinger's visit to Jamaica on his honeymoon, with his pet dog. According to Darrell Levi (1989), Jamaica's support for Cuba's role in Angola had a price. The writer cites Manley on Henry Kissinger, "Kissinger's sense of order was outraged at the thought of a mere pawn behaving as if it were a queen or at least a rook or a knight." The writer states that on his visit, Kissinger "indicated to Manley that he was aware that US$100 million trade credit for Jamaica was under consideration in Washington and expressed hope that Jamaica would at least remain neutral on the subject of the Cubans in Angola". I recalled Manley speaking on the great sacrifice of the Cuban people for the liberation of Southern Africa and in his famous "We are not for sale" thesis, he told Kissinger that if Jamaica had the capacity, its army would have been sent to Angola. I still hear echoes of the song by Pablo Moses, We should be in Angola.

Cuba's military offensive in Southern Africa was a major sacrifice offered to the liberation of South Africa and Namibia from the "clutches" of white supremacy. It may have been over 300,000 Cubans who fought in Angola and overwhelmed the enemy by three to one to commit one of the most important military victories in the 20th century. In "Castro reveals role in Angola and Namibia Independence", Fidel Castro notes how the victory "spelled the end of foreign aggression" in Angola, and that the Cuban army was "decisive in consolidating Angola's independence and achieving that of Namibia. It was also significant to the liberation of Zimbabwe and the demise of South Africa's repugnant apartheid regime". The article notes that the Cubans were in full control of land and air, the balance of power in the region was turned upside down and that suddenly apartheid South Africa was no longer invincible.
According to the article, Fidel concludes, "The enemy had to set aside its usual arrogance and sit down at the negotiating table" and that Washington "had no choice but to accept our presence" at the UN peace talks in December 1988. Fidel notes, "Rarely in history has war been accompanied by such humanism and humility on the part of the victors."

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