Economic freedom central to making Africa a world player in all respects
There was ululation when visionary African leaders launched the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 1963. The message was loud and clear – Africa will be liberated and no longer a conveyor belt for colonialism.
On the contrary, it would support movements who fought for the total liberation of Africa. To some extent, this was the culmination of Kwame Nkruma and Patrice Lumumba’s dream of a United States of Africa.
When the 21st century dawned, we realised economic freedom was central to making Africa a world player in every respect, especially in a globalised environment.
SA was given the honour of hosting the launch of African Union (AU), a successor to OAU, in 2002. As we celebrate Africa Day, we need to ask ourselves: What political, social and economic progress has Africa made? Some analysts think that while Africa has made some positive strides, it has also retrogressed. One only has to look at economic and political stranglehold that some European countries still have on their former colonies.
In Africa’s contribution to global civilisation, it is only fair to refer to an aspect of that glorious history.
When ancient Roman scholars spoke about Africa they did so in glowing terms, such as “ex Africa semper aliquid novi” – loosely translated, out of Africa there is always something new.
They were aware of Africa’s contribution, especially in science, mathematics, medicine, architecture, engineering, philosophy and the arts.
Ancient Egyptians invented mathematics.
Egyptians also engaged in engineering, construction, shipbuilding and architecture. They then imparted their vast knowledge to the Greeks, many whose work reflected the great and pervasive influence of the black Africans. Some millennia later, the civilisations of Nubia Aksum, Mapungubwe, Ghana, Mali and Great Zimbabwe followed.
In contrast, the European “pseudo historians” of the 19th century argued black people were incapable of making any significant contribution to human civilisation.
In this regard, historian Basil Davidson observed: “None of this rather fruitless argument, as to the skin colour of the ancient Egyptians before arrival of the Arabs in the 7th century AD would have arisen without the eruption of modern European racism during the 1830s. It became important to the racist, then and since, to deny to Africans any capacity to build a great civilisation. We should dismiss all that. What one needs to hold in mind is the enormous value of ‘African Genius’.”
Pixley ka Isaka Seme also added his voice when he addressed Columbia University students in 1906: “Come with me to the ancient capital of Egypt. Thebes, the city of one hundred gates. The grandeur of its venerable ruins and the gigantic monuments of other nations. All the glory of Egypt belongs to Africa and her people. It is not through Egypt alone that African claims such unrivalled historic achievements.…”
Ongoing archaeological excavations reveal an ancient and pre-colonial Africa of considerable achievement. The Mapungubwe society, once situated in parts of Limpopo, has been associated with the Iron Age, with iron, copper and gold smiths among its artisans, trading with India and China, among other civilisations.
Then followed the ruthless plunder and subjugation of Africa through slavery, colonisation and imperialism. The challenges to European supremacy culminated in the emergence of African movements for liberation.
After SA achieved freedom in 1994, discussions got under way to create an organisation to focus primarily on Africa’s development. That led to the launch of the AU in 2002.
Ancient and pre-colonial ‘‘ Africa of considerable achievement revealed