324 J. Michael Turnerlate nineteenth century. Cuba also saw large numbers of its free black popula-
tion leave the island and return to Nigeria during the nineteenth century. There
was significant competition between the returned Cubans and the returned
Brazilians in nineteenth-century Lagos, although both groups were less
favoured than the English-speaking returned former slaves from Sierra Leone,
the Saros.^45 The subject of African emigration, the quasi-stranger groups such
as the West Indians and Afro-Latins arriving in West Africa are deserving
of a systematic study and analysis together with the collective problems of
'the return' and re-integration which need further research and discussion. What
were the contributions of other areas in Brazil, the central-south, Pernambuco,
Maranhäo to the immigrant groups that left Brazil for Africa? What apart
from the obvious slave-trade links were the relations between Angola, Mozam-
bique and Brazil during the nineteenth century. What is the evidence of Afro-
Brazilians returning to these countries? Central Africa needs considerably
more study to determine the range and extent of its historical ties to Brazil.
Archives and sources newly available in Lisbon hopefully should provide
some of the answers, while awaiting a sincerely desired era of stability in Angola
and Mozambique which might permit access to archival sources now closed
and a population now distracted by seemingly incessant civil strife.
The much discussed Brazilian approximation towards Africa of the
1970s is still wanting much interpretation and analysis. Still to be heard from
in a significant way are the African countries themselves, to give voice to their
interest in this approximation effort, to articulate their conditions and require-
ments of Brazil, in particular as they relate to Brazil's relationship towards
southern Africa and to the so-called south Atlantic strategy. It would also be
instructive to study the differences and similarities between Brazilian and
United States foreign-policy initiatives towards Africa, as seen from an African
perspective or viewpoint, to determine each policy's strengths and weaknesses.
Is Brazil in a distinctly better position than the United States because of history,
culture and climate to offer to the African continent the needed technology
and resources for that continent's future development? What are the possibil-
ities of Brazil's acting as mediator between 'north' and 'south', to the Third
and the First world? What is the image and meaing of Africa for the Afro-
Brazilian, and does this image have any bearing on Brazil's international
image within Africa?^48
These are some of the many research-oriented questions and problems
awaiting further elaboration and work. The subject, Africa-Brazil relations
covers at multitude of countries, more than one continent and a variety of
of languages and cultures. Research costs are prohibitive, there is always the
danger of becoming a generalist as the researcher is partly involved with Africa
and partly involved with Latin America. However, the compensations in human
terms are also intercontinental and for growth and development as a field