Recovering our memory

In an era where Africa is often portrayed as a ‘basket case’ there are bright spots that doggedly show that this is no season for despair. While some work for the fragmentation of African states and others forecast the collapse of existing ones, we can boast of collectives working patiently to build a pan-African consciousness with the full knowledge that our desired future is in our unity; our strength is in our diversity and the path to tomorrow must be built across the bridge of solidarity.

Publishing 500 editions of Pambazuka News over a time span of 10 years is no mean feat. Marking this achievement in a period when many African countries are marking 50 years of independence is also very significant. In a season when conforming to externally generated neo-liberal moulds appears to be the norm, Pambazuka News strikes a different note, showing that true independence is expressed through the liberty to critically think and analyse for oneself in ones own context.

Through the years, Pambazuka News has provided space for challenging and very thought provoking articles and papers. It has been a unique space for students and policy makers who care to see global events placed in the context of their fundamental and systemic bases. It is this bent to dig beneath the surface and to provoke readers to action that has placed Pambazuka News well ahead of many other publications.

As an environmental justice activist, I have found the medium an indispensable help in my quest to fathom the forces behind the scenes that continually plunder the natural resources of Africa while degrading her environment and debasing her peoples.

Being concerned about bringing up a new generation of activists, I have found Pambazuka News an excellent tool. In a season when people prefer a quick dash to freedom, it is a gift to find a medium that recognises that the path to freedom does indeed often require a long walk. In a time when people thrive on sound bites, getting the youth to read materials that inspire them to productive actions does not come easy. For those of us who fed on the words of thinkers such as Franz Fanon, Walter Rodney, Amilcar Cabral, Cheik Anta Diop and Chinweizu, it has become hard to find young folks who can identify with those critical writers who questioned the flag of independence that is being celebrated today while millions go to bed hungry and diseased. Pambazuka News also serves as a trusted space for the introduction of new voices in our collective search for a truly independent Africa.

Whenever I make the statement that Africa is the centre of the world I am always met with laughter as though I just threw a joke. The truth is that our continent is truly the centre of the world. It is almost entirely surrounded by water and but for the deserts is easy to traverse from North to South and from East to West. The extensive coastline presents the continent with a great advantage of ease of communication. Her enormous resources ensure that she can more than meet the needs of her inhabitants. The list can go on.

Unfortunately, the distinct advantages have somehow turned out to be the route for her being ravished and despoiled. Rather than providing opportunities for defence against attackers, the coastline of Africa has provided the launching platforms for invaders from outside her shores over the years. Her array of natural resources has spelt more troubles than blessings for the continent.

This did not have to be so. One of the major weaknesses of the continent is the fragmentation set in place by the infamous scramble for Africa at the Berlin hunting party of 1884. The continent was not only physically partitioned among colonising forces and merchants, she had her cultural and socio-economic life severely altered. Without true African unity the continent remains fragmented and prone to exploitation and continual erosion of any strength with which she could liberate herself. Fragmented small states are prone to being dominated by bigger states. The saying a people united cannot be easily defeated is not a mere slogan. It has within it a truism that should instruct our leaders and indeed all Africans.

Today we may say that the number of conflicts on the continent has reduced. That is true. But we still have simmering conflicts, states in limbo and others waiting to explode or even implode. We see new scrambles everywhere: for crude oil, for solid minerals and now for land for the cultivation of agro fuels to feed machines in Europe and North America.

We need to urgently consider where the rain started to beat us, as our people say. Imagine an Africa that is truly united and able to utilise her resources for her development. Imagine an Africa that leads the way in a non-fossil or carbon based civilisation. Imagine an Africa that shows the world how to live within environmental limits. Imagine an Africa that is not a poster child of hunger, disease and conflict. That will be an Africa that thinks for herself. It is often said that a people get the government they deserve. This calls for a two-way interrogation.

This is the Africa that Pambazuka News presents building blocks for erection. One of the ways the publishers have made this easy for readers to access is through the regular offering of compiled Links and Resources. These links enable one to study, dig deep and analyse things for oneself. This is a very important service to all who wish to gain deep understanding of issues unfolding in our time. The scope of the links and articles offer opportunities for readers to build holistic knowledge and interpretations of situations and phenomena.

I see Pambazuka News also as a chronicler and reminder of our collective memories. Through this medium we build and equally recover lost memories for future action.

While we pause today to toast to 10 years of excellent service delivery, however, more grounds still need to be covered. Pambazuka News must continue to push on the pan African path, building on the achievements of the past years. More efforts must be made to reach the young as well as opinion leaders on the continent and beyond.

Pambazuka News is already being delivered through innovative media - such as twitter. More of such media needs to be further utilised to cater for our very mobile generation. It may be a huge target, but Pambazuka News must also aim to set the agenda for political leadership on the continent.

Together we press for justice. Until the victory!

BROUGHT TO YOU BY PAMBAZUKA NEWS

* Nnimmo Bassey is executive director of Friends of the Earth Nigeria. He will be a recipient of the 2010 'Right Livelihood Award', often referred to as the 'Alternative Nobel Prize' for his work in revealing the ecological and human toll of oil production in Nigeria.
* Please send comments to [email protected] or comment online at Pambazuka News.