Tag: africa

Seven Questions For African Development

Sometimes a danger to real African development are Africans with a lot of formal western education, because many can only think within the foreign framework they learned in schools. So, their idea of development is reproducing on the African people the ideas, institutions, and societal forms that apply to Western societies, to the subordination of their own indigenous systems, believing it will also work for the African people. Thus, they wrongly regard imitation as progress so long as it produces an outwardly visible benefit. But this is not development, just copying and long-term stagnation.

What is development? The concept must first be clarified. To achieve clarity, we must not draw opinions from our thoughts, but observe the Laws of Nature!

In Nature development is endogenic…from within. A rose develops when its inner qualities unfold outwardly, and when the guidance for this unfolding comes exclusively from within. The seed never needs instructions from without, only a supportive environment for what is within to unfold. Thus, development is a progressive unfolding of inner qualities, a sequential expression of indigenous capabilities, and a logical building out of inner components to outward completion, in accord with the inherent nature of the species.

To be “African development”, an initiative must come from within the souls of the African people, as a natural expression and a progressive building out of their indigenous qualities and cultural heritage. It must not come from without, otherwise it is adoption or an unnatural imposition. In Nature, even when something comes from without (water, sunlight), it only neutrally reinforces and helps the species express its inherent qualities.

So when people have big initiatives, plans, and developmental agendas concerning Africa, some questions to ask are:

  1. Is the plan driven by genuine love for the welfare of the African people?
  2. Did the central idea originate from the soul of the African people?
  3. Will the initiative help to unfold and mature the natural abilities of the people?
  4. Is the concept in harmony with their cultural heritage and indigenous nature?
  5. Do the plans build-on and improve their preexisting systems and social frameworks?
  6. Will the African people be uninfluenced implementing the initiatives?
  7. Is the final goal to make them self-sufficient and independent from foreign governments and institutions?

If initiatives are earnestly examined by these questions, and all answers are not a resounding yes, then real African leaders should relentlessly call them to account! African development should not advance foreign norms and institutions on the African people, but it should really operate in strict accord with the concept of development. The “African” welfare and interests coming first to then lead and guide the strategic implementation of “development”.

~Dr. Ikenna Ezealah

The African Issue

Many overanalyze the issues facing Africa, make effects into causes, and try to treat symptoms without focusing on the root issue with the most far-reaching consequences.

The most fundamental issue facing Africa today is simply that leadership, power, and governance are in the wrong hands. Most who have shared office since the wave of post-independence coups, including “elected” officials today, simply lack the vision, ability, and capacity to lead the people in genuine nation-building.

Every initiative, program, policy, and national strategy by domestic and foreign institutions, will either always fail or be limited in the scope of its success unless governance and power returns to the hands of those endowed by Nature with the natural ability and vision to lead the African people.

When a home lacks parental leadership, children can never supplemental the void because they lack the ability and maturity that Nature assigned to parenthood which is needed to provide order, guidance, and support for the collective development. Despite best efforts by the children, the woeful gaps and disorder will become apparent in all domestic processes. The same with Africa today in all institutions. The wrong people are in office, and those with natural leadership ability have either left or in most cases are just quietly pursing a mundane life of personal success.

The other issue are coups led by people who see the issues and are filled with the genuine desire and energy for real change. But the problem is that in almost all cases, these coup leaders might have the enthusiasm and energy, but they lack the genuine vision and ability to lead comprehensive nation-building! The force required to change, is not the same as the vision and strategy to guide lasting change. Thus, despite the genuine will, most overthrowers will in time become the same as previous governments because they themselves lack what is required.

Those with ability and vision in Africa need to step forward and vigorously engage the process. Form coalitions domestically and in the diaspora, harness your collective resources and expertise, infiltrate institutions, and take possession of governance so that power and leadership can return to the right hands and can be properly applied for the welfare and further development of the African people! People with a lot of education sometimes overthink the simplest issues. Here also, advanced degrees will not earn you an opportunity for governance and leadership, but only vigorous action, strategic coalitions, and sustained noble struggle will win the day.

The opportunity for genuine leadership and governance in Africa, to promote the welfare and development of the African people, will never be given. It must be won by coordinated and organized severe exertion, perpetual vigilance, and unflagging assiduity.

Let those who are serious understand that such a noble struggle is naturally incompatible with the comfortable and predictable life that many wish. For to earn such a victory requires personal cost and sacrifice. But it is worth it, because the collective welfare and development of the African people who look to leadership full of hope for a brighter present and future depend on it!

