NEPAD Business Foundation African Leadership Programme

WHY I AM AN AFRICAN

NBF AFRICAN LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME

MAY 2007

I would like to consider the term “African” both from a generic view in which case people may be classified as Africans by no input from them and from an individual value internalization view in which case being African becomes a choice, which is consciously and freely made by the individual.

In the generic approach, African itself is a geographical expression and a group of countries within the same physical proximity. Physical proximity will naturally bring about similar beliefs, practices and values as a result of acculturation. Other manifestations of involuntary Africanism may be seen in citizenship by birth and citizenship by decent; after it is said that all black people originate from Africa.

Historically, countries in Africa which were mostly formed by the whites for administrative convenience have gone through similar experiences of white domination and slave trade. As a result of this common fear and hazard, there have been alignments and fraternity of the people as it is said “people bond in adversity”.

However, my opinion of being African stems from a people with a similar shared vision of greatness for the geographic location and its people economically, psychologically and spiritually. It is interesting to note that in this respect there are a number of people who are more African than black people or people who were born within the borders of Africa. Similarly we have a number of people who would otherwise qualify to be Africans but who refuse to share this common vision of a great continent.

I have chosen voluntarily to be an African both at heart and in deed.