ISSUE 6: JULY 2013 CONTENTS Introduction: Africa and the Glittering Prize 1 Africa Must Change 9 Négritude, Africa and Black History 17 Africa Must Unite or Perish 2 Black Woman 12 The African Revolution 18 The Rebirth of Africa 8 Our Ultimate Goal 13 Africa Unite 20 Africa and the Glittering Prize 013 marks the 50th anniversary of the towards Pan Africanism. As such, Biko’s formation of the Organisation of African name was among those read out on a roll call 2Unity (OAU), now known as the African at a ceremony held in Addis Ababa on the Union (AU), an organisation established to 25th of May, 2013. In light of this, we as the promote sovereignty, unity and development Steve Biko Foundation (SBF) are using this, NKOSINATHI BIKO in the continent. the sixth edition of the FrankTalk Journal, to On the occasion of celebrating the 50th commemorate the history of African liberation Mr. Biko is the Chief Executive anniversary, the AU honoured Steve Biko under the title “Africa and The Glittering Prize.” Officer of the Steve Biko Foun- in recognition of the contribution he made This Journal celebrates an aggregation of dation. He is a founder member the historical, cultural, artistic, scientific and of the board of trustees and philosophical legacies of Africans from past chaired the Steve Biko Foun- times. In doing this, we bring you writings dation for the first five years. “The great powers of the from individuals who laid the foundations of Mr. Biko graduated from the world may have done what became contemporary Pan-Africanism, wonders in giving the world Aime Cesaire, Leopold Senghor, Malcolm University of Cape Town where an industrial and military X, Kwame Nkrumah, Robert Sobukwe and he pursued a Bachelor of So- cial Science (Economics) and a look, but the great gift still Bob Marley to help us reflect on the dream for a united Africa. Postgraduate Diploma in Mar- has to come from Africa Drawing from the lessons of memory keting Management. He stud- – giving the world a more and history, this journal begins what will be ied Property Development and human face.” our year long conversation on the history Finance through the University Steve Biko of African liberation and the role of Pan of the Witwatersrand. He is also Africanism today. a published writer and speaker and has given lectures on the Be a part of this conversation on the values of Africa which today remain – a work in international circuit. progress – and how these inform today’s realities. You can do this by sharing your views and comments via email: [email protected] or the FrankTalk Blog www.sbffranktalk. blogspot.com. We also invite you to continue the dialogue through: Facebook www. facebook.com/TheSteveBikoFoundation and Twitter www.twitter.com/BikoFoundation. 2 Africa Must Unite or Perish A speech delivered at the founding conference of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), 1963. By Kwame Nkrumah available to colonialism and you all KWAME NKRUMAH here know that. (1909 – 1972) This is the great design of the imperialist interests that buttress Nkrumah, a strong advocate for Pan Africanism, declared colonialism and neo-colonialism, and that “the independence of Ghana is meaningless until it we would be deceiving ourselves in is linked with the total liberation of the African continent.” the most cruel way were we to regard Be leading Africa’s independence movement, Nkrumah their individual actions as separate became a source of inspiration throughout the African and unrelated. When Portugal violated continent. He played a significant role in the creation Senegal’s border, when Verwoerd of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1963, a allocates one-seventh of South Africa’s precursor of the current African Union (AU). budget to military and police, when France builds as part of her defence policy an interventionist force that can am happy to be here in Addis Ababa America the unwilling and distressed intervene, more especially in French- on this most historic occasion. prey of imperialism after one-and-a-half speaking Africa, when Welensky I I bring with me the hopes and centuries of political independence. talks of Southern Rhodesia joining fraternal greetings of the government As a continent, we have emerged South Africa, it is all part of a carefully and people of Ghana. Our objective is into independence in a different age, calculated pattern working towards a African union now. There is no time to with imperialism grown stronger, more single end; the continued enslavement waste. We must unite now or perish. ruthless and experienced, and more of our still dependent brothers and an I am confident that by our concerned dangerous in its international asso- onslaught upon the independence of effort and determination, we shall lay ciations. Our economic advancement our sovereign African states. here the foundations for a continental demands the end of colonialist and Do we have any other weapon Union of African States. neo-colonialist domination in Africa. against this design but our unity? Is not A whole continent has imposed a But just as we understood that the our unity essential to guard our own mandate upon us to lay the foundation shaping of our national destinies required freedom as well as to win freedom for of our union at this conference. It of each of us our political independence our oppressed brothers, the freedom is our responsibility to execute this and bent on all our strength to its fighters? Is it not unity alone that mandate by creating here and now, attainment, so we must recognize that can weld us into an effective force, the formula upon which the requisite our economic independence resides capable of creating our own progress superstructure may be erected. in our African union and requires and making our valuable contribution On this continent, it has not taken us the same concentration upon the to world peace? Which independent long to discover that the struggle against political achievement. The unity of our African state, which of you here, will colonialism does not end with the at- continent, no less than our separate claim that its financial structure and tainment of national independence. independence, will be delayed if, indeed, banking institutions are fully harnessed Independence is only the prelude we do not lose it, by hobnobbing with to its national development? Which to a new and more involved struggle colonialism. will that its material resources and for the right to conduct our own African unity is above all, a political human energies are available for its economic and social affairs; to kingdom which can only be gained own aspirations? Which will disclaim a construct our society according to our by political means. The social and substantial measure of disappointment aspirations, unhampered by crushing economic development of Africa will and disillusionment in its agricultural and humiliating neo-colonial controls come only within the political kingdom, and urban development? and interference. not the other way round. The United In independent Africa, we are already From the start, we have been States of America, The Union of Soviet re-experiencing the instability and threatened with frustration where Socialist Republics, were the decisions frustration which existed under colonial rapid change is imperative and with of Revolutionary peoples before they rule. We are fast learning that political instability where sustained effort and became mighty realities of social power independence is not enough to rid us of ordered rule are indispensable. No and material wealth. the consequences of colonial rule. The sporadic act or pious resolution can How, except by our united efforts, movement of the masses of the people resolve our present problems. Nothing will the richest and still enslaved parts of Africa for freedom from that kind of will be of avail, except the united act of of our continent be freed from colonial rule was not only a revolt against the a united Africa. occupation and become available conditions which it imposed. to us for the total development of Our people supported us in a fight UNITE OR SINK our continent? Every step in the for independence because they We have already reached the stage decolonization of our Continent has believed that African governments where we must unite or sink into brought greater resistance in those could cure the ills of the past in a way that condition which has made Latin areas where Colonial garrisons are which could never be accomplished 3 under colonial rule. If, therefore, now the world are pre-occupied with Africa’s understand fully the basic need of our that we are independent we allow the gold, diamonds, uranium, platinum, union, rooted ion common purpose, same conditions to exist that existed copper and iron ore. Our capital flows common planning and common in colonial days, all the resentment out in streams to irrigate the, whole endeavour. A union that ignores the which overthrew colonialism will be system of western economy .Fifty-two fundamental necessities will be but a mobilized against us. percent of the gold in Fort Knox at this sham it is only by uniting our productive The resources are there. It is for us moment, where the USA stores its capacity and the resultant production to Marshall them in the active service bullion, is believed to have originated that we can amass capital. And once of our people. Unless we do this by from our shores. Africa provides we start, the momentum will increase. our concerned efforts, within the more than 60%of the world’s gold. A With capital controlled by our banks, framework of our combined planning, great deal of the Uranium for nuclear harnessed to our own true industrial we shall not progress at the tempo power, of copper for electronics, of and agricultural development, we shall demanded by today’s events and the titanium for supersonic projectiles, of make our advance.