Today, Tomorrow, and Africa…

SUMMARY: Seen and heard is what the youth of the globe echoes. The African youth will be seen and heard, and as their online and physical presence grows, their calls for what they want to see in their respective countries must be heeded. Africa held the key to humanity in the beginning, and now we are witnessing the continent in a way that shows it also holds the key to humanity’s future. To ensure this vision is realized, it is up to leaders, stakeholders, and communities to support the youth who shape Africa's destiny.

Silhouettes passenger airport. Airline travel concept. (Adobe Stock)

As I remove my costly red, white, and blue sunglasses and tuck them at the bottom of my luggage before my flight lands in Nairobi , I found myself reminiscing about a moment where I once whispered to myself during my undergraduate thesis writing process. It was an all-nighter type of night where I found myself staring aimlessly at my outline, while my eyes wandered over the stacks of printed research. The tap of my pen against my laptop suddenly faded into white noise.

Out of nowhere, my body stopped, the tapping ceased, and I whispered to myself, “Africa is so young, and I have a feeling it must be our future.” Which would make sense why I had witnesses a strong Chinese presence in Ethiopia just a few months prior. In that moment, my perspective on what is often portrayed as a dark place shifted. As I witness post-colonial sub-Saharan Africa evolve whether that be through social media or visiting, it becomes clear that the continent will have a say in future global affairs and the advancement of green technology.

While I continue to make bi-annual trips to the continent from the United States, here are events and issues I believe we should be paying attention to. Here is a hint: the common denominator is youth!

Voter ballot example. (Adobe Stock)

We cannot talk about the continent’s future without mentioning anti-corruption, whether we are looking at this internally or corruption coming from foreign entities alike. When I hear anti-corruption and Africa in the same sentence, I almost immediately think of the anti-Moi protests in comparison to the 17-month-long youth-led protests being carried out in Nairobi now (at the time I am writing this). These movements are part of checking the pulse of democracy. We will all be watching Kenya’s 2027 election closely.

Recently the most eloquent yet commanding speeches that raise the hairs on my body are by the 37-year-old President of Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Traoré, whose words echo the rhetoric of Pan African ghosts. His vision for the Burkinabe people and other African people has resonated deeply.

His dissection of the continent’s relationship with Western nations in the past and present is the writing of a new chapter in Africa’s post-imperial story. His influence is one not to overlook.

Energy EV car concept. Futuristic hybrid vehicle charge battery electric on station blur cityscape on panoramic banner blue background with icon illustration environment friendly. green eco technology (Adobe Stock)

Development of electric vehicles and green technology in African nations will almost always begin with a discussion of Chinese financial investments and products. In a future post, I will have to expand on this discussion further. Using Chinese electric vehicles and the future of green technology can offer more opportunities to invest in local assembly plants, reducing youth unemployment and the phenomenon of post-graduate brain drain.

Investing in African markets, assembling batteries locally, and establishing solar companies based in Kenya and Malawi for example will create opportunities for training and careers that allow Generation Z to address climate change through action and real-time results. Chinese financial networks and infrastructure projects have a global influence.

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Still, when discussing influence and, in particular, Africa’s impact on the world, I reflect on hearing Afro-beat music blaring from my favorite night spots back home in Harlem, New York, cuddling up on my couch, yelling at my favorite characters in a Nigerian or South African feature on Netflix. I will admit that I have had a Netflix account since high school in 2007 (yes, I am that old), and I do not recall seeing any Nollywood films. Netflix has come a long way, but African media has come even further.

The import of African artists into the American press, particularly African-American and Caribbean media spaces, has paved the way for a beautiful trans-Atlantic cultural trade. We are fortunate to witness this, and I encourage us all to embrace it. Until next time, Africa!