Hon Speaker, hon members and fellow South Africans, in this year of the 50th year anniversary of the Organisation of African Unity, OAU, and the 10th anniversary of the African Union, AU, it is important to identify and address the challenges that face us as Africans. The topic of Pan-Africanism and the African Renaissance should be based on a clear understanding of who is an African.
The history of Pan-Africanism was born out of the consequences of the European scramble to colonise Africa. The infamous Berlin Conference in 1885 set the current borders of Africa according to the different European countries' colonisation of the continent. Those borders disregarded the common African identities, cultures and languages found across those borders.
During the twentieth century, African identity was based on being a black and from Africa. However, because of colonisation and globalisation, the situation is now such that we have people of European descent who are citizens of Africa, and people of African descent who are citizens of Europe.
Thus, in response to the question of who is an African, Mammo Muchie argues that there is no such thing as an essential African identity that has been frozen in time. Rather, African identity should be expressed through a rejection of racism, ethnicity, parochialism, exclusivity and barbarism. African identity must be inclusive, non-essentialist and emancipatory. Therefore, fundamentally it is the consciousness of a person that determines who is an African.
If there is a common acceptance of the Africa project, then Pan-Africanism must be premised therefore on the understanding that countries of Africa can only achieve the fundamental goals of guaranteed independence and the self-determination of their own paths of socioeconomic development through unity.
The developed countries and the emerging markets such as China and India look to Africa for her natural resources. To ensure social and economic security and development through Africa, it is important to use political power and unity for Africa. A politically unified Africa will enable her countries to develop their common strategic interests while maintaining the interests and integrity of the continent. In this way Africa can provide a meaningful contribution to the global community, and create a future on the continent of stability and prosperity.
In the contemporary Africa there are, however, threats to the establishment of a unified Africa. The rent-seeking government of many African states has led to a situation that inhibits the development of countries. This creates the system of patrimony that is designed to generate funds which enrich a select few in power, allowing for some in the corporate and civil society sectors to take advantage of the system to benefit them. An extremely damaging consequence of this form of governance has been the advent of drug trafficking on the continent. This has eroded the sovereignty of some states, and the only way to remove this evil is through an integrated response across Africa. The way forward to eliminate rent- seeking and reopen the way to a genuine Africa is unity. Despite the new Afro-optimism, it is important that leaders remain vigilant and humble because there are still persistent places of conflict and institutional instability on the continent. Security and stability across the continent are important for all Africa's people and her development.
Africa's history has been one of unmaking. The centuries-long period of slavery, the European imperialism and colonial domination unmade Africa. The African Renaissance is about the remaking of Africa by Africans. This is reliant on a unified Africa. With the political power of unity, Africa can achieve the following: Firstly, its own vision of globalisation with economic integration; secondly, implementation of policy that will remove dependency; thirdly, the diversification of the markets and trade partners; fourthly, the promotion of sound financial systems; fifthly, the development of social needs; and lastly, the betterment of the lives of the people of Africa. All of these measures will ensure prosperity and stability for Africa and her people.
Unite Africa; prosperity for Africa and a united Africa should be the way to go. I thank you. [Applause.]