Men of Africa, “Colonial Empire Marketing Board”, “Produced by Basil Wright, Directed by Alexander Shaw”, “Strand Film Production”, 1940

“Development programmes in Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika illustrate that “even in the midst of war, Great Britain does not shirk her responsibilities to her colonies.” An opening sequence of maps and stock shots indicates the extent and variety of the Colonial Empire; the East African colonies are introduced as representative examples. A tribal dance hints at the “life of fear and uncertainty” replaced by British rule, a village’s “squalor” the need for continued war on “ignorance, poverty and disease.” “Much can be achieved by money and the initiative of the White Man:” film hints at hydro-electric schemes, modern harbours (Mombasa), roads, bridges etc and illustrates in more detail hospital expansion; tsetse fly research and control; relieving malnutrition; agricultural improvement (stock inoculation and improvement; anti-erosion measures); education (primary school; Makerere College). A broadcast by Colonial Secretary Malcolm MacDonald calls for steady progress towards a still distant goal. A tribal council meeting illustrates “the giving of responsibility is an essential part of Britain’s policy in Africa.” Closing scenes show an agricultural exhibition, where all the programmes are displayed and lessons repeated.”

“Paving the way for independence might be the implicit message here but the rhetoric of patronage and subordination is ever present in the commentary: “the control of all these colonies lies with the Colonial Office in London… British rule has bought peace but there is still a long battle to be fought with poverty, ignorance and disease.”