The life story of Samora Machel (1933–1986) reads like a compelling novel: humble beginnings, a rise through the ranks of the Frelimo anticolonial liberation movement, successes and failures as president of the new People's Republic of Mozambique, and death in a mysterious plane crash.

Telling Machel’s extraordinary story through a biographical introduction and transcripts of numerous speeches and interviews, Colin Darch and David Hedges give voice to a man who had a distinct vision for the people of southern Africa.

Colin Darch is honorary fellow at the Human Sciences Research Council and honorary research associate at the University of Cape Town. David Hedges is a faculty member in the department of history at the Universidade Eduardo Mondlane in Maputo.