The Africa I Envision – #TheAfricaWeWant/Need

I envision an Africa
Where our little ones grow up
Believing the world is their oyster
Knowing that whatever dreams they may have,
‘Their dreams are valid’
And not only are pockets packed with dreams
But dreams also pack pockets

An Africa
Where our elders are well taken care of
Because we’re not only thinking about the ‘youth bulge’ but also the resulting ‘aging bulge’
Where our youth are not robbed of today at the promise of tomorrow
Where our educators, our healers, our artists, activists and creatives are valued
Where we tell, retell and value his and her stories equally

An Africa
Where our dignity cannot be bought or sold for a dollar
Where we don’t have to fight to survive
Where we don’t struggle for
Sima/Ugali/Foufou/Injera/Aish
Or Freedom

An Africa of
Solidarity and Sisterhood
Beauty and Brotherhood
Unity but not uniformity
Where the multiplicity of our voices strengthen us

Where our Africanness is not determined
By the shade of our skin
Our ability to Afro-speak
Dress in ‘African’ garb
There is no shade of African
#TheAfricaWeWant is one
Where we recognize
‘I am not African because I was born in Africa,
But because Africa was born in me’

I envision
Seamless borders
Where no visas are required for African citizens
Where I can travel freely from Cairo to Capetown,
By road or rail
Where my journey from Dakar to Mogadishu is not punctuated by a stop over in Europe
Where the color of my passport is only a mere technicality

I envision
An Africa of conscious citizens
That would rather take a stand than take a seat
An Africa that respects its people and the planet
And an Africa that reflects the realities, aspirations and ambitions of its people

I envision
An Africa where our voices matter
Not simply at the ballot boxes
An Africa where half of our 55 nations have females heading them
An Africa which has no room for rulers preaching ‘democrazy’
No room for impunity
Where leaders realize they are public servants
Hired and fired by the will of the people
Where the bellies of people trump pockets of the high & mighty

An Africa
Where war drums and guns are silenced
Overwhelmed by the tranquility of peace
Where police protect rather than harass
Where we critique our governments without risking our lives

An Africa
Where harmful practices – FGM, early and forced marriages
Mothers dying giving life, children on the streets
Disease and poverty
Are confined to story books

Where security is defined by
Satiated bellies, healthy bodies, educated minds,
The safety of our streets, our homes, our schools
Our communities

I envision
An Africa where we pull each other up
For when one is down, so are we all

I envision
An Africa of the highest standards
Where “TIA” is a statement of excellence
Because there’s no room for mediocrity in #TheAfricaWeWant & Need

I envision an Africa that is the epitome of
Equality
Integrity
Solidarity
And self-sufficiency

One in which all members of our African community lead and live lives of dignity, respect and justice.

This is not only #TheAfricaWeWant, but also #TheAfricaWeNeed if we are not only to survive, but to thrive for generations to come.