good morning I’m here to talk to you about something that is
about something that is
about something that is near to my heart and what is this
near to my heart and what is this
near to my heart and what is this something I speak of pan-africanism of
something I speak of pan-africanism of
something I speak of pan-africanism of course what is pan-africanism you may
course what is pan-africanism you may
course what is pan-africanism you may ask I would like to define it for what I
ask I would like to define it for what I
ask I would like to define it for what I think it really is that being an
think it really is that being an
think it really is that being an ideology that asserts and supports the
ideology that asserts and supports the
ideology that asserts and supports the solidarity of Africans worldwide it
solidarity of Africans worldwide it
solidarity of Africans worldwide it stresses on the fact that our unity as
stresses on the fact that our unity as
stresses on the fact that our unity as Africans not just within the continent
Africans not just within the continent
Africans not just within the continent but as well as the Diaspora is a vital
but as well as the Diaspora is a vital
but as well as the Diaspora is a vital part of economic social and political
part of economic social and political
part of economic social and political progress in terms of the of the
progress in terms of the of the
progress in terms of the of the continent survival you see I don’t know
continent survival you see I don’t know
continent survival you see I don’t know about you but I grew up believing that
about you but I grew up believing that
about you but I grew up believing that anywhere but Africa was heaven I thought
anywhere but Africa was heaven I thought
anywhere but Africa was heaven I thought that being African was one of the worst
that being African was one of the worst
that being African was one of the worst things that could happen to you in life
things that could happen to you in life
things that could happen to you in life and who could blame me look at the
and who could blame me look at the
and who could blame me look at the prevalence of tribalism and parallelism
prevalence of tribalism and parallelism
prevalence of tribalism and parallelism and corruption within our continent now
and corruption within our continent now
and corruption within our continent now let me give you a few scenarios that
let me give you a few scenarios that
let me give you a few scenarios that happens within our own country and other
happens within our own country and other
happens within our own country and other countries around the continent who would
countries around the continent who would
countries around the continent who would want to grow up living in a country
want to grow up living in a country
want to grow up living in a country where your leaders are wanted by the ICC
where your leaders are wanted by the ICC
where your leaders are wanted by the ICC who wouldn’t trust their livelihood to
who wouldn’t trust their livelihood to
who wouldn’t trust their livelihood to those who use public funds as their
those who use public funds as their
those who use public funds as their personal bank account and would you want
personal bank account and would you want
personal bank account and would you want to live in a country that is still ruled
to live in a country that is still ruled
to live in a country that is still ruled by the primitive divide-and-conquer
by the primitive divide-and-conquer
by the primitive divide-and-conquer ideas left to us by the colonialist i
ideas left to us by the colonialist i
ideas left to us by the colonialist i think that is going backwards and Africa
think that is going backwards and Africa
think that is going backwards and Africa is rising and meant to be moving forward
is rising and meant to be moving forward
is rising and meant to be moving forward before discovering what pan-africanism
before discovering what pan-africanism
before discovering what pan-africanism was I would have told you that anyone
was I would have told you that anyone
was I would have told you that anyone wanted to live in these conditions is
wanted to live in these conditions is
wanted to live in these conditions is crazy however now as a pan-africanist I
crazy however now as a pan-africanist I
crazy however now as a pan-africanist I tell you that I relish the opportunity
tell you that I relish the opportunity
tell you that I relish the opportunity and the chance to live in any one of
and the chance to live in any one of
and the chance to live in any one of these hell holes within the continent
these hell holes within the continent
these hell holes within the continent you see understand and accept the
you see understand and accept the
you see understand and accept the challenge of uniting Africans and making
challenge of uniting Africans and making
challenge of uniting Africans and making it the next big thing not only as a
it the next big thing not only as a
it the next big thing not only as a pan-africanist but as a youth as well if
pan-africanist but as a youth as well if
