The First Communist in Fort Jameson
Recollections of Africa and Other Places 1955-2018
Published on 27. February 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
398 pages
978-1-915527-00-4 (ISBN)
Description
The First Communist in Fort Jameson is the compelling autobiography of Nigel Watt, whose life has been intertwined with Africa's journey from late colonial rule to independence and beyond.
Arriving in Northern Rhodesia in 1961, Watt worked in education during the final years of colonialism and remained after independence, contributing to Zambia's development and later serving in leadership roles within the international voluntary service movement and as Director of the Africa Centre in London. His work took him across southern, eastern and central Africa, as well as to India and Europe.
Blending political insight, institutional history and vivid personal recollection, this memoir provides valuable perspective on Zambia's transformation, the evolution of voluntary service, and grassroots peace and reconciliation efforts in countries including Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Written with clarity, commitment and understated humour, it is an important record of Africa's past sixty years
Arriving in Northern Rhodesia in 1961, Watt worked in education during the final years of colonialism and remained after independence, contributing to Zambia's development and later serving in leadership roles within the international voluntary service movement and as Director of the Africa Centre in London. His work took him across southern, eastern and central Africa, as well as to India and Europe.
Blending political insight, institutional history and vivid personal recollection, this memoir provides valuable perspective on Zambia's transformation, the evolution of voluntary service, and grassroots peace and reconciliation efforts in countries including Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Written with clarity, commitment and understated humour, it is an important record of Africa's past sixty years
More details
Edition
Special edition
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Books2Africa Press
Edition type
Special edition
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 129 mm
Thickness: 23 mm
Weight
473 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-915527-00-4 (9781915527004)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
For many years Nigel Watt has been a passionate advocate of voluntary service in Africa by Africans, championing development issues in many parts of the continent for the benefit of local communities. With his sympathy and comprehension of African politics and culture he became the director of the Africa Centre at a crucial time in Southern African politics. He was determined to allow this London base to be a sanctuary and a platform for conversations between African political exiles and cultural activists. He is deeply committed to Africa, although always modest about the impact of his work.
Content
Acknowledgements xi
Authors note xii
1 Beginnings 1936-60 15
A Family 15
Young Nigel 23
Fig 25
Railways 27
Non-military service 29
Cambridge 36
A passage to and from India 1960 38
2 Northern Rhodesia / Zambia 55
London 1960 55
The voyage out 59
Fort Jameson 64
Chizongwe Secondary School and the new politics 1961-64 71
Zambian Names and Zambian English 86
Independence for Malawi and Zambia 90
A year on the Copperbelt, 1965 92
Kalomo Secondary School 1966-70 97
Reflections on ten years in Northern Rhodesia / Zambia 114
3 Travels, mainly in West Africa 121
Sierra Leone and back 1963 121
Who knows tomorrow? 1971 126
4 The international voluntary service movement 169
Origins 169
The first workcamp associations in Africa 174
5 Thirteen years with IVS GB 1971-84 179
London 179
Overseas Service Officer 181
Swaziland (now eSwatini) 184
Lesotho 185
Botswana 187
Cameroon and Chad 193
Comoro Islands 196
Mauritius 200
Seychelles 202
Mozambique 203
New volunteer associations in southern Africa 206
Northern Ireland and other stories 208
6 Two more journeys 215
Niger to Zambia 215
A circular tour - and a coup d'etat 222
