By Jeffrey Darko
Before the advent of modern day political civilization the idea was clear and simple not concealed as it is today. Africans understood what it meant.What?Liberation!It was all about liberation and a common destiny.Pan-africanism was the blood of every african and the hope of every oppressed individual of the black race.During the era of Marcus Garvey,Kenyata,Julius Nyerere and our own Kwame Nkrumah they spoke with gravitas and precision labelling the continent Africa as a place that could exist without the hands of the foreigner meddling in their affairs.Marcus Garvey was the originator of pan-africanism.
His ideology was built on solid foundation that requested every individual of black descent called pioneers to return to the continent,join in the fight against colonialism,unite and then take charge of our own destiny. In these times of the 21st century the African feel relaxed in the prism of personal gain that prompt him to travel as far as europe risking their lifes on flimsy boats whiles the idea of pan africanism seems to have relinquished. We no longer feel safer in these pan africanist vision.
Let the African not forget these were the same cloak we covered ourselves with when the white man got terrified and pulled out. It is beyond my comprehension and I wish any individual on the continent will bear with me on the matter,did we decide to liberate ourselves from foreign domination in order to compose ourselves in a new era that made us to be ruled again,this time in a well mannered way called neo colonialism or perhaps the answer only you can provide,ridiculous is the word that echoes my ears. Moreover this is tragic for us as we know their existence in the thirties brought a bit of fortune as compared to today.
Though they exploited our resources yet they built our roads,they tortured us but their concern for the human race was more than we feared for our health and safety. Ironically today if pan africanist visionaries like Nkrumah existed they would weep and hand over the egg of power to the very ones they waged war against for the purpose of gaining our freedom.My fear has to do with the leaders of our continent,any ordinary man on the street knows they arw power drained,prefer to be isolated from its own environment that is making deals with international institutions and countries,wage war against their own people,all of which makes us perfect for a clown.Kwame Nkrumah made it clear”the black man is capable of managing his own affairs”this statement is true in the minds of every black man and far from it in reality.
I do not blame the beneficiaries of the system now,be it any political party on our continent who inherited power and is deemed to have failed,however I blame it on the conspirators of the past who had their agenda worked out. Shame on them and their graves for they thought they would be better than the fathers who fought for our freedom. Can the people with power now change our system, quite the opposite it can never change.As my friend would say I dont want to be a prophet of doom. Frankly speaking the system would not change,anyone can make an analysis and come out with their conclusion.
Whoever inherited the system had great policies they then discover their policies would never be implemented. This is the reason,the traitors of our continent have buried the countries two legs in the terrible swamps of the superpowers. It is not easy for anyone to remove himself from a swamp which is why unity comes in place,Marcus Garvey and Nkrumah talked a united states of africa.
The truth is we find ourselves in a weak political unit called the African Union, this is never an epitome of unity, because it is been dictated to by external powers. The african union even though is said to be a symbol of african union yet its very building was erected by the Chinese, it cannot tackle its own issues related with war on the continent,the african union would rather leave peace keeping missions in the hands of the united nation or other different entity. What is the purpose of this unit if we cannot deal with our own issues. I doubt that there is any benefit of the African Union.
Without much time to waste united states of africa is an dream that want all countries in africa to become a federation, thus making the continent a country just like australia. There are alot of benefits attached to the federation. One of the benefit of a united states of africa is unity under a central government who will ensure peace.
The reason why there are war occurring randomly is the fact that there is confusion in the declaration of votes,people accusing others of rigging in elections,manipulating election results etc,this trouble will cease,there wouldn’t be any wars,any potential war can be prevented by the central authority who has overall power over all other states. Most of the time when there is war we wait upon the United Nations and the United States for help meanwhile they are million miles away,the media who is supposed to communicate with them in terms of the right information do not do so,a problem we have to battle with, can we not sell our stories better than anyone outside the continent.
In a united states of africa there is free border. You dont need to pay any levy to travel between states. Doing business becomes easy whiles economies in the country will boom. Africa possess enormous resources,we will be better without outside influence if we harness these resources for the betterment of the African, the funny aspect of the matter is that individual countries in africa trade with europeans more than they trade among themselves. Thus could turn around if this dream becomes a reality.
Africa as well as Africans must renew their thinking and strategically position themselves in a better place of a new era of the white hand slavery.
