Africa

Scope and Content

48/1 - 32 Africa Centre

48/33 - 37 Anglo Mauritian Society

48/38 - 45 Anglo Somali Society

48/46 - 52 Anglo South African Parliamentary Group

48/53 Capricorn Africa Society

48/54 - 57 Conservative Party Policy Group on Southern Africa

48/58 Council for African British Relations

48/59 Council for Aid to African Students

48/60 - 74 Friends of Rhodesia (later Anglo Rhodesian Society)

48/75 - 110 Joint East and Central African Board (later Joint Africa Board)

48/111 - 112 Watching Committee on Rhodesia

48/113 - 120 Writings

48/121 - 137 Africa: general

48/138 - 141 Africa: communism

48/142 - 149 Basutoland

48/150 - 157 Lesotho

48/158 - 159 Bechuanaland

48/160 Botswana

48/161 - 193 Central African Federation

48/194 - 202 Nyasaland

48/203 Malawi

48/204 - 219 Northern Rhodesia

48/220 - 228 Zambia

48/229 - 343 Southern Rhodesia

48/344 - 346 Zimbabwe

48/347 - 351 Congo

48/352 - 353 East Africa

48/354 - 357 Ethiopia

48/358 French Union

48/359 Gambia

48/360 Ghana

48/361 Gold Coast

48/362 High Commission Territories

48/363 - 434 Kenya

48/435 Libya

48/436 - 446 Mauritius

48/447 - 453 Nigeria

48/454 - 460 Portugese territories

48/461 - 468 Angola

48/469 - 470 Mozambique

48/471 Seychelles

48/472 Sierra Leone

48/473 - 474 Somalia

48/475 - 556 South Africa

48/557 - 564 South West Africa

48/565 - 572 Namibia

48/573 - 578 Sudan

48/579 - 583 Swaziland

48/584 - 590 Tanganyika

48/591 Zanzibar

48/592 - 594 Tanzania

48/595 Transkei

48/596 - 601 Uganda

This series of files includes records of several organisations relating to Africa, as well as reports of visits to the continent and other writings by Patrick Wall, and extensive correspondence. There is considerable overlap with the series of visits files [DPW/64] and his political writings [DPW/65].

Administrative / Biographical History

Africa Centre

The Africa Centre has its origins in the work of the Catholic organisation, the Sword of the Spirit (which later became the Catholic Institute for International Relations). It was established following a conference in 1958 of missionary orders and Catholic societies held to discuss the implementation of the Papal Encyclical 'Fidei Donum' on the future of Africa. Originally a Committee of the Sword of the Spirit, chaired by Patrick Wall, the Africa Centre became an independent organisation in February 1961. The Centre's main object was to promote education about Africa and its peoples, and it organised a number of projects, such as 'Books for Africa' and a 'Lay helpers' programme which sent Catholic volunteers to Africa.

Joint Africa Board

The original Joint East African Board was established in June 1923 with the object of promoting the agricultural, commercial and industrial development of the British colonies and protectorates in East and Central Africa. Its first Chairman was Sir Sydney Henn MP and it had from the outset a close relationship with the Colonial Office. A change of name to the Joint East and Central African Board occurred in 1949. The Board was particularly supportive of the creation of the Central African Federation and after the Federation's collapse, its focus became one of promoting a settlement between the British and Rhodesian governments. The Board re-examined its purpose after the formation of a new East African Association in 1965 and became the Joint Africa Board. The achievement of independence for British colonies in the region during the 1960s meant that the scope for its work gradually diminished and led to its being voluntarily wound up in July 1974.

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