A Transition for Africa
As you have rummaged through these writings you have probably come to recognize a running theme. Africa is in crisis, a crisis whose foundation was laid by the structure of the colonial administration put in place by the European powers in the time they directly ruled the continent and perpetuated by inept politicians from independence to the present.
The writings to this point are prologue to the exploration of ideas that can break this continent of immeasurable potential out of the cycle of poverty, ignorance and destitution. It is not the nature of any peoples, let alone Africans, to assume a permanently downtrodden posture. Africa is a continent with tremendous natural resources, a vibrant population and an inherent inventiveness that if together unleashed is truly likely to lead the continent through a renaissance that will lift the continent out of the morass that a combination of deliberate planning and short sighted leadership has cemented in place.
It is time to harness the full potential of ideas that to this point have merely amounted to academic exercises. This statement is not an attempt to denigrate the work of the great thinkers of the continent. There are many great thinkers and many ideas but what they have lacked is a cohesive approach and a solid implementation plan that keeps the goal in perspective while incorporating the interests of all the stakeholders in the process.
The stakeholders in the process range from the African children who first saw the light of the world today to corporations across the industrialized world along with the politicians and religious leaders of the various faiths that claim large African followings. A thorough analysis of the interests of each of the stakeholder groups must be conducted. The stake holders should be measured and ranked in terms of current and potential ability to influence the process in a manner that will redirect efforts from the goal towards meeting their own self interest at the expense of the others, the process and, ultimately, Africa.
In addition to understanding what it is that motivates and drives each stakeholder, it is important to understand the root cause of the current problems so that Africa does not find herself expending a tremendous amount of energy struggling with the symptoms while the underlying condition goes untreated. If she does this all she will be left with is either utter failure or an effective way of prettily papering over the problems while hobbling along on evidently lame feet.
There are many things that must be challenged, conventional wisdom, political structures, economic systems and cultural bastardization among them. These and other things must be challenged not for the mere sake of generating arguments and their ensuing heated debates. These things must be challenged so that their efficacy can be either established or disproved. Those that are disproved should be discarded and the rest should be incorporated into the effort wherever they fit the overall strategy.
The foundation and pillars of a new Africa cannot afford to be polluted by outdated and irrelevant notions and conventions. They cannot be allowed to be diluted by the grafting of ideas and processes that have not worked in other areas. That is not to say that all existing ideas should be discarded. No, there are a good many ideas that either in their current form or, modified to the extent needed, have the potential of serving Africa well.
One two large impediments to progress are pride and ego. There are those who have presented ideas in the past and are wedded to them until death do they part. They must be willing to allow a full and honest assessment of their ideas and, if they do not hold water, be happy to let them go and get on board with the ideas that show real potential of constructively contributing to positive movement.
Africa needs change. Not for the sake of change, not for the sake of diplomatic treaties and proclamations but change for the betterment of the people who make up this continent. Change that will allow to Africa to take her place at the table and bring more than an appetite.
The writings to this point are prologue to the exploration of ideas that can break this continent of immeasurable potential out of the cycle of poverty, ignorance and destitution. It is not the nature of any peoples, let alone Africans, to assume a permanently downtrodden posture. Africa is a continent with tremendous natural resources, a vibrant population and an inherent inventiveness that if together unleashed is truly likely to lead the continent through a renaissance that will lift the continent out of the morass that a combination of deliberate planning and short sighted leadership has cemented in place.
It is time to harness the full potential of ideas that to this point have merely amounted to academic exercises. This statement is not an attempt to denigrate the work of the great thinkers of the continent. There are many great thinkers and many ideas but what they have lacked is a cohesive approach and a solid implementation plan that keeps the goal in perspective while incorporating the interests of all the stakeholders in the process.
The stakeholders in the process range from the African children who first saw the light of the world today to corporations across the industrialized world along with the politicians and religious leaders of the various faiths that claim large African followings. A thorough analysis of the interests of each of the stakeholder groups must be conducted. The stake holders should be measured and ranked in terms of current and potential ability to influence the process in a manner that will redirect efforts from the goal towards meeting their own self interest at the expense of the others, the process and, ultimately, Africa.
In addition to understanding what it is that motivates and drives each stakeholder, it is important to understand the root cause of the current problems so that Africa does not find herself expending a tremendous amount of energy struggling with the symptoms while the underlying condition goes untreated. If she does this all she will be left with is either utter failure or an effective way of prettily papering over the problems while hobbling along on evidently lame feet.
There are many things that must be challenged, conventional wisdom, political structures, economic systems and cultural bastardization among them. These and other things must be challenged not for the mere sake of generating arguments and their ensuing heated debates. These things must be challenged so that their efficacy can be either established or disproved. Those that are disproved should be discarded and the rest should be incorporated into the effort wherever they fit the overall strategy.
The foundation and pillars of a new Africa cannot afford to be polluted by outdated and irrelevant notions and conventions. They cannot be allowed to be diluted by the grafting of ideas and processes that have not worked in other areas. That is not to say that all existing ideas should be discarded. No, there are a good many ideas that either in their current form or, modified to the extent needed, have the potential of serving Africa well.
One two large impediments to progress are pride and ego. There are those who have presented ideas in the past and are wedded to them until death do they part. They must be willing to allow a full and honest assessment of their ideas and, if they do not hold water, be happy to let them go and get on board with the ideas that show real potential of constructively contributing to positive movement.
Africa needs change. Not for the sake of change, not for the sake of diplomatic treaties and proclamations but change for the betterment of the people who make up this continent. Change that will allow to Africa to take her place at the table and bring more than an appetite.
posted by Bongo at 8:35 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home