Africa Through The African Lens

Africa, with its rich tapestry of narratives, cultures, and landscapes, has long been depicted through external lenses that often perpetuate stereotypes and fail to capture its true essence. The colonial past and ongoing global dynamics have shaped perceptions of Africa, influencing its role in the contemporary world. Recently, a transformative shift has occurred as Africans have begun reclaiming their own narratives, presenting a more authentic view of their continent. This movement aims to challenge outdated narratives and highlight the diverse aspects of African life and history through a native lens.

Despite its vast resources and potential, Africa has struggled to assert itself on the global stage due to external interference that stifles its economic progress and indigenous enterprise. This has created uncertainty about Africa’s future. Professor PLO Lumumba has emphasized the need for a new Africa built on principles rooted in precolonial traditions, free from colonial domination.

Exploring Africa through an African lens involves moving beyond superficial narratives to engage with the continent’s deep heritage, varied identities, and the complex realities shaping its nations. This perspective aligns with postcolonial Pan-Africanists, who envisioned an integrated Africa, united despite its diversity. They utilized ideological frameworks such as African personality, conscientism, and negritude to foster a collective consciousness and unity among Africans.

Africa’s journey to liberation has been marked by struggles against colonialism, the pursuit of independence, the rise of Pan-Africanism, and ongoing efforts for social, economic, and political transformation. African scholars, such as Cheikh Anta Diop and Theophile Obenga, have highlighted Africa's crucial role in human civilization. Kwame Nkrumah’s statements underscore the desire for freedom from Western domination and the need for unity to overcome obstacles to progress.

To envision a future Africa free from external control, this paper will delve into Africa’s past and present to predict its future. It will be divided into two sections: the first will reconsider Africa’s image by challenging stereotypes and historical narratives, while the second will focus on a youth-driven transformation and the vision for Africa’s future, aligned with Agenda 2063.

CHALLENGING STERIEOTYPES

Reconstructing a new Africa begins with challenging and transforming the prevailing narratives and stereotypes that shape global perceptions of the continent. A multifaceted approach is necessary to highlight Africa's diversity, achievements, and potential. This includes showcasing its rich cultural heritage, vibrant arts and entertainment industries, technological innovations, and economic growth. Additionally, it involves emphasizing the resilience and agency of African people, their progress in governance and human rights, and their contributions to global development. By reframing Africa's image with more balanced and nuanced narratives, the continent can counter misconceptions and biases, attract investment and tourism, foster international partnerships, and empower Africans to shape their future.

Cheikh Anta Diop argued that the West has failed to teach African history objectively, stressing the importance of revisiting Africa’s precolonial past for the continent’s development. Diop emphasized that recognizing the achievements of African ancestors is crucial for reclaiming African identity and fostering a genuine historical consciousness.

Several misconceptions about Africa need to be addressed:

1.  *Homogeneity: Africa is often depicted as a monolithic entity, overlooking its vast diversity in cultures, languages, and histories. This portrayal diminishes the continent’s richness and complexity, reducing its history to a series of setbacks. Highlighting Africa’s heterogeneity is essential to acknowledge the unique identities and experiences across its nations.
2. Poverty and Dependency: Africa is frequently associated with poverty and reliance on foreign aid. This narrative neglects the continent's economic growth, entrepreneurship, and potential for self-sustainability. While acknowledging the challenges of poverty, it is crucial to focus on Africa's progress and the need for self-help programs, as proposed by Kwame Nkrumah.
3. Conflict and Instability: The continent is often portrayed as perpetually conflict-ridden and unstable. While conflicts exist, it is important to recognize the progress in peace-building, democratic governance, and regional cooperation contributing to stability and development.
4. Technological Backwardness: Although Africa faces challenges in technology and industrialization, it has made significant advancements in mobile banking, renewable energy, and e-commerce. Recognizing these innovations challenges the stereotype of technological inferiority. 
5. Wildlife and Safaris: Africa is often reduced to its wildlife and safari destinations, overshadowing its urban centers, cultural heritage, and economic activities. It is essential to acknowledge the continent's diverse aspects beyond tourism.

Challenging these stereotypes and misconceptions is vital for fostering a more accurate and balanced understanding of Africa. By emphasizing the continent’s diversity, progress, and potential, Africa can reshape its global image. Revisiting its past, embracing the vision of a united Africa, and building on African culture and tradition are key steps toward achieving a prosperous future. As Nkrumah noted, external interference hinders Africa’s progress and the empowerment of its people. The struggle for true self-regulation and self-determination continues as Africa seeks to reclaim its historical and cultural agency.

