All Eyes On Africa: An Introduction To The Continent
“It’s obvious that the rest of the world loves high African culture, African culture period.” -Hugh Masekela, South African Jazz Musician
Africa, deemed by many to be the cradle of humankind, is a continent where the intersection of culture, tradition and wealth is further enriched with centuries of pioneers and revolutionaries having strived for the continued success of their people and the diaspora. It is a land of diverse landscapes full of biodiversity which showcases its rare animals and beautiful flora on a ground that holds the earth’s largest reserves of precious metals and contains about half of the world’s gold. The land of sophistication, technology and innovation bred two of the seven natural wonders of the ancient world, allowed one man to becoming the richest man ever in human history and was a place where scholars from every corner of the planet would go to develop their foundation in the sciences, law, arts and many other disciplines. Although western civilization is viewed by many as the epicenter of the modern world, many are quickly shifting their lens towards Africa. Being so expansive and awe-inspiring, the continent cannot be viewed strictly as a monolith. It is now comprised of 54 sovereign states, 10 non-sovereign territories and 2 de facto independent states with little to no global recognition. With over 3,000 tribes and 2,000 languages and at about 30.3 million km², the continent houses the 2nd largest continent population at about 1.2 billion people along with holding over 1,100 animal species. Africa represents a new age of global expansion, teeming with culture while boasting a numerous untapped resources. The abundance of opportunity of Africa can be seen spewing from its borders.
Even though the continent is rife with opportunity and hope in its future, a romanticized view does not properly highlight the struggles, turmoil and adversity that many of its people had to confront and endure to survive. Africa currently contains nations with some of the lowest GDP rates and human capital index values on the planet in addition to the highest rates of unemployment and disease prevalence. Many countries are dealing with food and power shortages, corruption at multiple levels, civil unrest and the increasing rates of consumption of natural resources consumption by foreign multinational corporations. Many are faced with geo-political and socioeconomic issues that may take decades to remediate due to the systemic nature of the dilemma. Although the continent suffers from its own undoing, the various discrepancies of African nations from global standards can be derived from each nation’s history, political system, infrastructure and bureaucracy. To put it into perspective, western imperialism has plagued Africans for centuries with multiple instances dating long before the transatlantic slave trade and the scramble for Africa over 400 years ago. The imperialist tactics, sometimes under the guise of exploration or divine right, resulted in families being separated, periods of anarchy, the manipulation of economic systems and the complete upheaval of a sovereign’s sociopolitical status. Many African nations today have fought for and attained their liberation only within the past century; so it will take decades for nations to develop their infrastructure and autonomy to become a fully developed countries rivaling many of the world powers of today.
There is no “one size fits all solution”. It would take a united effort between Africans and members of the diaspora for every nation to be in a better state. The African Union, comprised of 55 member states, aims to assuage the plights of Africans through peacekeeping efforts, human rights campaigns and project development across the continent. It has shifted its purpose from strictly political independence for its states to continental integration, socio economic development, peace and security amongst the diaspora. A breakdown of the agency’s plan can be found in the Agenda2063 plan, an undertaking that would facilitate Africa’s transition into being at the apex of the modern world. Other agencies such as the United Nations, made up of 193 member states with its main centers of Africa in Kenya and Nairobi, have taken the call to aid people and communities all over the continent. There are thousands of humanitarian and non-governmental organizations providing aid and relief to Africa, however, organizations alone cannot bring about the necessary change that the continent needs. The restoration and strengthening of the continent and the diaspora is a continuous process requiring effective collaboration between its citizens and humanitarian organizations.
THIS IS A CALL TO ACTION
To take the time to learn about the rich cultures of Africa and the diaspora. To read about the history, to be aware of the hardships people go through and ask yourself what you can do to help others, to immerse yourself within the traditions and share what stands out to you.
