Representations of Africa in Communist Romania. A Case Study of the Books Published in the 1960s

Abstract

The present contribution explores how the African continent was portrayed in books published in communist Romania between 1960 and 1969, aiming to understand the strategies and the rhetoric that the regime employed in the context of the global Cold War. A total of 27 books on Africa have been identified, which can be grouped into three thematic categories: (1) travel diaries, (2) politically engaged writings, and (3) theoretical works spanning history, ethnology, art, and political science. These publications reflect a growing interest in Africa, which was largely perceived as part of a broader, mostly undifferentiated developing world. Representations range from art, history, and political ideas to tales and travel impressions, depicting a continent in need of support from the socialist bloc—particularly Romania—as it fought for independence, resisted stereotypes, and sought to advance towards socialism.