Observing this Chinese Political Scientist speak, do you see how much pride he feels when he authoritatively speaks of China’s development and rise from an agrarian society to an economic behemoth? And how this commands silence from other professionals?
Who among the global African people can boast the same of Africa today? We must struggle today for the burning pride of realized growth as a people! The pride of facing centuries of setbacks and oppression and still soaring to luminous developmental heights like a phoenix!
Africans cannot fully gain that unflinching pride and confidence as a people unless they build something indigenously unique in Africa today, whose beauty and refinement matches and even exceeds foreign developments! Until then, there will always be a lingering doubt in the intuition of the African that needs to either look back to ancient glories to justify itself or look overseas at Africans doing big things in foreign countries! The latter deserves recognition, but it only reinforces the notion that you could only achieve greatness through foreign systems and societies… not yours!
China also boasted of a rich ancient history! But the world mocked: “If you were so great in ancient times, then prove yourself in the modern era!” Under Deng Xiaoping, who became paramount leader in 1978, China responded by initiating revolutionary economic reforms that catalyzed their transformation into the behemoth we see today! The ancient dragon of China resurrected and silenced all doubt!
Now Africa, the world smirks and mocks you as being a developmental pariah! What is your response? Debates of slavery and colonization are losing their luster! Valorizing ancient African glories has value, but those were achievements of our ancestors, we in the modern era must prove ourselves! The Law of Universal Movement demands continual proof of capacity through constant progress and development! Onwards, ever onwards must be the forward drive to prove ourselves ever anew!
Only applied potential and realized capacity that brings a new standard of excellence through ennobled indigenous developments will empower African people with radiant pride and confidence, and also silence the mocking and doubts! Only deeds and original accomplishments as a people will do this!
Builders of the African Future, there is absolutely no other way to achieve this but through diligently harnessing the immense talents and capacity of the global African peoples, then strategically applying its unified power in the organized framework of a developmental vision that unleashes Africa’s modern potential and gives the world a marvel to behold! No matter how daunting the challenge, let us stand up courageously and brace ourselves to meet it as a united force for the transformative good! For Africa can and must rise!
…Hence the call to nation-building!
Onward & Upward!
~Dr. Ikenna Ezealah
Nation Upbuilding 