7 The Africa Centre 1984-91 233
History and politics 233
Music and programmes 237
8 CCIVS 1992-98 249
History 249
Lesotho and Namibia 250
Mozambique Island 252
Liberia 254
Asia 258
Palestine 259
National Youth Service 261
Paris 262
9 Angola and Namibia 267
Namibian refugees and Angolan artists 267
Inside free Namibia 273
10 The Congo (DRC) 279
A personal connection 279
CARE International 281
Concern Worldwide 284
Motorbikes and other vehicles 288
Observing the election 290
Congolese Quakers 294
11 Zimbabwe 299
12 Burundi 1998-2002 305
Christian Aid 305
Politics and peace 315
Life in Burundi 320
CARE International, elections and the President's third term 323
Minority Rights 327
13 Bermondsey, Leicester and East Dulwich 331
Books of Africa 333
14 Last Word 337
Annexes 339
Annex 1 National Service Acts 340
Annex 2 Letters relating to the Society for the Reinvigoration of Unremunerative Branch Lines in the United Kingdom (SRUBLUK) 341
Annex 3 Article in "The Avenue", the Friends' School magazine, October 1952 343
Annex 4 Letter from R.A. Butler, Lord Privy Seal in response to a letter from me condemning the Anglo-French attack on Suez in 1956 344
Annex 5 Letter to the Foreign Secretary as Zimbabwe was attaining independence 346
Annex 6 Elias Chipimo's story 347
Annex 7 Diapy Diawara talks of his encounter with Sekou Toure 354
Annex 8 Letters from Jozef Muwanga 355
Annex 9 Tedson Rukundo's story 357
Annex 10 Florence Ssereo's story 361
Glossary 367
Bibliography 368
List of Photos 371
About the Author 373
Authors note xii
1 Beginnings 1936-60 15
A Family 15
Young Nigel 23
Fig 25
Railways 27
Non-military service 29
Cambridge 36
A passage to and from India 1960 38
2 Northern Rhodesia / Zambia 55
London 1960 55
The voyage out 59
Fort Jameson 64
Chizongwe Secondary School and the new politics 1961-64 71
Zambian Names and Zambian English 86
Independence for Malawi and Zambia 90
A year on the Copperbelt, 1965 92
Kalomo Secondary School 1966-70 97
Reflections on ten years in Northern Rhodesia / Zambia 114
3 Travels, mainly in West Africa 121
Sierra Leone and back 1963 121
Who knows tomorrow? 1971 126
4 The international voluntary service movement 169
Origins 169
The first workcamp associations in Africa 174
5 Thirteen years with IVS GB 1971-84 179
London 179
Overseas Service Officer 181
Swaziland (now eSwatini) 184
Lesotho 185
Botswana 187
Cameroon and Chad 193
Comoro Islands 196
Mauritius 200
Seychelles 202
Mozambique 203
New volunteer associations in southern Africa 206
Northern Ireland and other stories 208
6 Two more journeys 215
Niger to Zambia 215
A circular tour - and a coup d'etat 222
7 The Africa Centre 1984-91 233
History and politics 233
Music and programmes 237
8 CCIVS 1992-98 249
History 249
Lesotho and Namibia 250
Mozambique Island 252
Liberia 254
Asia 258
Palestine 259
National Youth Service 261
Paris 262
9 Angola and Namibia 267
Namibian refugees and Angolan artists 267
Inside free Namibia 273
10 The Congo (DRC) 279
A personal connection 279
CARE International 281
Concern Worldwide 284
Motorbikes and other vehicles 288
Observing the election 290
Congolese Quakers 294
11 Zimbabwe 299
12 Burundi 1998-2002 305
Christian Aid 305
Politics and peace 315
Life in Burundi 320
CARE International, elections and the President's third term 323
Minority Rights 327
13 Bermondsey, Leicester and East Dulwich 331
Books of Africa 333
14 Last Word 337
Annexes 339
Annex 1 National Service Acts 340
Annex 2 Letters relating to the Society for the Reinvigoration of Unremunerative Branch Lines in the United Kingdom (SRUBLUK) 341
Annex 3 Article in "The Avenue", the Friends' School magazine, October 1952 343
Annex 4 Letter from R.A. Butler, Lord Privy Seal in response to a letter from me condemning the Anglo-French attack on Suez in 1956 344
Annex 5 Letter to the Foreign Secretary as Zimbabwe was attaining independence 346
Annex 6 Elias Chipimo's story 347
Annex 7 Diapy Diawara talks of his encounter with Sekou Toure 354
Annex 8 Letters from Jozef Muwanga 355
Annex 9 Tedson Rukundo's story 357
Annex 10 Florence Ssereo's story 361
Glossary 367
Bibliography 368
List of Photos 371
About the Author 373