Pan-Africanism has been whispered and then shouted the world over as a solution to Africa’s ills and a refuge for blacks the world over. However, I am hesitant to join this bandwagon especially when Ghaddafi, who just called for Nigeria to be split into two, is its current champion.
There is no doubt we need a more united market, more open borders and inter-regional trade but perhaps we must be a bit more cautious in how we try to attain this. The crisis with the Euro shows the difficulty of creating a regional monetary market and currency. Too many countries have different principles and agendas to make it easily fluent.
Without a doubt, we do need united representation on the global stage. Prime Minister Meles of Ethiopia has gone some way in providing a unified front for African demands, particularly when it comes to the issue of climate change. However, it was rather disgraceful to watch the African envoy sitting in Copenhagen, hats in hand, asking for money. No concrete plans as to their intentions, no reform strategies, nothing. Frankly, they looked rather silly and very greedy.
We need to present the continent as a place of serious ambitions, and for that we need well thought-through plans and programs. So here is a policy for them. The approaching World Cup in South Africa has brought to light the difficulty of inter-Africa travel. We have always known this, but it seems the international community was rather shocked at the costs of flights. People will barely be able to make it to the bottom of the continent much less take the opportunity to explore our beautiful lands. I honestly believe a train system that runs through the continent is necessary.
All countries can chip in and it will definitely provide a useful outlet for spending climate aid. Pros and cons? Here goes.
Cons:
Being overrun by refugees (economic, social, etc) is probably the biggest fear in this situation, but it happens anyways. I feel any Nigerian who had landed in Nairobi before the recently changed ridiculous rules and saw Europeans and other whites being fast tracked while they went through all sorts of loopholes will agree with me that something must be done. There are other issues – corruption, who will run it, etc, but the Pros outweigh the Cons.
Here are some positives:
1. Since the continent is blessed with abundant sunlight, we should go for a solar assisted, energy efficient train. This promotes clean technologies research on the continent, is good for the environment, and will be cost effective in the end.
2. An open market: It’s shameful how we continually import from non-African countries when we need markets for our own goods. I know that there are many reasons underlying this trend but publicly a lot of blame is attributed to cost of transportation.
3. Tourism among Africans. It is about time Africans started spending our excess cash on our continent. Does anyone have a clue how breathtaking Namibia is? I do not either but I have heard from a foreigner and I will appreciate if it was easier for me to confirm.
There is of course the reason that started this line of musing – cheap transportation. It should not cost 400 dollars to go from Nairobi to Addis Ababa when their countries touch!
So, this is not the alternative to pan-Africanism but I feel it is a more practical approach to stitch the continent together – something we are in dire need of.
You are so right, I’ve spent the past day trying to plan a West Africa trip/entry to and exit from the continent and learning that the transport routes are still very much colonial ones – I was just telling my mum we need trains! It’s much easier to connect to African countries via the middle east/Europe than it is to go directly from one to the other, and the few direct flights are prohibitively expensive (cf ~£600 from Ghana to Senegal airborne with £59 from London to Paris by train). Meanwhile, the rail guages in neighbouring countries (at least in the west) are different and so cannot connect. So we have to entrust ourselves to the roads! It was thus galling to then watch a government sponsored ad promoting Africa as the centre of the universe when it patently is not – what’s the use of showing people pictures of pretty places if they can’t get there? Which is what talking up nice ideas of solidarity without investing in infrastructure does. Hopefully this will change soon if the following is anything to go by though (Ecowas is planning to connect all the rail systems in its borders to create one integrated rail network):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Africa_Regional_Rail_Integration
How can we forward this to Ghaddafi and all other people keen about Pan-Africanism but who do not seem to understand what Africa need is not another -ism syndrome!
A well written article. Thanks.
Definitely a food for thought. If security can indeed be guaranteed, a train system that connects the continent would be a plausible solution for us to get around. Migration rules would also have to be addressed. Buses – which would take longer – might also be an option for consideration. Some countries already use this within (e.g. Nigeria), and between some neighbouring countries (e.g. between Kenya and Uganda). I just think of the “China town” buses like Lucky Star and Fung Wa, Bolt, Greyhound, that connect certain states especially in the North East of the USA. While African countries might not employ these buses for long range trips, they might be befitting to transit between neighbouring countries. Well written Diekoye!
Well written piece, but I feel the article ignores the fudamental issue plaguing Africa. The problem in Africa is not socio-economic neither is it efficient transportation nor adequate security, these are mere symptoms of an underlying cause. The problem in Africa is purely socio-cultural. Hardly any African country can boast of being mono-ethnic, what we have in Africa are not countries but abitrary geopolitical contraptions that make the process of nation building not to talk of continent building impossible. When a country is comprised of peoples with incongruent socio-cultural views,this will definately translate to incongruent socio-politcal and soci-economic views.
