Kwame Nkrumah’s immortal words still reverberate through the conscience of Africa: “The independence of Ghana is meaningless unless it is linked up with the total liberation of Africa.” This statement was not a mere political slogan but a call to action—a vision of a continent freed from the shackles of colonialism, imperialism, and economic subjugation. However, more than six decades after Ghana’s independence, Africa remains ensnared in artificial borders, insurmountable debt, and political systems that do not reflect its essence.
Today, as mass deportations of Africans unfold in the United States, fear has once again gripped the diaspora. Fear is the weapon used to control, to diminish, and to silence. But we must respond with defiance. I am an African is more than a declaration of identity—it is a statement of intent. It is a call to dismantle the structures imposed upon us and to build a new order where Africa is sovereign, indivisible, and unyielding.
A Borderless Africa: The First Blow Against Colonialism
One of the most insidious vestiges of colonial rule is the artificial demarcation of Africa, conceived in the infamous Berlin Conference of 1884-85. With the stroke of a pen, Europeans carved up the continent, drawing borders that disregarded ethnic, cultural, and historical realities. These arbitrary divisions continue to breed discord, conflict, and disunity among African nations.
It is time to symbolically and then permanently reject these colonial boundaries. African states must incrementally dissolve their borders, fostering a sense of unity that transcends the artificial divisions imposed upon them. This initiative need not be radical overnight; it can begin as a diplomatic and economic alliance—establishing visa-free travel, harmonising trade policies, and synchronising defence agreements. But the ultimate goal must be a continent where an African is free to move, work, and settle anywhere without restriction. This is the first step towards realising a Pan-African identity and reclaiming our sovereignty from colonial cartography.
A Debtless Africa: Breaking the Chains of Economic Subjugation
Africa’s economic dependence is the modern chain that keeps her shackled. Foreign loans, often issued under exploitative conditions, have plunged the continent into a cycle of perpetual debt. These financial obligations are not simply economic constraints; they are instruments of control wielded by former colonial powers and international financial institutions.
To attain true liberation, Africa must consolidate its debts and, where necessary, refuse to honour loans that were designed to keep the continent subjugated. No truly sovereign nation can exist under the crushing weight of debt that dictates its policies and priorities. The African Union (AU) must negotiate as a bloc, leveraging the continent’s vast resources to break free from financial enslavement. Africa is not poor—its poverty is an illusion perpetuated by economic exploitation. A debt-free Africa means a continent where food security, healthcare, and education are guaranteed—not privileges afforded only to a few.
An Africa with a Resource-Backed Currency
Economic liberation must go beyond debt cancellation. Africa’s wealth lies beneath its soil—gold, diamonds, oil, and rare earth minerals. Yet these resources are siphoned off at prices dictated by foreign markets, leaving Africa as the beggar at the global economic table.
It is imperative that Africa establishes a unified currency backed by its vast resources, rather than relying on Western-controlled monetary systems. This would not only insulate Africa from currency manipulation but also provide a strong foundation for economic independence. If the continent refuses to sell its resources at exploitative rates and demands fair market prices, it will no longer be at the mercy of global economic predators. Africa must control its own wealth, ensuring that its natural endowments serve its people first.
An African Political System: Beyond Imported Democracy
Democracy, in its Western conception, has failed Africa. The political frameworks imposed by colonial rulers were never designed to serve African interests. Instead, they prioritised individualism, competition, and division—values that stand in stark contrast to Africa’s traditional governance structures, which emphasised collectivism, consensus, and communal responsibility.
Africa must chart its own political destiny by creating a governance system rooted in its indigenous philosophies. The continent must move away from the adversarial, winner-takes-all politics that breed corruption and conflict. A system that prioritises the welfare of the community over individual power must be instituted, drawing from Africa’s long-standing traditions of leadership by consensus.
This does not mean rejecting political participation—it means reimagining it in a way that aligns with African identity. Governance should be decentralised, participatory, and deeply rooted in the values that have guided African societies for centuries. The AU must spearhead discussions on a uniquely African political framework, one that extricates the continent from the dysfunctional political inheritance of colonial rule.
The Road Ahead: A Defiant Africa Rising
Africa’s liberation is not a distant dream—it is an urgent necessity. A borderless Africa, free from the weight of debt, with a strong resource-backed currency and an indigenous political system, is not an impossibility; it is the only path to true sovereignty.
Defiance is our only recourse. The world will not hand us our freedom on a silver platter. The AU must cease to be a ceremonial institution and must transform into a vehicle for radical change. Africans must demand bold action, not empty rhetoric. This generation has the responsibility to complete the work that Nkrumah and his contemporaries began.
The fear that seeks to paralyse us must be met with an unwavering declaration: I am an African. Not a subject of foreign economies, not a pawn in global politics, but an architect of our own destiny.
The time for pleading is over. Africa must rise in defiance, in unity, and in absolute resolve. The chains must be broken. The walls must be torn down. The future must be reclaimed.