DECOLONIZING THE AFRICAN MIND The cruelest thing slavery and colonialism did to the African was to destroy their memory of what they were before foreign contact. An idea was conceived, and this gave birth to the ideology of pan-Africanism: Pan-Africanism is an ideology and movement that encourages the solidarity of Africans worldwide. It is based on the belief that unity is vital to economic, social and political progress and aims to “unify and uplift” people of African descent. The ideology asserts that the fates of all African people and countries are intertwined. At its core pan-Africanism is “a belief that African peoples, both on the continent and in the Diaspora, share not merely a common history, but a common destiny”. The pan-Africanism pioneers and heroes set the ball rolling some 50+ years ago. It is now up to the new crop of African leaders to show their will and political courage in order to assure that this new pan-African institution becomes an efficient instrument; and NOT a place for endless discussions without implementations. The onus of electing new crop of leaders is in your might and is your democratic right. It is prudent to choose proactive and pro pan-Africanism leaders. Here is the last letter (last communication) Dr Patrice Lumumba, the pan-Africanism hero wrote to his dear wife Pauline Lumumba, just before he died. In effect, it is a message to all Africans in the diaspora and in Africa. It is my desire that it will inspire you, and make you have a paradigm shift towards pan-Africanism and its eventual actualization: “My dear companion, I write you these words without knowing if they will reach you, when they will reach you, or if I will still be living when you read them. All during the length of my fight for the independence of my country, I have never doubted for a single instant the final triumph of the sacred cause to which my companions and myself have consecrated our lives. But what we wish for our country, its right to an honorable life, to a spotless dignity, to an independence without restrictions. Belgian colonialism and its Western allies-who have found direct and indirect support, deliberate and not deliberate among certain high officials of the United Nations, this organization in which we placed all our confidence when we called for their assistance-have not wished it. They have corrupted certain of our fellow countrymen, they have contributed to distorting the truth and our enemies, that they will rise up like a single person to say no to a degrading and shameful colonialism and to reassume their dignity under a pure sun. We are not alone. Africa, Asia, and free and liberated people from every corner of the world will always be found at the side of the Congolese. They will not abandon the light until the day comes when there are no more colonizers and their mercenaries in our country. To my children whom I leave and whom perhaps I will see no more, I wish that they be told that the future of the Congo is beautiful and that it expects for each Congolese, to accomplish the sacred task of reconstruction of our independence and our sovereignty; for without dignity there is no liberty, without justice there is no dignity, and without independence there are no free men. No brutality, mistreatment, or torture has ever forced me to ask for grace, for I prefer to die with my head high, my faith steadfast, and my confidence profound in the destiny of my country, rather than to live in submission and scorn of sacred principles. History will one day have its say, but it will not be the history that Brussels, Paris, Washington or the United Nations will teach, but that which they will teach in the countries emancipated from colonialism and its puppets. Africa will write its own history, and it will be, to the north and to the south of the Sahara, a history of glory and dignity. Do not weep for me, my dear companion. I know that my country, which suffers so much, will know how to defend its independence and its liberty. Long live the Congo! Long live Africa!” Afrik-news
Posted on: Sat, 15 Nov 2014 12:09:49 +0000
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