Dear Sons and Daughters of Africa,
Across oceans and continents, your roots remain firmly planted in African soil. No matter how far you have traveled, Africa beats within you—a pulse of resilience, hope, and untapped potential. We write to you not just to remember where you come from, but to invite you to be part of where Africa is going.
As Ghana’s first President, Kwame Nkrumah, once declared, “I am not African because I was born in Africa but because Africa was born in me.” This truth binds us together beyond borders and time zones. Your success abroad reflects Africa’s strength and now is the time to channel that success back to the source.
The narrative of Africa is evolving. Our stories have been filtered through lenses focusing only on poverty, conflict, and corruption for too long. But Africa is far more—innovation in Nairobi’s tech hubs, resilience in Lagos markets, creativity in Dakar’s art scenes, and leadership in Johannesburg and Kigali’s streets. You are uniquely positioned to amplify these stories and invest in Africa’s transformation.
Your knowledge, skills, and resources are the bridges that can connect Africa to global opportunities. Whether it’s mentoring young entrepreneurs, investing in local industries, or sharing expertise in sustainable development, your contributions can drive meaningful change.
Remember the words of Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: “The problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete. They make one story become the only story.” You can tell more stories of Africa—progress, innovation, and dignity.
We know that returning home may not always be possible, but your engagement transcends geography. Start where you are—support African businesses, advocate for policies that uplift African economies, and foster networks that empower African youth.
Africa is not a continent waiting to be saved; it is a continent ready to collaborate. Let us move away from the aid narrative and towards a partnership and progress. As South African leader Thabo Mbeki once said, “I am an African. I owe my being to the hills and the valleys, the mountains and the glades, the rivers, the deserts, the trees, the flowers, the seas, and the ever-changing seasons that define the face of our native land.”
Your journey abroad has equipped you with perspectives and tools that can help shape Africa’s next chapter. This is a call to reconnect, reinvest, and reclaim Africa’s narrative alongside those on the ground.
Africa needs you—not as a savior, but as a partner in progress.
With hope and solidarity,
Felix Tih,
Editor-in-Chief, Bantu Gazette