Reclaiming Africa’s Narrative: A Call to Unity, Self-determination and Renaissance

By George Omagbemi Sylvester

In 1988, during the waning days of apartheid, South Africa’s then-president P.W. Botha allegedly made a declaration so abhorrent it still echoes in the ears of all who believe in justice and equality: “Black people cannot rule themselves because they don’t have the brain and mental capacity to govern a society.” This vile statement, whether apocryphal or not, encapsulates the supremacist ideology that underpinned centuries of colonial subjugation, racial discrimination and the systemic erosion of African dignity.

But time has proven Botha and all who think like him resoundingly wrong.

The Colonial Disruption of African Societies
Before European intervention, Africa was not a dark, directionless wilderness as imperialists often depicted. It was a continent bursting with vibrant civilizations, flourishing trade routes and governance systems grounded in consensus, justice and communal responsibility. From the intellectual legacy of Timbuktu in Mali, the economic might of the Benin and Oyo empires, to the political sophistication of the Ashanti and Zulu nations, Africa was anything but backward.

Colonialism was not a civilizing mission, it was a criminal enterprise. It dismantled well-structured societies, imposed arbitrary borders, stole natural resources and pitted ethnic groups against one another to divide and rule. The very chaos and underdevelopment often blamed on Africans today are direct consequences of this historical sabotage.

Yet, amid the ruins, Africa’s spirit was never broken.

African Leaders Advocating for Self-Reliance and Unity
Across the ages, a cadre of fearless African leaders emerged to confront neocolonialism and resurrect the dream of a self-determined continent. These were not mere politicians, they were revolutionaries, thinkers and builders.

Thomas Sankara, the martyred President of Burkina Faso, remains one of the most iconic voices against foreign domination. He warned, “He who feeds you, controls you.” Sankara rejected dependency on Western aid, choosing instead to launch agricultural reforms, nationalize land and promote local industries. His vision was clear: true liberation begins with economic independence.

He also exposed the deceptive nature of imperialism: “Imperialism often occurs in more subtle forms like a loan, food aid, blackmail.” His words ring truer today, as many African economies are buried under unsustainable debt and politically motivated aid packages.

Paul Kagame, Rwanda’s transformational leader, has demonstrated that African nations can rise from the ashes of genocide through homegrown solutions. He declared, “In Africa today, we recognize that trade and investment and not aid, are pillars of development.” Under Kagame’s leadership, Rwanda has embraced technology, promoted gender equality and prioritized good governance, becoming a beacon of possibility on a continent that has suffered relentless mischaracterization.

Muammar Gaddafi, controversial but undeniably visionary, imagined a “United States of Africa.” He sought a single African currency, passport and military force—tools that could end external manipulation and promote Pan-African strength. Though his methods were divisive and his end tragic, Gaddafi’s dream for African unity remains relevant and necessary.

These leaders flawed yet courageous yet understood a fundamental truth: Africa’s future cannot be outsourced.

The Path Forward: Rewriting the African Script
To reclaim Africa’s narrative, Africans must take control of the pen. The stories we tell, the policies we adopt and the vision we cast must be authentically African and unapologetically bold.

1. Promote Pan-African Unity
The 55 nations of Africa must act as one. Whether confronting climate change, foreign exploitation or security threats, UNITY is our STRONGEST weapon. Regional integration through platforms like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a step in the right direction, but integration must go beyond economics; it must be ideological, cultural and political. Africa must speak with one voice in the global arena.

2. Invest in Education and Innovation
An education system that glorifies colonial figures while ignoring Africa’s own thinkers is complicit in mental slavery. Curricula across Africa must teach our history of our heroes, our philosophers and our scientists. From Imhotep of Egypt to Cheikh Anta Diop of Senegal, Africa has produced intellectual giants. We must train a generation that is technologically competent, globally competitive and deeply rooted in its heritage.

3. Celebrate Cultural Heritage
Our languages, clothing, music and rituals are not primitive relics, they are treasures. The Yoruba, Swahili, Hausa, Zulu and many other languages must be preserved, promoted and passed on. Cultural pride is not merely symbolic. It is the foundation of psychological liberation. Africans must stop measuring progress by how closely they resemble the West.

4. Strengthen Governance and Institutions
Corruption, weak institutions and authoritarianism are cancers eating away at Africa’s future. But they are not intrinsic to African DNA, they are the legacy of extractive colonial structures. We must dismantle those legacies. Transparent elections, independent judiciaries, press freedom and civic engagement are not luxuries; they are necessities. Democracy must be African-owned and people-driven.

5. Reduce Dependency on External Aid
No nation becomes great by surviving on handouts. Aid often comes with strings attached, strings that entangle sovereignty. Africa must mobilize its resources from agriculture and minerals to youth and innovation and to build sustainable economies. Local production, regional value chains and intra-African trade are the way forward.

Reclaiming the Mind: The Final Frontier
Colonialism did not only conquer land, it colonized the mind. Until we unlearn inferiority and embrace the richness of our identity, progress will remain elusive. Frantz Fanon warned, “The colonized can see only one solution: to rise in arms and reclaim his humanity.” Today’s weapons, however, are not guns but ideas. Our battle is against ignorance, division and dependency.

The media must stop portraying Africa as a CONTINENT of DESPAIR. African writers, filmmakers, academics and entrepreneurs must tell their own stories. Platforms like Nollywood, Afrobeat, African Literature and tech startups are already rewriting perceptions, but more must be done.

Lastly: Inventing the Future
The lie that Africans cannot govern themselves has been shattered by history, resilience and the defiant march of time. The continent that gave birth to humanity is more than capable of shaping its own destiny.

As Thomas Sankara passionately declared, “We must dare to invent the future.” That future is one where Africans are united not just by geography but by purpose. A future where the youth are empowered, the elders respected, the culture celebrated and the leadership accountable.

Africa is not a victim, it is a victor in waiting. It needs no savior from the outside. The answer lies within: in its people, its traditions, its resources and its unyielding spirit.

The time to reclaim the narrative is now. The time to rise, to build…to lead is now!