Thursday 29 September 2011

The regeneration of Africa

"The regeneration of Africa means that a new and unique civilization is soon to be added to the world."

In reference to what has been since termed as the African Renaissance was first capture in a speech by
Pixley Ka Isaka Seme in a speech he gave to Colombia University in the early 1900.


Seme and three colleagues laid a foundation of modern South Africa when they organized the South African Native National Congress in 1912. Renamed the African National Congress in 1923, the group has led the struggle for political, social, and economic rights for black South Africans. 

In reality the regeneration of Africa is a vision that has been related by African leaders with a desire or rather optimism to move past the dark age of colonialism, towards a ounce esteemed consciousness of Africanism. There is a much needed effort to bridge the gap between the fore fathers of the concept of the African Renaissance, a united Africa and today's New World Order.

Given that whites ruled over Africans during the colonial era and believed it was their destiny and responsibility to do so, because Africans were racially inferior, marked the height of European imperial arrogance and racial supremacy. The psychological warfare and the aftermath is still bearing fruit today. The world would much rather view Africans as victims or a charity case.

But perhaps the most resounding fact is young Africans have heathed the call for a rebirth, and have demonstrated their will to be part of this movement. Hence today's youth are more vocal and addement about "being-proudly-African". After all the rebirth is about a self identity, a bolder and self assured psyche that is resillient and progressive.

Even though it is 100 years later since the first speech about the rebirth of Africa, it has certainly planted a seed of inspiration and a set target that over time will become a reality....Rise Africa!

This reminds us of an African icon Thomas Sankara, President of Burkino Faso overthrown and assassinated in a coup d'état led by the French-backed Blaise Compaoré on October 15, 1987. A week before his execution, he declared:
"While revolutionaries as individuals can be murdered, you cannot kill ideas