We the people

I followed the G20 summit with interest like most self respecting adults who enjoy keeping abreast with matters influencing and affecting the planet we inhabit. At the outset, one matter was glaringly apparent viz. Africa was completely under represented at the summit. Out of the leaders representing the 20 most powerful economies only one African country, South Africa was represented. The current prime minister of Ethiopia, Meles Zenawi featured in representation of the NEPAD seat.

I think that Africans all over the world need to ponder on the strong meaning of this event. I believe that Africans were under represented because of the lack of significance in the global economy stemming from poor governance and corruption in many countries. Indeed, President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania has stated that there are currently more democracies in Africa at the moment than there have been in the past. Whilst this is a positive step, i don't think it's sufficient to placate the collective African conscience.

Citizens of African countries need to realise that our nations may never attain signifance on the global stage if we the people don't work together to make Africa more visible for the right reasons. The days when we could rely soley on our governments to truly make the difference that we seek have sailed by. If we want the continent we profess to love to be relevant on the global economic stage we need to use our resources to give birth to a respectable African dream and image. I believe that at the very least it's time for enterprising Africans to pool resources with friends, family, associates etc and to make funding available for any creative entrepreneurs in their respective countries to get into business. We can gain relevance internationally if we work together to make our people matter. If we funded unique, cutting edge ideas which subsequently created employment, those ideas would result in Africans having a voice not only in their own countries, but globally. Once our people start to matter, our nations will begin to matter. This is pragmatic optimism.

Drawing inspiration from within

Too often Africa has been portrayed as a backwater festering with poverty, ignorance and hopelessness. Images supporting only this perspective are flaunted in the international media. I used to watch Inside Africa on CNN, longing to see positive images from anywhere on the continent, but they were rare and eventually i decided not to watch that program any further. I decided to search independantly for good news about Africa. After all, this is my home and it would be fatuous of me to expect some foreign people to tell me about myself and my continent. I was well aware of every regressive thing happening on the African continent, to the point where i was saturated with such information and began to wonder if indeed the detractors were correct in their assessments. I wondered if the bulk of Africans would always be caught in a neverending tale of poverty and despair and whether bowed faces and broken spirits characterised who we are as a people.

My search soon dispelled that perspective as i came across stories of Africans who are innovative, who are combatting poverty, who have a vision for this continent and who believe in the fact that we are able to make this continent a better place for future generations. I received affirmation of what i always believed though i had not seen in the international media, Africans are crafting solutions to the problems facing them.

This blog is going to follow the stories of Africans making a difference on this continent and positive news pertaining to the continent in general. This is the good news blog about Africa. Take a seat and make yourself comfortable.