pan-africanist but as a youth as well if we had a standard of leadership where we
we had a standard of leadership where we
we had a standard of leadership where we were able to hold our leaders
were able to hold our leaders
were able to hold our leaders accountable for their
accountable for their
accountable for their scandals iniquities and irresponsibility
scandals iniquities and irresponsibility
scandals iniquities and irresponsibility we would then move forward from this I
we would then move forward from this I
we would then move forward from this I have a question to ask you imagine
have a question to ask you imagine
have a question to ask you imagine imagine what Africa would be if Africans
imagine what Africa would be if Africans
imagine what Africa would be if Africans loved Africa as much as the rest of the
loved Africa as much as the rest of the
loved Africa as much as the rest of the world loved its resources we would not
world loved its resources we would not
world loved its resources we would not rely on the aid of foreign entities we
rely on the aid of foreign entities we
rely on the aid of foreign entities we would not be the beggars of the world we
would not be the beggars of the world we
would not be the beggars of the world we would be a force to reckon with we
would be a force to reckon with we
would be a force to reckon with we wouldn’t look over at Zimbabwe and
wouldn’t look over at Zimbabwe and
wouldn’t look over at Zimbabwe and Uganda and say if they can do that
Uganda and say if they can do that
Uganda and say if they can do that so should we no instead we would be our
so should we no instead we would be our
so should we no instead we would be our brothers keepers or there’s famine in
brothers keepers or there’s famine in
brothers keepers or there’s famine in Ethiopia we’ve got some maize right here
Ethiopia we’ve got some maize right here
Ethiopia we’ve got some maize right here in Kenya why don’t you have some you
in Kenya why don’t you have some you
in Kenya why don’t you have some you need some election monitors in Zambia
need some election monitors in Zambia
need some election monitors in Zambia we’ve got some right here in namibia why
we’ve got some right here in namibia why
we’ve got some right here in namibia why don’t you use them for your upcoming
don’t you use them for your upcoming
don’t you use them for your upcoming election i wonder did you guys hear that
election i wonder did you guys hear that
election i wonder did you guys hear that Rhonda has that new and Swift program
Rhonda has that new and Swift program
Rhonda has that new and Swift program that enables people to clean the streets
that enables people to clean the streets
that enables people to clean the streets I wonder how that would fare on in
I wonder how that would fare on in
I wonder how that would fare on in aerobee Kenya right now you see what I’m
aerobee Kenya right now you see what I’m
aerobee Kenya right now you see what I’m here to tell you today is that we do not
here to tell you today is that we do not
here to tell you today is that we do not need we do not need aid from countries
need we do not need aid from countries
need we do not need aid from countries who are only here to feed on our
who are only here to feed on our
who are only here to feed on our resources and complain about the heat
resources and complain about the heat
resources and complain about the heat now with that statement being said with
now with that statement being said with
now with that statement being said with that statement being said I don’t want
that statement being said I don’t want
that statement being said I don’t want people to believe that I’m here for lack
people to believe that I’m here for lack
people to believe that I’m here for lack of a better word to take a dump on
of a better word to take a dump on
of a better word to take a dump on foreign relations between African
foreign relations between African
foreign relations between African countries and countries outside of this
countries and countries outside of this
countries and countries outside of this great continent that we live in today
great continent that we live in today
great continent that we live in today what I am here to say is that if we
what I am here to say is that if we
what I am here to say is that if we started to look within ourselves for
started to look within ourselves for
started to look within ourselves for ideas innovations and ways to push
ideas innovations and ways to push
ideas innovations and ways to push forward the continent wouldn’t we have
forward the continent wouldn’t we have
forward the continent wouldn’t we have solutions that the rest of the world is
solutions that the rest of the world is
solutions that the rest of the world is looking for pan-africanism begins by
looking for pan-africanism begins by
looking for pan-africanism begins by teaching us some of the amazing things
teaching us some of the amazing things
teaching us some of the amazing things that our ancestors have done it begins
that our ancestors have done it begins
that our ancestors have done it begins by teaching us that Africa is not a
by teaching us that Africa is not a