Europe is where it is today, because it did not shy away from recognising the socio-cultural differences of its people. The European union is as successful as it is, only because it is a negotiated association amongst distinct countries. These countries are distinct because, for the most part each is made up of a predominant ethnic nationality.
To solve Africa’s problem, each country as it is now needs to have an honest discussion with itself, and be willing to do what it takes to address the issue of unlike minds trying to achieve a common goal.
I think the first step in the right direction will be to redraw national boarders along ethno-national lines.
I think the last comment is extremely valid but I disagree with the conclusion. If we divide Africa along ethno-national lines, we will have a million countries with inadequate strength to be competitive on the global market.
If we look at ancient European history we find that diverse cultures were forced to merge into singular nations. With recurring repercussions still evident in modern day Spain and the United Kingdom.
I think we should see what they did and what fragmented America did to create a singular nation identity, which was to create ‘an other’. This could lead to dangerous precedents, but we must create an African identity that its people are proud of and want to rally behind.
As the people of diverse histories were proud to be identified by the single word American, we must push for Africans to take a similar pride and view in their continent.
very interesting article Mr O. But we are so stuck at the con…what would be the universally acceptable group to lead this project. Even if the leadership is impeccable some people would still make noise just because the leaders are not from their respective tribes/country…We need nothing short of a miracle to reform our continent
I’m not sure redrawing national borders along ethno-national lines is necessary. The countries within the European Union are not all ethnically homogenous (even historically), it only appears that way on the surface. Many, such as France and the countries within the UK, have their ‘tribes’ just as African countries do. Historically many European countries have always been multi-ethnic, if mainly monoracial (just like many African countries). Europe has had to fight many wars, including the two big ones of the last century because of this – in fact the creation of the EU was to make sure this did not have to happen again. And even at the moment there are emotive questions about identity which dogg the future of the EU (the most recent being national disputes over the Lisbon treaty).
More co-operation, rather than redrawing national lines, is what I perceive to be more important in solving ethnic conflict. In Europe as in Africa, the question of identity is mostly manipulated for political gain and is largely irrelevant to the practical running of things, so long as there is guaranteed equality and justice for all. Separatism is not a prerequisite for ethnic harmony in a multi-ethnic country. What is needed is a redefining of identity to one of citizenship: and the best way for this to happen is to make sure the contract between the state and the individual is honoured – i.e. all citizens are granted equal rights and protections under the law and in practice. This is possible with visionary leadership. Also, since cultures evolve with time, people in different ethnic groups are finding their cultures evolving within the same social construct – surely this can mean that they align more closely over time (as has happened in Europe).
Certainly, Africa will be great. I say that as someone who has thought about the issues before us, some of which you all raised. What is important is for each of us reading this to get to work making it so. Work doesn’t mean that thing that makes you tired, or bored, or pissed; work could mean that thing you do naturally, that gets you fired up, or connected to something spiritual, beautiful, true…
Aim to be an MVP for African development and the future we want will be here shortly.
Also, one thing you may adopt soon is to focus less on the “leaders” – they are on their way out and we are Africa now. Most of Africa is under 30 (you know this from censuses, or the high birth rate.) So basically, youth have numbers on our side. We have time on our side, relative to the older ones. We have technology on our side. We’re really not too young to be about action and not talk. If Africa is screwed up, very soon it will be OUR fault, there won’t be anyone else to point at. Does that scare you? Excite you?
Have fun. LOVE THIS SITE, by the way.
It is true that if we divide Africa along ethno-national lines, we will have a million countries with inadequate strength to be competitive on the global market. But as I said, this will be the first step in the right direction, not a final solution. We need to be able to come to terms with our strength and inadequacies before we are able to meaningfully negotiate our associations with each other as Africans.
I don’t think national pride is necessarily something that can (or should) be manipulated; identity is really a personal issue that’s not really in the remit of national leadership (except maybe when it comes to sport. Then let the battles begin, all’s fair in love and war…).
It always comes across as really crass when people (especially those in positions of power) overtly attempt to define other people’s identity, and often leads to backlashes. I feel it’s more important to be a good citizen than to be a patriotic citizen – like King Lear’s daughter Cordelia, whose prosaic love of her father according to her duty ended up being more steadfast than her sisters’ flowery proclamations of the same. The state cannot ask for you to be more than a good citizen, but for it to do so it must fulfil its obligations to the citizens. Everyone living in a country should be guaranteed their rights as humans regardless of what their identity is. It is in such an environment of justice, and where people also have freedom of conscience, self determination and scope to imagine new things without being fettered by prescribed rules that innovation and progress flourish. That’s my opinion anyway.
Idealistic? Maybe. But I really do think Africans don’t need a chip on their shoulders about Africa’s problems, it reduces clarity of vision and is what happens when you tie in identity into solving social problems. We should do good because we can, and we should do good to all.