In a World of Elephants, be a Hummingbird
A Story by Noble Laureate Wangari Maathai
Wangari Maathai, the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize, once told a story of the hummingbird.
There was once a vast forest that was being consumed by a fire. All the animals ran out, stood aside and watched the fire raze the forest paralyzed, overwhelmed and powerless.
The hummingbird, tired of watching the fire destroy her beloved home, decided to do something about it. She flew to the nearest water source, took a drop of water, flew back as fast as possible and tried to extinguish the fire.
She did this over and over even as other animals, including the elephant with its big trunk, stood by helpless. The other animals, perplexed, asked the hummingbird, what do you think you can do? You are too little! The fire is too big, and your beak so small you can only fetch a drop of water at a time.
The hummingbird turned to the other animals and said:
I am doing the best I can!
Mhh…
In a world where we are constantly bombarded by seemingly unsolvable problems, especially as Africans, please choose to be a hummingbird.
Yes, African leaders fail citizens at every corner. Yes, the economic outlook in the continent is heartbreaking. Yes, climate change continues to ravage Africa at a disheartening pace. Yes, the African Continental Free Trade Agreement is yet to yield its projected promises.
AfCFTA Friday #6: What are the practical benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement?
The AfCFTA has almost become a buzzword at this point. Everyone seems to be talking about it and extolling its potential.
Even with all that, choose to do the best you can because it matters. Be a hummingbird!
As many as are of that opinion say aye✋🏽
Thank you for reading Africa: Not an Afterthought. We lead the conversation on how Africa can leverage technology, the AfCFTA, regional integration and Pan-Africanism to build a continent that is no longer an afterthought.
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