by teaching us that Africa is not a wasteland like we are led to believe it
wasteland like we are led to believe it
wasteland like we are led to believe it is
is
is it teaches us of our ancestors such as
it teaches us of our ancestors such as
it teaches us of our ancestors such as tomboy kwame nkrumah
thomas sankara it teaches us of the
thomas sankara it teaches us of the amazing things that these Pan Africanist
amazing things that these Pan Africanist
amazing things that these Pan Africanist pioneers if you will have done it
pioneers if you will have done it
pioneers if you will have done it teaches us of the great things that we
teaches us of the great things that we
teaches us of the great things that we continue to do pan-africanism is all
continue to do pan-africanism is all
continue to do pan-africanism is all about solidarity and unity it is the
about solidarity and unity it is the
about solidarity and unity it is the idea of the Queen zynga of Angola it is
idea of the Queen zynga of Angola it is
idea of the Queen zynga of Angola it is the idea of the Ashanti in Ghana it is
the idea of the Ashanti in Ghana it is
the idea of the Ashanti in Ghana it is the idea of the Zulu of South Africa it
the idea of the Zulu of South Africa it
the idea of the Zulu of South Africa it is the idea of the pyramids in Egypt and
is the idea of the pyramids in Egypt and
is the idea of the pyramids in Egypt and Sudan it is the idea of m-pesa in Kenya
Sudan it is the idea of m-pesa in Kenya
Sudan it is the idea of m-pesa in Kenya all compiled and converging into one
all compiled and converging into one
all compiled and converging into one thing and that thing of course being
thing and that thing of course being
thing and that thing of course being pan-africanism now let’s talk about the
pan-africanism now let’s talk about the
pan-africanism now let’s talk about the media for a second though the media does
media for a second though the media does
media for a second though the media does play a vital role in our lives some
play a vital role in our lives some
play a vital role in our lives some would say that they virtually perpetuate
would say that they virtually perpetuate
would say that they virtually perpetuate some of the heavy stereotypes that have
some of the heavy stereotypes that have
some of the heavy stereotypes that have thought about Africans today don’t get
thought about Africans today don’t get
thought about Africans today don’t get me wrong
me wrong
me wrong politicians do play a major role and why
politicians do play a major role and why
politicians do play a major role and why Africa is seen as what it is today now
Africa is seen as what it is today now
Africa is seen as what it is today now by a show of hands here how many people
by a show of hands here how many people
by a show of hands here how many people have travelled to another country and
have travelled to another country and
have travelled to another country and been asked some ridiculous question
been asked some ridiculous question
been asked some ridiculous question because of being African or having
because of being African or having
because of being African or having African descent believe me I know the
African descent believe me I know the
African descent believe me I know the feeling is war you see as an African I
feeling is war you see as an African I
feeling is war you see as an African I want to tell you I want to tell you the
want to tell you I want to tell you the
want to tell you I want to tell you the cold hard truth that tribalism is our
cold hard truth that tribalism is our
cold hard truth that tribalism is our only authentic identity take for example
only authentic identity take for example
only authentic identity take for example the 2007 post-election violence that
the 2007 post-election violence that
the 2007 post-election violence that arose in Kenya because of corruption and
arose in Kenya because of corruption and
arose in Kenya because of corruption and tribalism a study conducted by Stephen
tribalism a study conducted by Stephen
tribalism a study conducted by Stephen Kevin in 2008 showed that 58 58 % of
Kevin in 2008 showed that 58 58 % of
Kevin in 2008 showed that 58 58 % of Kenyans didn’t even know that their
Kenyans didn’t even know that their
Kenyans didn’t even know that their parties had a manifesto now is that to
parties had a manifesto now is that to
parties had a manifesto now is that to say that we as Kenyans cast our votes
say that we as Kenyans cast our votes
say that we as Kenyans cast our votes primarily because of the candidates
primarily because of the candidates
primarily because of the candidates charisma
charisma
charisma was it the candidates wealth was it the
was it the candidates wealth was it the
was it the candidates wealth was it the candidates looks no it was it was
candidates looks no it was it was
candidates looks no it was it was because we have been conditioned to
because we have been conditioned to
because we have been conditioned to think that we have to make we have to
think that we have to make we have to
think that we have to make we have to make a choice based on ethnicity I’m not
