Africa, A Continent In Identity Crisis!!!

“We have awakened. We will not sleep anymore. Today, from now on, there is a new African in the world! That new African is ready to fight his own battles and show that after all, the black man is capable of managing his own affairs. We are going to demonstrate to the world, to the other nations, that we are prepared to lay our own foundation and our own African identity .

As I said in the assembly just minutes ago, I made a point that we are going to create our own African personality and identity . It’s the only way that we can show the world that we are ready for own battles” (Dr. Kwame Nkrumah 1957).

This statement was made on the eve of Ghana’s independence celebration in a euphoric and joyous atmosphere. A new sense of hope was awakened in Africa. Ghana’s Independence indeed brought about a sense of confidence that, the African is capable of managing his own affairs. Many African countries followed suit in the attainment of Independence. However, more than half a century down the lane, Africa is still confronted with challenges ranging from sky rocketing unemployment rates, hunger, civil unrest and avoidable diseases. Politically, we have remained backward as a result of intolerance, corruption, coups upon coups and injustice.

Africa is in crisis and at war with herself. We do not trust anything African. Our women are running away from their pretty dark skins to a lighter skin. We spend billions of dollars importing skin toning creams and fake hair yearly. Our young men and women prefer to be identified as westerners. Africans are running away from Africa seeking to be enslaved in western countries (Prof. Lumumba of Tanzania). Most indigenous African industries are collapsing if not collapsed. Our currencies are weak against their trading partners. Growth rates across board are slow and per capita income is nothing to be proud about. In the abundance of natural resources, Africa still remains the poorest continent in the world.

This brings to mind so many questions. Are we living in a cursed continent? What is the future for our unborn generation? Is this the continent the likes of Nkrumah et al fought to liberate? How do we get out of this mess? The answer is simple.

To begin with, Africa must set her priorities right. Paramount in this discourse should be working towards a united Africa. As the saying goes “I am because we are” by Ubuntu. For us to move in the right direction at the right pace, we must embrace our diversity, submerge our differences and agree on a common objective for the common good of all Africans (Malcom X). This way we can better manage and harness our resources. We have the resources and labor; all we need is a leadership that will set the tone for our economic redemption. One that will bring back our honor and restore the belief that, indeed the African has what it takes to manage his own affairs. It is our right.

Secondly, for Africa to thrive in development, then we must get the following basic fundamentals right. These include: getting our political fundamentals right, reviewing our socio-economic fundamentals and above all agreeing on a workable national policy frame work. The aforementioned can only be attained through selfless and dedicated leadership. The same motivation which occasioned our political independence is what we need to secure economic freedom. The time has come for Africa to move away from being a consumer to being a producer. This way we will be able to satisfy our domestic needs and also export surplus for foreign exchange. This will create jobs for our people and make our continent a better place to live in.

Furthermore, to a large extend, Africa’s retrogression in development could be attributed to the self-centered and corrupt nature of our leaders. Corruption is a cancer that is “neck-deep” in our governance structure both petty and grand corruption. The levels at which we tolerate corruption is amazing even though we acknowledge it is a bad thing (Prof Lumumba). We are living in a mess created by our own selves. What we do here in Africa to give power to the highest bidder, there by compromising the lives of both present and unborn generations. This custom must seize if indeed we want to move in the right direction. Africans must begin to hold office holders accountable. Anti-corruption crusaders must be supported and not victimized.

Professor Ayitey in one of his lecturers intimated that, “what we lose through corruption annually if checked, will be able to finance yearly budgets of African countries”. It’s a shame isn’t it? The day corruption will stop in Africa will be the very day we shall wave goodbye to Poverty and move forward into a new era of developmental pattern for the greater good of all of our people.

Last but not the least is the concept of destiny. Religious belief in Africa is so strong be it Islam, Christianity or African traditional religion. We believe that whatever opportunities, blessings, lucks, gains, misfortunes, calamities, challenges and problems we are confronted with as people are pre-ordained to happen and no man can misplace or replace what God has decreed to happen. I wonder how this will relate to the concept of free will given to us by the same God.

Africans must understand that God will never come down to feed us, give us electricity, healthcare, build schools for us, construct good roads and improve upon our living conditions. Instead, we must begin to take responsibility and stop blaming God for everything. The best God could ever give us is our resources and numbers in population. We built Europe and Europe through the proceeds from slave trade and provided labor. Africa has what it takes to be better place than it is presently.

Africa is in great need of new intentional approaches to leadership that integrate good character, effective competencies and strategic prioritization of agendas in order to bring radical change towards holistic development (H.E Pieri Nkurunziza). Let us come together as one people and take charge of our own destiny. Africa must begin to understand that the solutions to our problems are within. In selecting our political leaders, the African must let competence base on a person’s track record and not a mere party affiliation. Our politics should be issue based and we should tolerate one another for the betterment of our continent.

Long live Africa
In God We Trust
Sincerely Yours
Adnan Mustapha
Master of Law Graduate. (Conflict Resolution and Management).

Email: [email protected]