Building Afrika from the ruins

Now the ruins of slavery are cleared, we can proceed to build the Afrikan federation, the same way artists create a monument when ruins clear (civilizations in this case).

In conversations about unity we envisage for Afrika, we have to understand that it is not a bed of roses, perfect geometrical shapes, and living in perfect harmony with everybody else. When Europe cut up Afrika into chunks like sliced beef, they proceeded to extract whatever could come out of the region: raw materials, resources, manpower and whatever else they could get without deliberating about harmony.

Our conversation on African unity should bear in mind the holocaust which has lasted 500 years, and must understand that differences in cultures that subjugated us have overtaken the good sense that ancient Afrikans exhibited. The Afrikans must understand that unity is not only perfect geometrical shapes where all the angles have the same degree of measurement. We can see this demonstrated by Europeans and other nationalities who settled in the Americas. Debate about fundamental differences and secession still forms part of their conversation even in academic circles and bars.

DIVISIONS EXISTS IN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Conversation with them highlights a realization that unity never really existed in America either. The culture that produced slavery still exists, reflected in emphasis of a particular state of origin, or even accents. The divisions on all the fundamental statements such as religion, abortion, the federal governance, taxation, education, health care or assistance to the less fortunate neighbour, distribution and ownership of public wealth continue to be debated in all the states, but clearly, never prevented the formation of the federation.

Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Mali, Kongo, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and elsewhere are all in turmoil and dissatisfied citizens who manage to get to a neighbouring region end up unemployed and labelled refugees in their nation. But guess what? Europeans of every country are offered the red carpet anywhere on Afrikan soil and can stay as long as they want, no questions asked.

Surely it is worthy to heed the counsel of Charles Mwewa, president of the Zambian-Canadian Foundation and author of ‘Zambia: Struggles of My People.’ Mr. Mwewa presents us with a solution by way of praising Michael C. Sata, who won the Zambia elections. What prevents Afrika from starting a fresh leaf on the anniversary Europeans handed over leadership to Afrikans 50 years ago? What would happen if sitting presidents were to demonstrate Pan-Afrikanism and accept governorship designation for the sake of Afrikan Unity? Can the 54 Afrikan leaders convene in Addis Ababa for an extraordinary meeting to acknowledge and support – Michael C. Sata as president of Afrika, and we take it up from there fifty years after the Europeans ‘left’? This is what it would take to solve duplication of myriad conflicts facing Afrikans at home and the World African Diaspora.

Let’s do it and see what happens, the same as America did in spite of misgivings from Europe at the time, and again recently amid great uncertainty.

*Maimuna Safiyya

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