Servants, helpers, and guardians of the welfare of the African people, discard your tentative volition, step forward, and brace yourself for action.

~Dr. Ikenna Ezealah

To Builders of the African Future…

Builders of the African Future,

Do not be distracted by earning degrees, accolades, and prestige here in the West. All these things are merely tools that are meant to serve a higher purpose: Nation-building in Africa. A degree and a profession, no matter how hard-earned, is only a tool, and the value of a tool lies solely in its application to produce lasting value. When you purchase an elaborate tool kit and construction materials with a hammer chiseled from the finest steel, to take pride and classify their acquisition as the achievement is to miss the point.

The decisive question is: What are we using all these materials and tools to build? Destiny presses for an answer.

With all the collective expertise, degrees, and foreign achievements of Africans in the diaspora, I ask: what is the tangible evidence of a corresponding Nation-building back in Africa across all institutions? To be content using all our endowments for a private life abroad so long as we and our personal circle are satisfied, is to narrow the scope of our possibilities and responsibilities. We should set our gaze higher!

We cannot outsource African development to international organizations and governments, no matter how convenient it is. No. Africans must step forward and take the lead in all matters of African development. Must feel personal responsibility in setting the course of the African destiny. Thus, Nation-building is the call of our time.

Will it be easy? No. Will entrenched political interests create severe difficulties? Yes. Will there be failures and setbacks? Yes. But will it be worth it? Yes. Everything worthwhile requires personal sacrifice, and we must be willing to make it. To really make change in Africa, we cannot desire a comfortable life and we must become comfortable with the uncomfortable.

If the specially endowed Africans at home and abroad lack the will, courage, and interest to create a brighter future for the disadvantaged masses, then who will do it? Who is left to struggle for their welfare, to serve their needs, to further their development? Where are the true servants of the people?

To help the African people release their natural abilities, to be productive in indigenous institution and system building, and thereby always be hopeful and happy… is a beautiful goal.

Builders of the African future, refocus your gaze and remember the tools in your hands are not the achievement, but only the means to be applied for a higher purpose. At the crossroads of destiny, the call of our time resounds in one direction: transformative Nation-building in Africa.

May all those who are in earnest come together, pool their expertise and abilities together, work together, and nation-build together.

Onward & Upward!

~Dr. Ikenna Q. Ezealah

True African Development

The one who frames the meaning and sets the vision, frames the mind.
The one who frames the mind, directs the thoughts.
The one who directs the thoughts, guides the actions.
And the one who guides the actions, determines the destiny.

For this reason, the first step for Africa’s long-term progress is to redefine everything for itself, and to set its own vision in a way that reflects its own indigenous nature and qualities. Then, through earnest efforts, build out these meanings into processes, policies, institutions, and initiatives…until they become the fabric of society. Only then will Africa be developing, because its societal progress and destiny would be guided by its own indigenous meaning and vision.

Many developmental initiatives today are well-meaning and appear to be bringing progress, but most are simply building out the concepts and ideas imposed on the people during colonialism. They do not encourage the “breaking through” of indigenous intuitions and capabilities, so these become the defining element of initiatives and upbuilding.

Take a simple example: Education. In Africa, have we asked the questions: what is our unique educational philosophy? What values are we trying to cultivate in our people? What type of identity should our education develop? What cultural knowledge should we document, transfer, and develop through our education institutions? And what methods can help us achieve this?

Instead of these questions, you have a plethora of education institutions throughout Africa today. But many were established during or after colonialism, and do not promote genuine indigenous development and progress. Consequently, they do not cultivate a sense of pride, genuine ethnic identity, and indigenous knowledge development. Instead, despite some benefits they give, they mold the mind to idealize foreign people, ideas, and countries. Are we then surprised when people who mature to adulthood in these institutions desire to go abroad? And others who stay in their countries subconsciously regard everything foreign as better.

Is this development or retrogression?

Outward progress should never occur at the expense of self-sufficiency and indigenous development, but should be a marked expression of it. The call for builders of the African future is to help the people bring their unique ethnic qualities and abilities to the fullest blossom in all forms of society. Everything that develops on African soil in the future should express the natural intuitions of the people, and should support the vision and meanings they establish for themselves.

For this reason, all efforts for African development must ensure the fundamental philosophy is African.

The call for pioneers of the new African upbuilding goes forth. May those who are motivated by the desire to truly help and serve the people hear the call and come together. So that, joining hands in humility and fixed determination, we will diligently work to empower and uplift the people. In that way, through a new meaning and vision, a new destiny will develop for the Africa.

~Dr. Ikenna Q. Ezealah