"Africans have the right to listen to extreme sides of whichever argument and determine what to think for themselves." The think for themselves bit would allow us to make our own economic choices and that's why Africans are still colonised, neo-colonised. We should not be allowed to make our own choices, because then we will enrich ourselves and foreigners will "lose access". If ever Pan-Africanism and African-controlled nuclear weapons were necessary, it is now.
Uh-huh! I completely agree. Sadly, there are so many Africans who do not believe in Pan-Africanism. I did a poll a while ago on social media, and a lot of people argued that Africa is too diverse for Pan-Africanism to work.
I argued back that, as Africans, we can define Pan-Africanism for ourselves. It doesn't have to mean what many people think it is--political unity or the complete destruction of our individuality.
For example, what Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso are doing with the alliance of Sahel States is Pan-Africanism. Yes people have varying feelings about the three countries because they are junta-led. Still, what they've done is some form of Pan-Africanism because it is unity of purpose.
Anyway, I hope that as more Africans amplify the message of Pan-Africanism, more people will buy in
The major reason why our working class would be against the military juntas of the Alliance of the Sahel States or the idea of Pan-Africanism is because they live under the delusion or belief that colonialism actually ended since the 1950s. They actually believe they've been largely liberated from foreign (largely western) control. Not only did colonialism not end (it just gave itself a makeover) but it is determined to maintain control, at whatever cost to the rightful landowners of the continent, the black class of workers across the continent. Pan-Africanism isn't a nice to have (just as African controlled nuclear weapons was never a "nice to have"), it is the only successful strategy to liberate the continent from economic enslavement and global subordination. Without Pan-Africanism you get Rwanda and Uganda (acting as foreign proxies I suspect) and invading Congo to serve their self interests at the expense of the Congolese working class; you get Zimbabwe brutalised by foreign-controlled economic mass murderous means and now being made to pay racialised white upper-middle-to-upper-class farmers (while never being paid a cent of reparations for direct colonialism). Power respects power. Unfortunately, pretending we are a bunch of individuals in a continent where the minute you leave the continent you're just another "barbarian from the jungle" (the words of an EU official) or in the words of the former Finance Minister of Finland, Climate change could be stopped if more African women were given abortions. Power comes from unity. Power comes from African controlled defence, not from lofty ideals while you're chained to the floor on your land.
There are some country based forums, nairaland for example. I think people can subscribe to the content on twitter and review it after reading then publish. I don't think i have seen anything worth paying for on twitter.
I have to check out nairaland, I didn't know about it.
And I agree, there is nothing worth paying for on Twitter but I hate how the subscription locks a lot of people out. It is also really ironic because Elon has been quoted saying "Twitter is like the public town square"
This is an interesting article and the last para are particularly relevant. I have been thinking along the same line but was not aware of those African platforms. Please interview them and lets support their work. Why should we not support our own now that it is clear social media platforms are there to serve geopolitical interests of big powers.
Thank you Karim. Appreciate it🙏🏼 Actually, Circo.Africa just responded to my request a week ago and they are interested in having the conversation as well. Cannot wait to have the interview and share with y'all.
You are right, until we have our own platforms as Africans, we will keep serving the geopolitical interests of big powers to Africa's detriment.
Yes! Go for it, I think an interview would be useful for enriching this conversation!
Thank you Luciano, I've already sent the requests, I hope they respond🙏🏼
🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼
"Africans have the right to listen to extreme sides of whichever argument and determine what to think for themselves." The think for themselves bit would allow us to make our own economic choices and that's why Africans are still colonised, neo-colonised. We should not be allowed to make our own choices, because then we will enrich ourselves and foreigners will "lose access". If ever Pan-Africanism and African-controlled nuclear weapons were necessary, it is now.
Uh-huh! I completely agree. Sadly, there are so many Africans who do not believe in Pan-Africanism. I did a poll a while ago on social media, and a lot of people argued that Africa is too diverse for Pan-Africanism to work.
I argued back that, as Africans, we can define Pan-Africanism for ourselves. It doesn't have to mean what many people think it is--political unity or the complete destruction of our individuality.
For example, what Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso are doing with the alliance of Sahel States is Pan-Africanism. Yes people have varying feelings about the three countries because they are junta-led. Still, what they've done is some form of Pan-Africanism because it is unity of purpose.
Anyway, I hope that as more Africans amplify the message of Pan-Africanism, more people will buy in
The major reason why our working class would be against the military juntas of the Alliance of the Sahel States or the idea of Pan-Africanism is because they live under the delusion or belief that colonialism actually ended since the 1950s. They actually believe they've been largely liberated from foreign (largely western) control. Not only did colonialism not end (it just gave itself a makeover) but it is determined to maintain control, at whatever cost to the rightful landowners of the continent, the black class of workers across the continent. Pan-Africanism isn't a nice to have (just as African controlled nuclear weapons was never a "nice to have"), it is the only successful strategy to liberate the continent from economic enslavement and global subordination. Without Pan-Africanism you get Rwanda and Uganda (acting as foreign proxies I suspect) and invading Congo to serve their self interests at the expense of the Congolese working class; you get Zimbabwe brutalised by foreign-controlled economic mass murderous means and now being made to pay racialised white upper-middle-to-upper-class farmers (while never being paid a cent of reparations for direct colonialism). Power respects power. Unfortunately, pretending we are a bunch of individuals in a continent where the minute you leave the continent you're just another "barbarian from the jungle" (the words of an EU official) or in the words of the former Finance Minister of Finland, Climate change could be stopped if more African women were given abortions. Power comes from unity. Power comes from African controlled defence, not from lofty ideals while you're chained to the floor on your land.
For me, it is the unreasonable entitlement that pervades policy choices in relation to Africa. Loved this piece.
There are some country based forums, nairaland for example. I think people can subscribe to the content on twitter and review it after reading then publish. I don't think i have seen anything worth paying for on twitter.
Great article!
Thank you African Review, I've just gone through some of your work, amazing stuff👏🏿 cannot wait to read the rest
So much for “freedom of speech”. 😂😂
I know, right?🤦🏽♀️🤦🏽♀️
Hi Mxro,
I have to check out nairaland, I didn't know about it.
And I agree, there is nothing worth paying for on Twitter but I hate how the subscription locks a lot of people out. It is also really ironic because Elon has been quoted saying "Twitter is like the public town square"
Who locks out people out of the town square?
For me, it is the unreasonable entitlement that pervades policy choices in relation to Africa. Loved this piece.
This is an interesting article and the last para are particularly relevant. I have been thinking along the same line but was not aware of those African platforms. Please interview them and lets support their work. Why should we not support our own now that it is clear social media platforms are there to serve geopolitical interests of big powers.
Thank you Karim. Appreciate it🙏🏼 Actually, Circo.Africa just responded to my request a week ago and they are interested in having the conversation as well. Cannot wait to have the interview and share with y'all.
You are right, until we have our own platforms as Africans, we will keep serving the geopolitical interests of big powers to Africa's detriment.