“What should we be doing going forward?”
Africans can save Africa: Arnold Ekpe at TEDxEuston
There are millions of potential brother and sister bloggers in Africa, diverse people of color and culture, yearning to tell their stories, developing and waiting to share their Brands and expand their opportunities to collaborate in education, business, commerce, finance and global entrepreneurship.
This writing is a contribution of knowledge to share and hopefully, motivate and inspire Africans desiring to Blog, Microblog, Video blog, Podcast and create dynamic content within their communities.
Their (African) voices and stories are important and should be shared on a global platform of respect and collaboration on dynamic Social Media platforms.
To represent the African diaspora and historical significance of the art of “storytelling.” What better way than to share with the world, to create unique content that is just as diverse as the most culturally rich continent in the world, Africa. I encourage Africans of all ages to write their stories, to use their creativity to share innovative ideas and create content that bridges generations and cultures.
The ability to create unique and transformative content that can unify their continent. Following the literary talents of Chinua Achebe, Ngugi wa Thiong’o, Wole Soyinka, Ben Okri, Buchi Emecheta, Ama Ata Aidoo, Dinaw Mengestu, Africans are historic creators of stories’, poets, and diverse content creators.
African children are learning that through technology and education they can contribute to the world in ways not available decades ago.
Colonialism attempted to silence the voices of Africans, it failed because the voices of Africans can be heard whispered on the flowing waters and in the air currents, stories that travel through the trees, and the paths both dirt and paved across the continent.
Social Media platforms and tools are allowing African boys and girls to share their stories with the global community, bringing attention to their lives right from their mouths and to the eyes and ears globally.
As an educator and parent, I want to encourage African children, teens, youth and young adults to share their stories through the diverse tools that blogging has to offer and enhance their language abilities, “language is the way to memory” Prof. Wm Jackson #MyQuestToTeach
Thoughts to consider, do not allow others to tell your stories as was done during the centuries of slavery, oppression, and colonization. In the spirit of Chinua Achebe share your stories and let the world hear you.
Chinua Achebe the “Father of African Literature” stated many times that the minds of the people were influenced by the colonization of Europeans. African writers need to be activist in their writing, to challenge the thinking of Africans, to encourage intellectualism and activism even in the 21st century.
The thinking and the writing of Africans are challenging the “emperor’s” way of thinking, “because the storyteller has a different agenda” than the emperor, Chinua Achebe 2012.
In many ways, Africans have a responsibility to share their stories and share their voices, what better way to tell truth to life what Europeans have tried to deny for decades. There was a denial of building of thought leaders and intellectuals in Africa during colonial rule.
The independence of Ghana in 1957 and subsequently other African countries allowed for the potential of building new intellectuals that in turn will teach others. Sharing the value of their voices just as Achebe, Soyinka and others have done, storytelling is a powerful tool to build cultural pride and dignity now apply tech to expand the reach.
The 20th and 21st centuries have opened new ways for Africans to soar, to embrace the winds of change that allow for the chains of colonialism to dissipate. Achebe shares that Africans
have the right to share their expressions. No matter the medium, the tools, or the platform.
The encouragement of children is important because as Achebe says that “children can fly,”
and should be encouraged to write.
Achebe stated that he writes because he likes to write, I feel the same passion. To share not just stories, but information to encourage people to think, contemplate, dream, consider the possibilities to grow beyond the limited imaginations of those that do not respect the diversity and the heritage of African nations of the diaspora.
Africans must tell their stories, share their voices and build a new dynamic identity for the 21st century. Africans are more than a people to be colonized and ruled. They are a people that have passions, expectations, and dreams, this should be shared with the world. African voices can influence geopolitical decisions that will take Africa into the 22nd century and beyond.
Africans as a collective can influence the gaps in education, in commerce, in the innovation of technology and the opportunities to achieve more to the benefits of Africa and African people, not just people from other countries. 54 countries united to solve their own problems can achieve great things if they unite and speak united. Africa united as a strong united force to make a positive and transformative change.
Powerful words from stated that, “No foreigners have ever developed a country, the nationals have developed their own country.” Arnold Ekpe
Resources: Bridging the Diaspora Divide – Teresa H. Clarke at TEDxEuston
Here In Kenya (where we are at the moment) we’ve had two WordCamps, all took place in Nairobi. 2016 and the recent WordCamp Nairobi 2017, which was attended by 200 WordPress users and developers from all over Kenya and its neighboring countries; Uganda, Sudan and Rwanda.
Image courtesy of WordCamp Nairobi 2017
