Our forefathers, 60 years ago, believed that Africa had the potential to become the most powerful continent if its people united to advance self-reliance and self-determination with a determination to control its natural resources and the distribution thereof.  The redefining of Africa requires all people of African descent (The African Diaspora), regardless of when they left Africa or where they now live, to engage with Africa economically, politically, spiritually, culturally, and academically.  

 

At the time of independence, they were not many Africans with degrees based on Western Education.  Today we have millions who are vast in Western Education.  We must allow our acquired knowledge to benefit Africa today.  Africa is looking for men and women of vision who have the capacity and resources to harness the abilities of the people for Africa's advancement.

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In the past, we were led to believe that leaving Africa was a Brain-Drain.  However, Africans of the Diaspora have become a Brain-Gain for their Countries and the African continent as a whole.  50 years ago, Brain-Drainage was a fact; today those same individuals have now become a great intellectual, economic, political, academic, and cultural contributors to the welfare of Africa.  Africa has the capacity to determine its own destiny on its own terms.

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I strongly hold the view that the greatness of Africa is only found in its ability to UNITE as one people, with one currency, one monetary system, one federal Bank, one military, a liberating economic system, one federal government, a Visa-less travel, Open borders for free mobility, Integrated transportation Infra structure.  We need to move toward a more expansive view that people can have multiple nations united as one with open borders and that nations can share a single person.  The African Union, with its VISION 2063, is taking the lead in the struggle this time around.

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Over the next few decades, there will be a surge in the number of young people, understanding that 60% of Africa’s population is under 25 years of age, to enter the marketplace.  As the ratio of people of working age to dependents rises, economic growth could get a further boost—a demographic dividend.  Multiparty democracy is now firmly established.  Africa is pulling itself out of the conflict trap—the vicious circle in which conflict has hampered growth; thereby breeding conflict and underdevelopment.  

 

Globalization has lowered the communication gap with IT becoming a reckoning force on the continent as processes are digitized. Economic blocs are being formed with the talk of integrated economies, common currency, common Passport and armies. Actually, 54 countries out of 55 have signed the Free Trade Agreement with 27 countries  having ratified it. The African Union Free Trade Zone office is now hosted by Ghana.

 

A wave of oil and gas discoveries challenges a new group of countries with the need to manage resource contracts and revenues wisely.  There are also striking growth rates in countries that lack such resources, such as Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Kenya, that are pointing the way to a more stable, more prosperous future in which growth is built on a more diversified base.  Accepting a non-tribal language such as Kiswahili, as the Official National Language of Africa, is a step towards complete independence and unity.  AFRICA IS ON THE RISE. The Integration of our continent requires that we learn Kiswahili to speed up our unity and communication;  IT IS OUR LANGUAGE.