A Solution to Africa’s Problems longs for Western Charm

The African Renaissance is a concept that Africans should solve their own problems the African way. In fact, all African states share a common destiny. But what does it mean to solve challenges encountered by the continent “the African way”? Failure to define African problems is failure to find a solution for those problems!

This is the tallest statue in Africa: the African Renaissance Monument situated in Dakar, Senegal. One of the objectives of the African Renaissance is to eradicate extreme poverty however, it is quite ironic how African countries encounter famine and yet still build statues worth millions of dollars instead of using the capital to feed populations dying of hunger.

(Photo etravelblog.com)

 

In one of his speeches Thabo Mbeki stated that “There is a new dawn on the African horizon”. However, all hope seems to be lost among Africans, with the Ebola epidemic in West Africa and thousands of people dying. Africans have no choice but to rely on the Western nations for assistance. Seeking assistance from the west does not make us a puppet of the West. In fact, Africans ought to view this as a global partnership which will help Africa as a whole before the epidemic reaches other parts of Africa. Therefore, there is no African Renaissance without African unity.  

 

Former South African President Thabo Mbeki; a true African visionary and leader of our people. Who popularised the African Renaissance. (Photo http://www.sahistory.org.za/dated-event/thabo-mbeki-elected-2nd-president-democratic-south-africa)

 

The phrase “African Solution to African Problems” raises controversy. Allegedly African leaders do not solve problems using the African perspective to solve issues, Africa is destined for doom. However, these leaders realise that if they ignore the global perspective to solve issues, Africa is destined for doom. As a result there are various factors that forbid the notion “African solution to African problems”. Therefore, this implies that there is no universal African solution to African problems. But clearly marks that Africans ought to accept that African problems longs for Western charm. Let African’s awake and stop being ignorant.