Fighting for the Empire: Colonialism and Mobilization in Africa in the World Wars - Paperback

The First and Second World Wars were pivotal events in modern global history. Although colonial empires were involuntarily drawn into both global conflicts, most studies of the World Wars have given scant attention to the contributions of colonial societies or the wars' profound impact on their populations. This pervasive neglect of the significant role played by European colonies on behalf of the Allies is not only historically problematic but also hinders our comprehensive understanding of these wars and their broader impact on humanity.

Adopting a global intellectual history lens, this volume examines the influence of African societies and ideas on these two major global conflicts. In doing so, it expands the historiography of both World Wars by offering fundamental new insights. The essays in this collection explore various themes related to both wars and societies within the empire, with a focus on the African experience and its intersection with European empires, colonialism, race, economy, and global conflagrations.

Contributing authors: Melvin E. Page (East Tennessee State University), Olisa Godson Muojama (University of Ibadan), Abiodun S Afolabi (University of Ilorin), Oliver Coates (Cambridge University), Kingsley C. Ezeuwa (Marquette University), William Felepchuk (independent researcher), Patrick Gilkes (journalist and consultant for the BBC African Service), Ruth Ginio (Ben-Gurion University), Abdiwahid Haji (Xamar University), Marklene C. Ugbogu (Adeleke University), Martin Plaut (University of London), Yvonne Tan (independent researcher), Janet Achieng Ombima (Marquette University), Otman Bychou (Sultan Moulay Slimane University)