Representations of European colonialism, African resistance and liberation struggles in Mozambican history curricula and textbooks

Abstract

In this paper we examine the representations of European colonialism and the master narratives conveyed by Mozambican history textbooks, considering their role in the identity processes and nation building. Our research corpus material comprised the current History textbooks for secondary education (8th to 12th grades). Textbooks explain how European imperialism was characterized by the exploitation of natural and human resources, the slave trade, the partition of Africa among European empires, and the racist colonial rule, excluding native peoples from citizenship. The processes of social comparison assume a particular relevance in order to highlight a common struggler against colonialism by Africa and Asia peoples and to foster ingroup positive distinctiveness. Denouncing the undermining effects of racist preconceptions in Eurocentric historiography, textbooks address the urgency of the decolonization of African History.