Why Can't We? A story of Africa
Everyone who has never been in Africa thinks the continent is a dark continent and nothing good comes out of Africa. We want to remind the world that it is Africa that sustained the world with its labour and natural resources.
I was very keen to write a book back in 2018 when Donald Trump’s racist speech was shared all over social media. The speech spoken by the headmaster of the world and a global bully said that Africans had no sense of belonging and they are not serious with life and are only after eating and having sex, bearing so many children.
Donald Trump took a swipe at the continent itself and the African American community. This speech was white supremacist and the American community still has marks of racism and even in South Africa there are still racists who think they own Africa. But the people of Africa actually won their independence but the effects of imperialism are still in place.
The book in its original form looks at Africa and its vast potential across sectors from its initial human capital to natural resources. The continent can begin again after years of colonization and neo-colonialism. The book is a guide to Africans as it opens up the first chapter by teaching the young man to be responsible as the male child and the future of Africa.
The African man is taught to stand out and lead the African community. Every African man is responsible to champion his own destiny. As a lion and an African man the world is at your feet and much can be achieved. The book took a swipe at the role models of Africa in the name of Haile Selassie, Nkwame Nkrumah and Nelson Mandela. The philosophy of Nelson Mandela teaches us in never stop dreaming, never stop believing and never giving up. The story of Nelson Mandela is a long walk to freedom. The story of change and independence is best described to South Africa’s move for apartheid to freedom through Nelson Mandela.
The book teaches the African male child to be a leader. A leader to the families and a leader in the community. The continent is looking for leaders who take Donald Trump head on. The late Robert Mugabe at the 2017 United Nations General Assembly labeled Trump as the Giant Gold Goliath. We need leaders who promote racial equality and this can be achieved when all Africans are united. It is a possibility that the people of Africa can speak with one voice.
The next chapter African Queen takes a look at the outstanding women of the epoch like Winnie Mandela. Winnie Mandela stands out as a war of liberation hero and a woman who believed in the dream of his husband. The women are depicted as people who are not united and fight against each other. This is what has brought Africa backwards because women are seen as second class citizens because of patriarchy. But the book tries to empower women such that they can also partake in politics and other leadership roles. We had women in influential positions like Malawian President Joice Banda and Zimbabwean Vice President Joice Mujuru
The book navigates at how women can also run businesses like men. African women when empowered can achieve more because Africa has the resources and manpower. Women in Africa constitute more than 52% in total population and there are more women than men. This is the reason why African women can vote themselves in power. We are living in an age where education empowers the girl child and this has made women to achieve more and hold higher positions with higher qualifications.
The chapter Me, My Community and I is hinged on the aspirations of the African community as to how we can achieve more as a community. Despite the fact that Donald Trump looked down on Africa and its people, the people continue to be resilient and tackle obstacles. Africa has far much better leaders than Donald Trump. The best kind of leadership in Africa is that of Paul Kagame of Rwanda and the late John Pombe Magufuli of Tanzania. When we talk of integrity, Africa produces the best type of leadership despite the fact that there is dictatorship and rampant corruption.
Mother Africa has so many problems as some of the wrong things that were done by our forefathers. The people of Africa did wrong by willingly participating in Slave Trade. It was one of our people that captured slaves for the whites. It is public knowledge that the black man was cheated. He was given valuables in exchange of slaves and this why Africa sustained the world through slaves but was not compensated for the atrocity. Our fathers were tricked into signing concessions that gave imperialists exclusive rights to our minerals and resources through protectorates. When Africa was colonized our forefathers did not understand what was going on and to an extent we can blame missionaries for being intermediaries in negotiations for colonization. Missionaries gave exaggerated information to their home countries and had created close relationships with local leaders like Mzilikazi and Lobengula. In terms of colonization rival African chiefs assisted whites in colonizing some African states. This is evidenced when Khama sent 300 troops to assist in the capture of Matebeleland in present day Zimbabwe.
The allegory of a house is pictured in the Building Africa From Scratch chapter. The chapter looks at how the house called Africa was built. The African nation had a foundation deeply rooted in the African culture but the white man took over the house and built it with his own principle. The African moral values were diluted and this is why today Africa is suffering from identity crisis. There are fundamentals in building a house, the foundation, window level and the roof. This is why we are at crossroads as a continent because we are living in a borrowed house and Donald Trump would find it easy to attack us.
The Yes We Can movement did not die in the United States but it has found its way to Africa. Former President Barack Obama stands out to be an icon to the black community. He became the first American president of colour and this was historic. His term and rule was appreciated by many and he did not cause trouble in the world like Donald Trump. President Obama is the complete opposite to President Trump. The book labels Obama as an African light that can champion change in the land of Africa.
The last chapter is about the unification of Africa. The continent has moved from nationalists to economic freedom fighters. The new generation under Julius Malema has found light in unifying the continent. The continent is not a dark land there is light in the continent and this is why Donald Trump does not want Africans to expropriate land without compensation. White supremacists are afraid that the blacks and former slaves are empowering themselves. Donald Trump as a bully as he is, he has continued to torment the world with his bizarre approach to politics. The continent shall unite under one economy and one currency. We take a look at the efforts of PLO Lumumba in Kenya and other Africans after pan Africanism.
This book was inspired by Donald Trump as to why Africans can achieve more and can start from scratch. The pan African book is a must read for every African and the African Americans and the African diaspora. The book is readily available on Amazon and I highly recommend it to Africans who are looking for their identity. The white community is encouraged to read the African story and the struggles of the former slaves. There is only one race in the world which is the human race. Together we stand, divided we fall. Let’s build a better world today.
You can directly purchase the book Why Can't We? on Amazon for USD10.00
