The peoples of the world left behind by the decomposition of Russia, Austria, and Turkey,

are mostly untrained politically.

They are mostly destitute and will require much nursing toward economic and political independence.

If there is going to be a scramble among the victors for this loot,

the future of Europe must indeed be despaired of.

The application of the spoils system at this most solemn juncture

would indeed be incorrigible madness on the part of rulers, and enough

to drive the torn and broken peoples of the world to that despair of the state, which is the

mode of power behind Russian Bolshevism.

Jan Smuts, Plan for the League of Nations.

Welcome to the history of the 20th century.

Music Episode 190, Africa, Part 2

This is the 15th episode on our 1919 world tour and the second and final episode on Africa.

We're taking in all of sub-Saharan Africa in these episodes, and last time we

looked at the first centuries of European-African relations. By the early 20th century,

we can see a rising pan-African consciousness. By 1914, European-style civilization was well-established in many places on the African continent,

generally the places where the most Europeans were living. But their presence also led to the

emergence of a native African middle class, of people who worked for or with the Europeans.

These new middle class Africans could as often be seen playing football or chess or attending

public events as could their European counterparts. They even danced. Waltzes from Europe,

please, not Native African dances.

Even as Europeans of this time, we're learning to dance to ragtime and jazz, the latest music from America, although its genealogy can be traced back to you know where, yes, Africa.

...