By Newton Barenzi
Today, 25th May, 2022, marks 59 years since the founding of the Organization of African Union, (present African Union). Surprisingly, we are celebrating while our countries continue to survive in disunity, having failed to fullfil the long term goal of embracing a continental political integration which is the only surity towards the restoration of Africa’s glory. It’s important to note that as a people, we were striped off our dignity by external invasions, slavery, colonialism and modern imperialism.
Therefore, It is by no coincidence that the concern of rekindling the Pan African spirit comes at this time when the continent is engulfed in a ‘series’ of wars and unprecedented other kinds of conflict not only with the physical violence, but also in the mind-set especially of our young people which breed all the inconsistences we are experiencing today. However, there are also a number of opportunities which are springing up daily for the benefit of realising the intended renaissance goals of the entire continent. One can easily mention the progress of the African Continental Free Trade Area, the East African Community’s recent admission of D.R. Congo making the region the biggest and strongest of all Africa’s regional blocs, and the growing cooperation for sustainable peace in the region save for the re-emergency of the unconstitutional changes of government and persistent terror activities.
The genesis of this article was actually my recent visit to Kenya during the country’s Rekindling of the Pan African spirit conference which was organized by the Pan African Congress, the national chapter of Kenya. Kenya as representative of other African states, by the theme of the conference, it meant that the country had just realised its key role in the world of Pan Africanism – integration of African countries and uniting of the people towards the true liberation of Africa.
Rekindling of Pan Africanism in its sense means strategically mobilizing African people throughout the continental Africa and other places in the world to make contributions towards a secure future of Africa. It means everyone can define and apply the concept of Pan Africanism within his/her area of expertise no matter the occupation. It means being innovative in science and technology, raising standards of operations by avoiding mediocrity, intensified productivity, perfectionism, trustworthiness, access to quality education, preservation and building of legacies, quality health of both people and environment, and the list can be endless. In other words, Pan Africanism should form the conversations surrounding all major events in politics, economic or social, that may happen in any part of the country.
What we are rekindling today onwards has to be trickled in all societies across all African states, with emphasis to the lowest levels of our communities. And here, our emerging economic democracies like South Africa, Kenya, Egypt, Nigeria, Uganda needs to play a major role, considering their geo position, economic development, cultural diversity, stability and influence. If you may recall, one of the drivers of Africa’s independence movement, was for Africans to have governments which are being led by our own people, sons and daughters. Therefore, having achieved this, for the next phase of liberation to succeed, it’s the responsibility of the African governments to take a centre stage and fully support the agenda of Pan Africanism in the respective countries. And so should our influential people in the Diaspora.
After the break of the COVID19 pandemic, a world reset is inevitable and the only solution for the survival of the normal African lies within the progress of the Pan Africanism idea. Let’s therefore mobilise ourselves to strategize towards Africa’s progressive future.
Once, again allow me commend the organisers of the African liberation day commemorations across the world happy celebrations.
We have surivide in the past and we shall be victors.
Don’t agonise, Organise….One struggle, Many fronts..
Newton Balenzi is the Head of Administration of the Pan African Movement – Uganda National Chapter, and Head of Communication and IT at the Global Pan African Movement Secretariat.
Twitter: @nbalenzi, Email: nbalenzi@panafricanmovement.org