The Pan-African Alliance
  • Home
  • Content
    • African Spirituality
    • Pan Africanism
    • Relationships
    • Wealth
    • Culture
    • Health
    • Technology
  • Replace and Rebuild
  • 10 Year Vault
  • Login
  • Register
No Result
View All Result
The Pan-African Alliance
  • Home
  • Content
    • African Spirituality
    • Pan Africanism
    • Relationships
    • Wealth
    • Culture
    • Health
    • Technology
  • Replace and Rebuild
  • 10 Year Vault
  • Login
  • Register
No Result
View All Result
The Pan-African Alliance
No Result
View All Result

134 Years After The Berlin Conference, Africa Needs To Save Herself

Asad by Asad
October 13, 2020
in Pan Africanism
0
134 Years After The Berlin Conference, Africa Needs To Save Herself
0
SHARES
1k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

If ever there was an event that led to the birth of the movement, it was the partition of Africa in 1884. In that year, white nations gathered in Berlin to carve Africa into territories to divide amongst themselves.

During that meeting, no African or representative was present. Once the agreement was finalized, new borders were drawn, new languages were forced on colonial subjects, and Black men fought against each other carrying the British flag on one side and the French flag on the other.

Since that day, the language, culture, identity, religion and space that existed as Africa was totally changed. The continent was invaded by imperialists who came bearing arms and punitive armies, declaring lands in the name of the Her Majesty the Queen, and other Imperialist such as King Leopold, causing untold destruction in the name of the King of Belgium.

The Pan-African Movement was born out of the partition of Africa
Map after the Partition of Africa. The land the colonisers claimed to have discovered was connected, they introduced borders.

The fight for a borderless Africa has now been the centre of attention to promote trade and movement within the continent. Seven European nations had colonised Africa by 1900; France, Germany, Britain, Spain, Portugal, Belgium and Italy. All of them came to Africa for her resources.

The cycle unfortunately continues today with China and America wielding their influence in the control of Africa’s resources.

Africa, as a European apparatus, was built to have only one function, to be milked of its resources, and to continually serve the empires of Britain, Spain, Belgium and other European nations.

Where is the wisdom of our fathers now? The struggle for independence and the effects of colonialism could be felt in the speeches many African heads of state gave. Ahmed Sekou Toure, the first President of Guinea said on the 26th of August, 1958: “we prefer poverty in freedom to opulence in slavery,” when his country decided not to go the way of France.

134 Years After The Berlin Conference, Africa Needs To Save Herself
Ahmed Sekou Toure

The Prime Minister of Congo, Patrice Lumumba was more vocal when on 30 June, 1960 he said:

Even though this independence for the Congo is being proclaimed today in agreement with Belgium, a country with which we deal as equals, no Congolese worthy of that name can ever forget that independence was conquered through struggle, a daily struggle, a fierce and idealist struggle, a struggle in which we spared neither our energy, nor our hardship, nor our suffering, nor our blood.

Although Lumumba and many such leaders were hopeful of leading their new countries to new prosperous dreams, they forgot that their countries were first and foremost creations of these European nations. The purpose of their countries was nothing else other than to serve the economic purposes of these powers.

Was true, political, cultural and economic independence ever gotten? With the retention of the borders, the project of Berlin Conference continues.

For Africa to move forward, it must go back to the Berlin Conference of 1884 and untangle itself from this creation it was forced to become by Europe. An Africa where there were no borders, where free and fair trade takes place between each community, where art and diverse cultures are highly regarded.

Cameroonian scholar Achille Mbembe in an article on the African Union’s (AU, formerly OAU) 50th anniversary said:

As long as the logic of extraction and predation that characterizes the political economy of primary commodities in Africa has not been broken, and with it the existing modes of exploitation of Africa’s sub-soil, we will not go far…. What needs to happen is a kind of continental “New Deal” collectively negotiated among the different Africa governments and international powers, a “New Deal” favouring democracy and economic progress that would complete and finally close for everyone that chapter of decolonization.

The 2063 vision of the AU is highly commendable, but the AU has failed in many respects to live up to its role on the continent. Africa is dire need of change, it has to move at a fast pace in solving its pressing political, economic and social issues otherwise it risks falling into the same trap of continued exploitation.

To quote Abdoulaye Wade, Senegal’s former president, “In comparing our country to some of those in Asia that were at the same level as we at independence in 1960, we notice that they have gone much faster than we have. We must reflect on this to understand why. The struggle for liberation is therefore not finished. It presents itself today in economic terms and will be won on the development front…. Together, we must clearly understand that prolonged economic dependence will ultimately erode our political independence.”

