Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
The 57th anniversary of Africa Day has been marked by a call for Africans on the continent to cooperate, work together, end exploitation of Africans and tell their own stories.
“We call on all who care about justice to collaborate, put an end to practices that make Africa bleed and subject the Africans to all forms of indignity at home and abroad,” reads in part a Declaration from the Coalition for Africa’s Liberation and Restoration (CALAR) shared with AMECEA.
The need to free Africa has arisen because of the “multinational corporations that continue to exploitatively extract the resources of Africa,” as the declaration by the Coalition for CALAR states.
According to the Executive Director of the Africa Faith and Justice network (AFJN) Fr. Aniedi Okure, “The resources of Africa continue to sustain most of the world; provide raw materials for technological development, medicine, and fuel.” In this case, “the struggle to free Mama Africa and her children is now more urgent.”
Fr. Okure, OP, has called for collaboration of Africans to fight against this manipulation saying, “The need for a true pan-African collaboration to tackle systemic exploitation cannot be overemphasized. Africans have shown over the years their resourcefulness.”
Commenting on the title of the declaration, Africa, Remember Who You Are, the cleric has reminded Africans of how blessed the continent is hence the need to proclaim this on their own and not wait for others to speak on their behalf.
“Africans must tell their own story. A wisdom embedded in African proverb reminds us that ‘Until the lion tells its own story, the story of the hunt will always glorify the hunter.’ Africans must remember who they are, Africans must wake up and recognize how blessed they are and what wealthy continent they live in.”
The Organization of African Unity (OAU) currently known as African Union (AU), was founded in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia by 32 African heads of state on May 25, 1963, hence the annual celebration of Africa Day.
In an interview, the advisor to the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) governance working group Mr. Antony Mbandi also said it is time for Africans to act and go beyond the talk.
“Africans have been talking but with very minimal actions. Africans should now act and show the continent in a different light,” Mr. Mbandi underscored adding that, “for a long time the innovations and economic status of developing countries have been suppressed, creating an economic imbalance which leads African countries to constantly ask for aid from the West rather than develop their own mechanisms.”
He stated that COVID-19 pandemic has provided a platform to showcase Africa and appreciate the initiatives taken by some African countries.
“Currently a home to over 1.3 billion people, Africa is leap-frogging, thanks to her innovation - from the Ushahidi platform to mobile banking perfected by African developers, now is needed a lifeline given the COVID-19 economic disruptions,” Mr. Mbandi highlighted in the declaration by the Coalition for CALAR.
“COVID-19 has spurred a revolution of new technologies—from solar powered hand washing stations made in Ghana, to Madagascar's promise of new treatment, and Senegal’s test kits that are now saving lives throughout the continent,” Mr. Mbandi disclosed adding that “the global pandemic will continue to limit markets from other continents.”
Another member of the coalition Mr. Itumeleng Daniel Mothoagae said that Africans should be committed and free their mind from external support to realize economic growth.
“We will not be fully free until we decolonize our minds and maximize the creativity of our youth. We must harness Africa’s blessings of the sun and wind to power new jobs, grow our own food, and drive a more just economic development model.”