Finding African solutions to African challenges requires a clear and well thought-out strategy

Courtesy photo

During NATO invasion of Libya in 2011, African Union sought to find African solutions to Libyan impasse. Unfortunately, African Union dragged their feet thus justifying and legitimizing NATO military intervention that culminated into the dramatic, unjust and inhuman demise of Muammar Gaddafi, and the final collapse of his 42 year old regime. The idea of finding African solutions to African problems has remained just a talk. Its practicalities have eluded its proponents. Lack of a clear strategy is untiringly chocking this brilliant idea.

Part of criticism for the “Kony 2012” film was its lack of recognition that the African people have competence, qualification, ability, desire and self determination to find solutions to their challenges. To this end, the film should be a wake up call and a point of departure for African people to initiate a debate geared towards drafting a long term strategy that will interest, attract and encourage local people to partake in the process of identifying lasting solutions to challenges such as poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, corruption, among others.

Certainly, there is no monopolist of social media networks such as facebook, twitter, and other online spaces such as youtube. Government departments, civil society organisations, private investors and other local organisations should integrate information and communication technology strategies in their work to globalise the successes, programs and achievements of these organisations. What will sanitize the image of African continent in the global market are the positive and success stories that continental Africans are able to publicize. This will attract investment and will present natives as capable collaborators and stakeholders in defining the destiny of their society.

 Kony 2012 video

 Africans in the Diaspora have a role to play in redefining and framing discourses that will positively change the social, economic and political landscape of the continent. Unfortunately, some of these people flee their countries due to harsh conditions such as political brutality, unemployment, etc. This experience demoralizes them to find positive stories about their countries to market. Nonetheless, people from Africa have competently served as experts in education, science, technology, health, and other sectors in the global economy. African governments need to initiate programs and projects that will tap into this wealth of knowledge and human capital. Organisations such as Ugandan North American Association (UNAA) should sail above mere politicking. Associations for African students in European and North American universities should serve beyond spaces where students meet to just feel good about being home away from home. These western based groups should transmute into think tanks that can generate, disseminate and promote developmental ideas that will magnetize constructive interest from the West, and at the same time empower locals with knowledge and skills that will transform their communities.

Correspondingly, Africa needs to found continental networks for professionals serving in various sectors in the global economy such as media, health, education, technology, arts and culture, etc.  Through these networks, success and positive stories about Africa can be shared and dispatched to the global markets through social media networks and other communication technology outlets. Likewise, solutions to the challenges haunting African communities can be exchanged between members.

The continent needs to invest in media that will construct and promote the positive images and success stories about Africa. Presently, the continent is not passably visible in the global media industry. As such, the people of Africa have been reduced to mere consumers of what is telecast and broadcast on Western media outlets such as CNN, BBC, Aljazeera, et cetera. Moreover, success stories about Africa are never exemplified on these media spaces. This calls for the people of Africa to rethink and establish a vibrant and dynamic global media outlet that will act as a global mouthpiece for the continent.

Universities, governments, civil society organisations and the private sector need to invest in research that would encourage generation, promotion and dissemination of indigenous knowledge. This will give our global output identity, which will stimulate comparative advantage on global market. Currently, most research projects are western driven and funded with African researchers being dwarfed to just research assistant. This has tilted the generation of knowledge in favour of the western interests. Further, legislation and a supervision mechanism should be put in place to guide, evaluate and monitor the operations of individuals and organisations that engage in activities that involve human subjects to safeguard the interest of the local people.

Finding African solutions to African challenges requires a clear, long-term, and well thought-out strategy. It is only this strategy that will enable the people of Africa to effectively contribute to and own the process of    transforming their communities.

Mr. Mabingo is a dance educationist.