By Joshua Einstein Brian
Who has failed Africa?
What has caused the radiant dreams and fierce sacrifices of our forefathers to dim and fade into the shadows of history? On 27th April, we reflected on the powerful legacy of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the first President of Ghana and a torchbearer of Pan-Africanism, who envisioned a free, united, and prosperous Africa. His downfall, ironically, was not engineered by external colonialists alone but hastened by betrayals from fellow Africans, proving that often, the enemy is within.
“The forces that wish to keep Africa divided are still active today, and they now operate with black faces,” Nkrumah warned prophetically.
The bitter truth is that many of our leaders and elites have become collaborators of neo-imperialism, complicit in Africa’s continued exploitation.
The sad cycle of leadership failure
Our leadership crisis is not a new phenomenon. After independence, figures like Patrice Lumumba of Congo were assassinated—Lumumba, who courageously said, “The day will come when history will speak… Africa will write its own history.” Yet, decades later, the Congo remains trapped in foreign manipulation and internal decay, its resources plundered while its people suffer.
Those who claim to fight for liberation often transform into oppressors themselves. Leaders who once marched against tyranny now crush dissent in their own countries. What have they accomplished after thirty, forty years in power? Poverty, inequality, tribal divisions, youth unemployment, decaying healthcare systems, collapsed education sectors—and yet they stubbornly cling to office.
When Thomas Sankara, the revolutionary leader of Burkina Faso, warned, “He who feeds you, controls you,” he was assassinated, largely because he dared to imagine an Africa free from Western dependency. Today, many African leaders still beg for loans, aid, and debt relief while presiding over nations rich in oil, diamonds, uranium, and gold.
The curse of staying too long
An African proverb teaches, “When the music changes, so does the dance.” Yet many leaders refuse to hear the music change. They have outlived their relevance but surround themselves with sycophants who deceive them with empty praises, terrified of losing their privileges.
Today, youth across Africa are unemployed in historic numbers—over 60% of Africa’s unemployed are young people. They drown in oceans of hopelessness while leaders fly private jets, build palaces, and stash billions in offshore accounts.
The failure to transition power peacefully;
Peaceful leadership transitions remain rare on our continent. As Professor PLO Lumumba often says: “We love power so much that we cannot imagine life after it.” This addiction to power has resulted in coups, civil wars, and broken dreams, making Africa’s promise a perpetual hostage to the greed of a few.
A Salute to the True Patriots
In the midst of this despair, leaders like President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah of Namibia and Captain Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso give us hope. By investing in education—a fundamental right—they affirm that Africa’s salvation lies in empowering minds, not exploiting them.
Education should not be a privilege for the few, but a right for all. Health too must be prioritized. How can we speak of human dignity when millions cannot access basic medical care? Kwame Nkrumah rightly said, “The independence of Ghana is meaningless unless it is linked up with the total liberation of Africa.” Liberation today must include liberation from disease, ignorance, and poverty.
The modern fight against neocolonialism
Today, Africa faces new colonizers—not necessarily with guns and chains but with debt traps, manipulated elections, economic dependency, and military interference.
Captain Traoré’s boldness in standing up to foreign domination has made him a target. But let it be known: Africa’s youth are awakening! Across the globe, African descendants are preparing solidarity walks on April 30th to defend the dignity, rights, and sovereignty of Burkina Faso and by extension, of Africa itself.
We call on IGAD, ECOWAS, the African Union, and all Pan-African organizations to stand up and speak out. Africa must no longer be a pawn on the chessboard of global powers.
“The colonizers may have left, but their systems remain. And if we don’t dismantle them, we remain prisoners in our own homes.” — Anonymous Pan-Africanist saying.
Kaunda Day: A Day to reflect and act
As we continue to celebrate Kaunda Day, we must not just remember, but act. The suffering in Sudan, Ethiopia, DR Congo, and other conflict-ravaged areas cries out for urgent solidarity.
The late Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia, a stalwart of African unity, reminded us: “We fight not for glory, nor for wealth, nor for honor, but for freedom alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself.” We must never forget that silence in the face of injustice is complicity. May history not judge us as those who could have saved lives but chose cowardice instead.
Final Word: The time Is now
Africa’s destiny is not written in the stars but in the hearts and hands of its sons and daughters. Let us rise, united, fearless, and determined to reclaim the dream of Nkrumah, Lumumba, Sankara, Kaunda, Mandela, and countless others whose spirits urge us onward.
We owe it to them—and to ourselves.
The writer is President, Africa Youth Convention, and also President, Network of Africa Mental Health Advocates
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