BUILDING AFRICA’S FUTURE (A YOUTH DRIVEN TRANSFORMATION)

The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child emphasizes the privileged role of children in African society, while Agenda 2063 aims for a prosperous, integrated, and peaceful Africa led by its citizens. The continent’s future hinges on a youth-driven transformation, recognizing that young people are not just passive recipients but active agents of change. Prof. PLO Lumumba has stressed the need to build a new Africa rooted in precolonial principles, free from colonial legacies and dependence. Dayo Olopode highlights the significant youth demographic in Africa, with nearly 600 million aged 15-24, and the urgent need for a system that places youth at the forefront of socio-economic, political, and cultural development.

Despite Africa’s youthful population and its potential, the continent faces severe challenges, including high unemployment, inadequate education, and limited civic engagement. Many young Africans, who make up 37% of the working-age population but 60% of the unemployed, face obstacles in the formal sector, leading some to engage in illegal activities like cybercrimes due to lack of opportunities.

The urgency for youth-driven transformation is clear. Africa's young population represents a powerful force for progress. To harness this potential, it is crucial to empower young people through education, skills development, entrepreneurship, and participation in governance. Investing in these areas will enable young Africans to contribute to sustainable development and economic prosperity.

Education is fundamental for equipping youth with leadership skills. It fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and ethical decision-making, essential for effective leadership. Julius Nyerere and Kwame Nkrumah emphasized the need for practical, culturally relevant education that blends Western and African perspectives.

Entrepreneurship also plays a vital role in preparing youth for leadership. It encourages innovation and risk-taking, with Africa having a high entrepreneurship rate. However, addressing youth unemployment requires facilitating access to capital and supporting business growth. Entrepreneurship provides skills in communication, problem-solving, and adaptability, crucial for leadership.

Digital literacy is increasingly important in today's world. Technology can democratize opportunities and drive development. By equipping youth with digital skills, they can leverage technology for learning, collaboration, and innovation, thus enhancing their leadership capabilities.

Fostering innovation and economic growth involves promoting research and development (R&D). Governments should provide incentives for R&D and support a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem through funding, mentorship, and incubators. Collaboration between academia, industry, and the public sector is essential for technology transfer and commercialization of innovative ideas.

Youth engagement in governance is crucial for shaping policies that ensure a sustainable future. Empowering young people through education, leadership development, and technology is vital. Leadership programs and mentorship should focus on governance skills, policy analysis, and ethical decision-making. Collaboration among youth-led organizations and civil society can strengthen youth participation in governance, amplifying their voice and impact.

In summary, Africa's future depends on effectively harnessing its youthful population. By addressing challenges, investing in education, entrepreneurship, digital literacy, and governance, Africa can leverage its young people to drive sustainable development and positive change.

References

DIOP Cheikh Anta, 1974, The origins of African civilization; myth or reality. (Translated from French by Mercer Cook) Lawrence Hill & Company, New York.      

FEBVRE Lucien, 1992, Combats pour l’Histoire, Paris, Armand Colin.

GETAHUN Yacob Abraham, 2022, “Nkrumah’s and Nyerere’s Educational Visions – What Can Contemporary Africa Learn from Them?” in African Journal of Education and Practice, Vol.8, Issue 1, No.2, pp.20-29.

GUNDER. F A, Gunder, 1966, “Development of underdevelopment” In Monthly Review, Vol.18, No 4.

KWAME Nkrumah, 1963, Africa Must Unite, Frederick A. Praeger, New York.  

KWAME Nkrumah, 1966, Neo-Colonialism: the stage of colonial Imperialism, International Publisher., Inc., United states.

KWAME Nkrumah, 1973, Revolutionary path, Panaf Books, London.

MAGALONI Beatrice, WEINGAST Barry & DIAZ-CAYEROS Alberto, 2005, Why Authoritarian Regimes Sabotage Economic Growth: Land Reform in Mexico, Longman, and London.

Mandela, Nelson. (1990, June 24). Nelson Mandela visits Madison Park HS in Roxbury in 1990. Roxbury, Massachusetts, United States of America: GBH News.

MBEMBE Achille, 2001, On the Post colony: Political Imagination in Africa, University Of California Press, Berkeley · Los Angeles · London.

NGUGI wa Thiong’o, 1987, Decolonizing the mind, Zimbabwe Publishing House.

OLOPODE Dayo, The Bright continent: Breaking rules and making change in modern Africa, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Boston New York, 2014.

TOYIN Falola & KWAME Essien, 2014, Pan Africanism and the politics of African Citizenship and Identity, Routledge, New York, 2014.

TOYIN Falola, 2003, The power of African culture, The University of Rochester Press.

UNCTAD, 2021, Economic Development in Africa Report, United Nations Publications, New York.

YASH Tondon,2008, Ending Aid Dependence, Fahamu Books & South Centre, Nairobi, Oxord & Geneva, Kenya, UK and Switzerland.