What does it mean to be an African in the 21st century?
Being an African goes way beyond being born in Africa or even being born black. My “africaness” surpasses the territorial boundaries and the confines of the black race. Etymologically, Africa originated from the Egyptian word “Afru-ika” which is translated into “motherland.” The context of the term Africa in this literature embodies the totality of a human person with all the attributes which include the political, cultural, and geographical dimensions, especially in the 21st century. In this global village, these factors are not mutually exclusive. The discussion below attempts to highlights each of these dimensions, not necessarily in the chronological order of importance-starting with the geographical aspect.
I was born at the genesis of the 21st century in a country generously endowed with sunshine and rain. We are lavishly gifted with breathtaking green vegetation and a plethora of water bodies including the Source of the Nile. No wonder, when Winston Churchill visited Uganda, he christened it ‘the pearl of Africa.’ Such was the state of affairs then. Today, courtesy of the increase in the population and economic activities, the beauty of the once pearl of Africa is following the economic law of diminishing returns. Thus the siren for environmental protection is imperative even here. Closely connected to the geographical factor is the cultural aspect.
Culturally, my family was the standard unit of an extended family. I grew up with multiple cousins, nieces, uncles, and aunties under the same roof. Albeit the fact that we had differing religious and ideological orientations, we deeply respected each other and were united in our diversity. However, with modernity, families are becoming smaller and more individualistic. The African spirit of togetherness is slowly fading away. The contemporary African is challenged to tread the path of modernity while at the same time leisurely chewing on the lexis of tradition. It’s however incumbent upon him/her to tear off the meat of modernity and leave the bone. If well pursued, it accelerates our pace on the path to a middle-income status as a country.
The African political state of affairs cannot be separated from world politics. The struggle for democracy, human rights, crises in the Middle East, and South America are all intertwined. The influx of refugees, especially in African countries with weak systems to handle such crises is appalling. It imposes a huge strain on their meager resources.
In conclusion, the contemporary African has to redefine oneself to avoid an identity crisis in the global village. Kofi Annan, one of the most celebrated Secretary Generals of the United Nations, in spite of having lived almost his entire life in Switzerland had this to say. “I feel profoundly African. My roots are deeply African and the things I was taught as a child are very important to me.” It is my wish that we Africans remain attached to our roots and we jealously guard our identity in the midst of challenges in this global village.
