The Dawn of a New African Era
The European gospel that was preached by David Livingstone and many such colonialists who perverted religion to pilfer land and resources from the Africans taught that Africans were the descendants of Ham and were therefore cursed so no good could come out of Africa.
There is something beautiful that is coming out of continent once dubbed the ‘dark continent’; she is awakening to her glory. There has never been a better time to be an African. Opportunities are galore the challenge is to seize them by positioning oneself to take advantage of them.
Africans living in the Diaspora must look to invest in their native countries to give these small economies the vote of confidence that is needed to attract larger investments. Thirty years ago who would have thought that Africa would have its own black billionaires? Today there are two on the Forbes list and counting; a testament that the God who blessed Europe, America, Asia has smiled upon the continent of Africa too.
Today the richest black people in the world do not live in Europe, or American but right in the cradle of mankind. Blacks as well as others have demystified the myth that Africans cannot run anything or lack leadership skills. Although South Africa is categorized as second world economy, ordinary South Africans do not own the means of production. There is the illusion of freedom because apartheid does not exist anymore but ordinary citizens still languish in poverty with no way out. Nigeria on the other hand is creating real winners who can boast of owning and controlling their own economy through business ownership. A child in South Africa grows up and wants to find a good job at a multi-national corporation. Children in West Africa grow up and want to own their own company like his mom, dad and family members.
It is no longer just enough to live overseas; blacks in America are experiencing the worst recession in modern era. Statistics show that a criminal of another race is more likely to get a job before a black man with no criminal history. These statistics reflect the reality of many black people living in Europe and the Americas; a very grim future. They are constantly at the mercy of employers who are often non-black. There is need for blacks to look into investing in the countries where blacks are the majority to generate market for their products then branch out to the ends of the earth.
Small businesses are the backbone of the best economy in the world and if we follow America’s example then African governments must create conditions that encourage ordinary people to start their own businesses. It is amazing to me how many people believe that having large foreign investor is the cure all and ends all when the best economy itself relies on small businesses. For years Africans had been taught to look for foreign investment as the cure to their economic woes but that is hardly the solution. Ordinary Africans must look to create the change they want to see from within.
When America was rising to hegemony she never called for investors to come to her shores. She bred her powerhouses from within; this is a great model or those who aspire to her level of greatness. The locals must be able to consume the goods that are made and save and invest in their own countries. This is the genius of America, American ideas tailored for the American environment, if I may borrow some of Lincoln’s words “The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the hopeful present.” The occasion is piled high with opportunities and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new we must think anew and act anew.”
Courtesy of Anna Mosi oa Tunya 2011