make a choice based on ethnicity I’m not
make a choice based on ethnicity I’m not here to say that you shouldn’t be proud
here to say that you shouldn’t be proud
here to say that you shouldn’t be proud of your tribe your culture your history
of your tribe your culture your history
of your tribe your culture your history but what I am here to say is
but what I am here to say is
but what I am here to say is pan-africanism teaches us it teaches us
pan-africanism teaches us it teaches us
pan-africanism teaches us it teaches us about solidarity it teaches us about
about solidarity it teaches us about
about solidarity it teaches us about unity it teaches us about patriotism let
unity it teaches us about patriotism let
unity it teaches us about patriotism let me give you a little history here about
me give you a little history here about
me give you a little history here about imperialism you see imperialism was
imperialism you see imperialism was
imperialism you see imperialism was Africa’s and Asia’s three century long
Africa’s and Asia’s three century long
Africa’s and Asia’s three century long fight for foreign dominance it was
fight for foreign dominance it was
fight for foreign dominance it was dependent on dismantling national unity
dependent on dismantling national unity
dependent on dismantling national unity and replacing it with ethnic intolerance
and replacing it with ethnic intolerance
and replacing it with ethnic intolerance which is what we see today the scars of
which is what we see today the scars of
which is what we see today the scars of this are felt now more than ever with
this are felt now more than ever with
this are felt now more than ever with phrases such as I am Yoruba or I am
phrases such as I am Yoruba or I am
phrases such as I am Yoruba or I am Shona or I am Kikuyu or I am law or I am
Shona or I am Kikuyu or I am law or I am
Shona or I am Kikuyu or I am law or I am a lujah becoming more and more
a lujah becoming more and more
a lujah becoming more and more insufferable each and every day
insufferable each and every day
insufferable each and every day like I said I am NOT here to say that
like I said I am NOT here to say that
like I said I am NOT here to say that you should not be proud of your culture
you should not be proud of your culture
you should not be proud of your culture your history or where you are from in
your history or where you are from in
your history or where you are from in fact pan-africanism encourages exactly
fact pan-africanism encourages exactly
fact pan-africanism encourages exactly that you should be proud you should be
that you should be proud you should be
that you should be proud you should be happy but what I am saying is when a
happy but what I am saying is when a
happy but what I am saying is when a candidate or a persons main selling
candidate or a persons main selling
candidate or a persons main selling point is his ethnicity rather than his
point is his ethnicity rather than his
point is his ethnicity rather than his core values his principles as a man want
core values his principles as a man want
core values his principles as a man want that person have a tendency towards an
that person have a tendency towards an
that person have a tendency towards an abuse of power or corruption what I am
abuse of power or corruption what I am
abuse of power or corruption what I am here to tell you today is we can do this
here to tell you today is we can do this
here to tell you today is we can do this without the divide and conquer we can do
without the divide and conquer we can do
without the divide and conquer we can do this without ethnic barriers we can do
this without ethnic barriers we can do
this without ethnic barriers we can do this without ethnic intolerance we can
this without ethnic intolerance we can
this without ethnic intolerance we can do this without hate speech patriotism
do this without hate speech patriotism
do this without hate speech patriotism has no party patriotism sees no gender
has no party patriotism sees no gender
has no party patriotism sees no gender patriotism sees no race patriotism sees
patriotism sees no race patriotism sees
patriotism sees no race patriotism sees no tribe what I am saying today ladies
no tribe what I am saying today ladies
no tribe what I am saying today ladies and gentlemen is you should stick to one
and gentlemen is you should stick to one
and gentlemen is you should stick to one political party you
political party you
political party you be proud of where you’re from but what I
be proud of where you’re from but what I
be proud of where you’re from but what I am saying is that we can do this without
am saying is that we can do this without
am saying is that we can do this without the divide and conquer and we can do
the divide and conquer and we can do
the divide and conquer and we can do this the right way we can do this
this the right way we can do this
this the right way we can do this the pan-african way thank you
the pan-african way thank you
the pan-african way thank you [Applause]
”
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