AFRICA DAY...the journey continues

The destiny of a people depends on whether they decide to act on their environment and how they do go about doing it. Colonial era African thought leaders interacted with their black diaspora counterparts through many a meeting, debate and conference. They were united in the idea of a free and united Africa but differed on the methods to achieve those ends. As in an society, frequent debate leads to the emergence of a movement in the hearts and minds of a people and so it is that eventually, African thought leaders began to coalesce around a more concrete idea of African unity. Different societies evolve at different stages and the late 19th century gave rise to a growing Pan-African movement, in America and the Caribbean, through the likes of Martin Delaney, Alexander Crummel and arguably, the most influential of them all, W.E.B. Du Bois and Marcus Garvey. On the African continent, Kenneth Kaunda (still alive at the time of writing), Kwame Nkrumah, Sekou Toure and Julius Nyerere and others were not only raising the same questions, but actively organising to liberate their countries from colonial rule.

They acted on their commitment by coming together from 32 countries on 22 to 25 May, 1963, to found the Organisation of African Unity. This for me represents the first important corner stone of Africa day. Having the courage of your convictions to actually step forward and create something. Africa was firmly in the grip of colonial powers and the wind of change could only sweep through the continent because these visionary thought leaders were able to inspire a new generation of Africans. The founding ideals of the OAU charter were clearly and simply laid out and these were to:

a) Promote unity and solidarity of the African states

b) Coordinate and intensify their cooperation and efforts to achieve a better life for the peoples of Africa,

c) Defend their sovereignty, their territorial integrity and independence,

d) Eradicate all forms of colonialism from Africa, and

e) To promote international cooperation, having due regard to the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The eradication of colonialism from Africa and the heroic manner in which African leaders went about it is another reason for me to celebrate Africa day. How can anyone forget the wars of independence in Algeria, Kenya, Cape Verde, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, to cite but a few? The settler may have been well entrenched, bristling with superior arms and supported by powerful colonial nations, notbaly France, England and Portugal but the Africans were united in the face of overwhelming power, economic destruction of fledgling economies and a vicious cold war that took no prisoners. I will never forget, for instance, the role that the frontline states played in the liberation of Southern African countries, one at a time in the face of racist rule, assassinations, bombings, biological warfare and economic sabotage. While some say Africa Day has no value, some of us remember how our freedom was won which, just by that act alone, gives tremendous value to Africa Day.

Post independence, many an African leader turned out to be a despot. I hasten to point out that the French Revolution did not immediately lead to liberty, equality and fraternity of French people. Nor did the Soviet Revolution. American Independence did not bring emancipation to black Americans for another 100 years! Someone wrote about Africa's big men. Well Europe's big men raced across the continent and slaughtered hundreds of millions. Between the two world wars alone, about 100 million perished. Man is the sum total of his experiences. Europe went through a bloody cycle of war and terror  for millions of its own people and yet emerged out of that war with a single minded purpose: to create a union that would lead to peace, security and prosperity for its people. Independent Africa is merely 63, hardly enough time for a tyrant to wither and die away with his colonial inspired idea of rule.

As we emerge out of a first and secound round of post independence leaders, the so called big men, Africa has settled on Agenda 2063, The Africa We want, in much the same way that pre-independence leaders had settled on nothing but full political independence. Agenda 2063 is another reason why Africa Day holds value and promise for me. The Africa Continental Free Trade Area has just recently gone in to force, a massive step forward for a continent that only a few decades ago was scornfully dismissed as the dark continent! We are well on our way to a customs union. Great societies are not built by the pampered who look for short term gain. They are crafted, first in the minds of giants who see beyond the horizon and dedicate themselves to that goal, knowing full well they might not see them achieved in their life time and then completed by those who believe. Our leaders gave us independence, young peasants fought for it, far from home, terrified and facing certain death every day and still they fought.

Finally, of course, there is the simple fact that I am African, free to sit in my garden because some young person believed enough to fight, in spite of everything else. He and she fought for an idea. Everyone has their journey

I am a man of my people’s wanderings

I am born of the DNA of Lake Malawi in Nkhata bay

And the verdant valleys of Shurugwi in Zimbabwe

I carry the ebb and flow of the tide of fresh water shores

The love for the people of humble origins and soils oozes from every pore

I am a man of my people’s wanderings

The mining town of Chingola, proud as the cleanest city in Zambia

Going to watch Nchanga Rangers at the stadium with my father and siblings

My mother and aunts, a lineage of beauty Queens and youthful fantasia

Foreigners, yet embraced & loved as locals, African seedlings

I am a man of my people’s wanderings

In Lusaka, a new city and language and an awareness of war

The struggle for independence in Rhodesia fought by brothers in arms

Zimbabwean, Shona and Ndebele, united with South Africans and Namibians

And the long goal of liberation was not a bridge too far

I am a man of my people’s wanderings

In Harare, back home and looking for a fresh new start

To Bulawayo and college, I discovered tribalism and racism

Eyes opened to prejudice for the first time, I played no part

Determined to set my own mark, I straddled the schism

I am a man of my own wanderings

A sojourn in France and widening my philosophical horizons

From teaching to private sector, marrying and raising a family

From Bulawayo to Harare, politics and business and no go zones

Then on to South Africa for peace of mind and safety

My journey continues, Giving voice to my beliefs

Helping to play a small part to restore Zimbabwe

Whether we succeed or not, I do it because I believe

That Africa can only move forward when our people refuse to give way

I live for the people!