Is the African Day worth celebrating

On the entire continent of Africa, that celebrates such a special day, only Ghana, Mali, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, has set such a day as a public holiday for the commemoration of the African Day.

On 25th May 1963; came thirty African leaders that were very passionate to see a great development of Africa and were very committed to project it identity in the global market as another force to reckon with, therefore resulted in arranging for their meeting at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to signed a treaty to be a charter that will be an evidence of the oath made on such a memorable day, which the venue chosen had a spiritual connotation, because an African do not make a joke with matters of spiritual significance

The Africans, I know in early 20s and 30s of historical records; were men and women of their words who support it with a committed action to justify their confidence and passionate in their mission with heroism being core of their adventure. There rise a question, who is an African, such a question has been very problematic in terms of scholastic definition and as a result has generated wide range of intellectual opinion, making it quiet difficult to have a single universal accepted definite answer but for the reason of this essay has resorted to limit my case, by using Chester Higgins (Jr.) definition that state “We are not Africans because we are born in Africa, we are Africans because Africa is born in us”. I ascribed to this definition because it simple, popular and includes all categories of Africa descendant yet with no citizenship on the continent of Africa as at now.

The Africa I came from and study about are known of storytelling by the old folks. Such platform gave birth to unity and a sense of seeking for the welfare of our brothers and sisters resulting in knight of brotherhood spirit.

The land, in which any man or woman older than you could represent your father and mother during the absence of your parent and play that role effectively as traditions required. The Only continent, a stranger could become your brother or sister and be treated like sibling from the same parent. That is why a real African is very hospitable.

The continent that define a man not by the number of words he speaks but the evidence of his great effort through successful entrepreneurship mission in Agricultural sector and ready to protect his kingdom with his life and strive to attain high statues of the society or the kingdom he belongs.

The Africa man I know was very conscious of his credibility and respect gain through the society he belongs; such is well demonstrated by Prof. Chinua Achebe in his novel “Things Fall Apart”. On this continent, he who talks much was classified as unwise, that was the reason Achebe placed it in a perfect context “Among the Africans, Proverb are the Palm Oil in which words are eaten”.

Prior to the given birth of Politics on the continent of Africa which gave birth to much talking resulting in many lies, our people were not familiar with much lies and empty promises because every words not sure of the outcome, never need to be uttered, because you may be made to sworn an oath before the African Gods which I have known and believe them not to tolerate nonsense and very justice in their actions and judgement.

Our culture, taught us to place value in relationship and being each brother’s keeper that is the solutions to our prosperity; furthermore wealth and honour among men are not fought for but is the rewards of the Gods according to the exhibition of character of truthfulness, love and caring for your neighbours and finally hardworking. Many foundations are ascribing to the fact that, in such an Africa day, the entire continent should project the good things about Africa from where it has come from and where it is heading to, as a sign of positive improvement. I may not condemn that assertion and the freedom of such people to celebrate such a day, but I hold a different opinion to it. I think the direction, Africa is heading towards to, is a dictated direction, therefore very confuse of the clarity of it future, with exposure to many knowledge, that is not becoming a blessing but rather creating confusion because it delink from our cultural root that could give us a sense of our identity. As once said by Bob Marley the musician and a philosopher “if you do not know where you come from, you may not know where you are going”.

How far has the charter signed on 1963 at Addis Baba been accomplished? The content of the Charter agreed by the thirty African leaders were not different from how we the Africans do our things, to even concluded that such a task and a duty was difficult to fulfil. For case-study purpose to support my argument, I am going to list 8 out of the 10 reasons that made the thirty African leaders travelled at the expense of the tax payers’ money to sign the document which the communication to us presently indicate, it has been impossible to achieve.

OAU /AU CHARTER 1963

Convincing that it is the inalienable right of all people to control their own destiny Conscious of the fact that freedom, equality, justice and dignity are essential objectives for the achievement of the legitimate aspirations of the African people Conscious of our responsibility to harness the natural and human resource of our continent for the total advancement of our people in all spheres of human endeavours Inspired by a common determination to promote understanding among our peoples and cooperation’s among our state in response to the aspirations of our people for brother-hood and solidarity, in a larger unity transcending ethnic and national difference. Convinced that in order to translate this determination into dynamic force in the cause of human progress, conditions for peace and security must be established and maintained.

Determined to safeguard and consolidate the hard-won independence as well as the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our state and to fight against neo-colonization in all its forms.

Desirous that all African states should henceforth unite so that the welfare and well-being of their people can be assured Resolved to reinforce the link between our states by establishing and strengthening common Institution.

My question is; are these focal reasons difficult to accomplish considering the history of who an African is. Yet many scholastic essays presented by the student of Africa studies and Law Student of Cambridge and Oxford University attest to the fact that such charter failed to hold because most of the African leaders were not committed to it through their thesis and dissertation presentation. Then why did they waste the tax-payers money to go there and further to endorse the document. That is not the character of an African. He will not wage a war, he is not prepared for.

So to my personal opinion there is an indication, something was wrong somewhere and still wrong up to now, therefore need to cease the celebration and solved the question before designing a celebration for the people to fully patronise in it and give a historic significance to such a day.

Something is quiet amazing and surprise within the new successors, who are to continue the charter agenda; apart from their lackadaisical attitude towards the fulfilling of the charter, they are rather acting directly opposite to the charter document their predecessors signed to bind all the state on such a memorable day. The new African Leaders are now amassing wealth through dubious means and having the gut before their people to further compete among themselves as who is the richest African president.

Things has falling apart therefore the centre cannot hold, if the foundation of OAU/AU is no more, the rest of the bricks are useless to talk about agenda 2063 for we to waste our precious time and thinking to plan, which will just be another compiled document with lack of commitment to act on it.