Rwandan President, Paul Kagame in his inauguration speech after re-election last year said, “The governance and prosperity of Africa cannot be outsourced.”

While the African passport is yet to be released to the general public, it spells of potential in increasing movement around the continent.

134 Years After The Berlin Conference, Africa Needs To Save Herself

The African Continental Free Trade Area breaks off chains of separations, and encourages an increase in trade between African countries.

While it the journey of building will take a while, it must be done and maintained. Africa should look more into itself, finding its own solutions and learning from the world.

Source: 134 years after the Berlin Conference, Africa needs to save herself

3.7 3 votes
Article Rating

Related Posts

Dr Anna Cooper is the Mother of Pan Africanism
Pan African Leaders

Why This Forgotten Black Woman Is The Real Mother of Pan Africanism

by Asad
October 13, 2020
0

Table of Contents No time to read? Listen to this article below! Anna Cooper - born Anna Julia Haywood to...

Read more
These are The Best Black History Books Ever Written

43 Of The Most Powerful Black History Books Ever Written

January 17, 2021
Pan Africanism Is The Only Political Philosophy That Makes Sense For The Black Diaspora

Pan Africanism Is The Only Political Philosophy That Makes Sense For The Black Diaspora

September 30, 2020
From Slave to Samurai – How Yasuke Became The First Black Samurai In Japan

From Slave to Samurai – How Yasuke Became The First Black Samurai In Japan

September 28, 2020
Black History Is World History and World History Is Black History

Black History Is World History and World History Is Black History

October 8, 2020
4 Lesson We Can Learn From The Everlasting Life of Julius Nyerere

4 Lesson We Can Learn From The Everlasting Life of Julius Nyerere

September 25, 2020
Subscribe
Connect with
Login
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Notify of
guest
Connect with
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Recent Posts

  • The 5 Black Owned Brands That Make The Best Lotion For Black Skin
  • Why This Forgotten Black Woman Is The Real Mother of Pan Africanism
  • Replace Your Store Bought Brands With Black-Owned Natural Hand Sanitizer
  • How White Supremacy Shaped American Christianity
  • 3 Important Dr. Sebi Sea Moss Benefits for Women

Recent Comments

  • Wyeil Nega on 3 Reasons Why Non-African Religions Clash With Pan-Africanism
  • Carla Warren on 5 Reasons Why Black Polygamy Is Trending Today
  • Asad on Here Is Your Full 2020 Fasting Plan For Developing African Spirituality
  • Chrishea Jones on Here Is Your Full 2020 Fasting Plan For Developing African Spirituality
  • Asad on From Slave to Samurai – How Yasuke Became The First Black Samurai In Japan

Most Viewed

  • Exposed: The Global Agenda To Prevent The Rise Of A Black Messiah

    Exposed: The Global Agenda To Prevent The Rise Of A Black Messiah

    8 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • 4 African Kings Who Ruled India That Have Been Erased From History

    2246 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The Truth About Why Thousands of Black Children Are Turning Up Dead With Organs Missing

    2 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Forget Viagra – Why Black Men Should Be Drinking Sea Moss Instead

    11 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • 4 Powerful Ways to Develop Your African Spirituality Now

    687 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
21 Of The Best Books For Black Men In 2020

21 Of The Best Books For Black Men In 2020

January 17, 2021
The 8 best Dr Sebi books I have read and tried so far.

8 Of The Best Dr Sebi Books That Will Teach You How To Eat To Live

January 17, 2021
If You Want To Get Rich Here Are 39 Of The Best Books By Black Authors You Need To Read

If You Want To Get Rich Here Are 39 Of The Best Books By Black Authors You Need To Read

January 17, 2021
21 Of The Best Books For Black Women

21 Of The Best Books For Black Women

January 17, 2021
Become Lord Of Your Land With These Free Ebooks By Black Real Estate Investors

Become Lord Of Your Land With These Free Ebooks By Black Real Estate Investors

January 17, 2021
43 Of The Best African Spirituality Books

43 Of The Best African Spirituality Books

January 17, 2021
  • Terms, Conditions, and Consumer Protection
  • Privacy Policy

© 2021 Protected by the Ancestors

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Content
    • African Spirituality
    • Pan Africanism
    • Relationships
    • Wealth
    • Culture
    • Health
    • Technology
  • Replace and Rebuild
  • 10 Year Vault

© 2021 Protected by the Ancestors

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
wpDiscuz