It has become a norm for African leaders to gather every year, folding their arms and begging the West for help. Whether it’s economic, medical, security or food aid, they have fostered a culture where the West is viewed as their saviors. I am not against cooperation, but it is about time these leaders meet as equals and share ideas on how to collectively develop the planet. Unfortunately, this rarely happens. Instead of presenting innovative ideas, African leaders focus on presenting their never-ending problems.
If you reflect on what fundamentally separates white people from black people, the answer is merely the pigment of our skin which is merely an environmental adaptation. Beyond that, we all share the same color of blood, one heart and one brain. The true difference lies in the culture our leaders have cultivated—a culture that discourages critical thinking and fosters dependency. They have failed to empower their people to think independently, relying instead on the West for almost everything. In Africa, it often seems that people don’t use their brains effectively, as though their minds are mere decorations rather than tools for progress. This stems from a lack of leadership capable of directing citizens toward productive, innovative thinking.
Despite the world being more connected and exposed to vast amounts of information, Africa still remains behind in innovation. The continent is not playing its part in advancing the planet. Even in the basic task of feeding its population, Africa continues to struggle in that too even though we have abundant resources. Hardly a year goes by without reports of hunger crises causing deaths in some parts of the continent. Even though Africa has its own organization—the African Union (AU), which still cannot solve this problem. Instead, the AU begs for aid from the European Union and the USA. One might even question the purpose of the AU, as it has achieved nothing on its own since its formation.
If the West were to face a catastrophic event, Africa would likely collapse due to its overdependence. History clearly shows that the West is filled with aggressive powers, willing to go to war and destroy entire nations, like in Japan during World War II. With the arsenal of nuclear weapons they now possess, it is evident that these weapons are not made for show but for destruction. Should such weapons be unleashed, Africa, in its current state of dependency, would be left vulnerable and unable to withstand the fallout.
This is because african leaders have failed to unite their people to address the continent's greatest enemy—poverty. Although education is offered, it often fails to produce competent individuals who can handle critical tasks such as building roads or other essential infrastructure. This is why much of Africa's infrastructure is constructed by foreign entities, particularly the Chinese. It is clear that even African governments do not trust their own people to handle such projects.
For Africa to prosper, a complete overhaul of its leadership is required. The current crop of leaders lacks the vision and mentality necessary for progress. They remain mentally colonized by the West, unable to create their own original ideas or solutions without copying Western models. Many of these leaders are old and continually re-elected on empty promises of a better future. Yet, that future remains uncertain because our fate has been placed in the hands of the volatile West which is a risky gamble for Africa’s long-term survival.
It is time for Africa to break free from this dependency, foster innovation and invest in the intellectual growth of its people. Only then can this continent truly stand on its own and secure a brighter future for its generation.