ArtemAfrica:
ArtemAfrica is dedicated to uplifting a diverse group youth who represent the future across regions in the African Continent. I'll be complicating the narrative, while publishing accounts of young African leaders, as well as interviews with the brightest young voices coming out of Africa.
Interview with Luyolo Mphithi
Artem Africa interviews Luyolo Mphithi, an elected Member of the South African Parliament and the Youth Leader of the Democratic Alliance, South Africa's main opposition party. In this interview, the future of South Africa's youth, participation in democracy, and recent violence in Cape Town are discussed by MP Mphithi. His perspective on South African politics offers a bright future for young African leaders. - Joseph Mullen
Interview #2 - Momar (Senegal)
|
|
Momar Mboup is a young Global Citizen Year Graduate who lives in Dakar and is a currently a college student in Canada. He founded an Agricultural Club at his former military academy and instructed 12th grade students in Senegal about the virtues of traveling abroad on a gap year to India. He is inspired by figures like Nelson Mandela and Kwame Nkrumah. I spoke to him to ask about life in Senegal and the work he's doing to inspire Senegalese youth in a nation dedicated to democracy.
Describe Senegalaise culture. What would you say is one unique cultural quality that sets Senegalaise people apart from other West Africans?
Senegal is a country adorned with a diverse multitude of cultures mainly originated from West Africa. This aspect is a result of colonization during which the European togetherized many initially different cultures into one entity, as well as divided formerly existing entities. They did not take into consideration the presence of indigenous cultures but rather had sight only on their profits, "holy evangelical mission", and colonized territories to create borders. A diverse myriad of tribes with different ethnicities and cultures came together, as a result, to emerge as one Senegal.
As a foreigner, as soon as you enter, or plan to enter Senegal, be sure to expect the famous "Teranga Senegalaise" (Senegalese hospitality) at least thrice from anyone. It is a way of cordial hospitality acting as one of the pillars holding up the basin containing cultural diversity, tolerance, peace and democracy, as well as tolerance of religion affiliations and identity. Senegalese Teranga manifests itself in daily life through simple acts of kindness such as sharing one’s goods, usually one's meal, with anyone regardless of identity, situation or background. This also includes checking up on you and every family member and acquaintances during our long greetings. Although the presence of globalization has influenced and affected the effects of the Teranga, this ritual is still prevalent and deliberately undertaken by the majority of the population, especially traditionalists and the elderly.
To me, there is nothing more fascinating than the amalgam of culture and the tolerance exhibited and chaperoned by our hospitality. It created an atmosphere of peace and serenity in my environment for all my years living in Senegal and to it I am grateful.
Senegal has regularly been described as one of West Africa’s strongest democracies. For example, in 2012 Abdoulaye Wade changed the constitution so he could run for a third term, but was defeated in the election by Macky Sall. What do you think makes Senegal a democracy with more fortitude than its neighbors?
I believe that religion played a major role in preserving stability and peace around the country. Islam and Christianity are the dominant religions in Senegal. In the case of Islam, there are many religious groups, each led by a caliphate (Muslim imam that advises their disciples and perform rituals), which gather people into a tight knit brotherhood. The disciples sincerely believe in their marabout, or religious leader. Some even worship them and give offerings, resulting in a patriarchal system where the marabout guides their disciples in the right religious path toward heaven. Just like how people believe in experts, Senegalese people also put their faith on marabout when it comes to religious matters. For example, when we are sick, we trust doctors and receive a prescription; the same goes for a marabout, when we have a religious ritual to perform, we reach out to marabout. The marabout never promotes violence and preaches for peace. Not to mention, the approval of a marabout means a lot to politician as it encourages the disciples to cast their vote to the approved one. Therefore, he has to follow the marabout's teachings and affiliate himself with the brotherhood to achieve his political goals.
In the case of Christianity, due to their small number in the population, I personally do not know their situation but I know for sure that they are contributing in preserving the democracy.
Your efforts in leadership are specifically focused on environmental development. Africa faces a unique challenge from climate change, as rapidly expanding populations and economies are sure to collide. Can you describe your efforts for the environment and what effect you expect them to have against climate change?
I promoted sustainable agriculture in my former Military academy. Many lands were unexploited and soldiers had free time so I created an agricultural club that could give the opportunity to learn farming, taking care of a business.
Education is critical in promoting future development in Africa. Can you talk about your presentation for local schools in Senegal? What impact on education do you believe you have made?
My friend and I did a presentation about our experiences and the benefits of taking a gap year. As a Senegalese students and citizens ourselves, we were aware of the challenges of relatability with 12th grade students so that the presentations could be relevant for the students. We started off with mini games to facilitate our introductions in which everyone shared their passions and worries in general. It was followed the lessons we learnt from our gap year at Global Citizen Year. Knowing that in Senegal students tend to disregard extracurricular and non-academic activities, we made sure to emphasize their importance and shows how life changing they were for us. For instance, they helped us become aware of our values and passions, build a strong network and friendship, practice or learn new skills and much more. Finally, we presented opportunities for gap years and extracurricular programs, as well as created groups on social media in order to brainstorm ideas and share information.
Regarding the impacts in education, we believe we assisted in creating awareness about non academic programs and opportunities after high school. Above all, we reduced stereotypes affecting students perspectives on gap year.
Who is your personal icon and why?
My personal icon is Kwame Nkrumah, the first President of Ghana. He wrote a treatise on education called "Education for Self-Reliance". It details how different and diverse education in Africa was before the introduction of formal education by colonizers. Urging to not disregard or reject any of the legged education, Kwame insisted on integrating both in the evaluation of education and pedagogy to create better and more socially relevant statistics.
What is your favorite quote from an African leader?
“A winner is a dreamer who never gives up.” Nelson Mandela
Who do you see as the strongest figurehead for African unity right now?
I see the former president of Senegal, Abdoulaye Wade, the strongest figurehead for African unity because he championed the construction of the African Renaissance Statue. Many countries contributed in financing it and this proves that unity is possible and the former president knows it.
What do you see on the horizon for Senegalaise politics?
I see a stronger democracy with the people holding the government accountable for their actions. Every time a political scandal is publicly revealed protests arise and sanctions are enacted. In addition, the transition of power is smooth.
Do you believe politicians around the world are doing enough to address climate change?
I believe politicians are doing enough to address climate change. There have always been researches, summits and projects that are designed to tackle climate change. The only issue revolves around the biggest polluters who sometimes do not want to contribute to the greater good.
Do you believe Western perceptions of Africa are harmful or have they evolved beyond narrow mindedness?
Because media, environment and the people play a huge role in shaping one’s perception of Africa, many of the stereotypes and negative perceptions are understandable. That is why as long as one understands that there are many stories inside a single story and that each situation has its own specific causes and consequences then these perceptions will not be harmful and could be easily altered to less narrow minded perceptions. I understood this concept after listening to the Chimanda Adichie Ted Talk titled: The Danger of a Single Story.
I would say that many perceptions evolve beyond narrow mindedness.
Senegal is a country adorned with a diverse multitude of cultures mainly originated from West Africa. This aspect is a result of colonization during which the European togetherized many initially different cultures into one entity, as well as divided formerly existing entities. They did not take into consideration the presence of indigenous cultures but rather had sight only on their profits, "holy evangelical mission", and colonized territories to create borders. A diverse myriad of tribes with different ethnicities and cultures came together, as a result, to emerge as one Senegal.
As a foreigner, as soon as you enter, or plan to enter Senegal, be sure to expect the famous "Teranga Senegalaise" (Senegalese hospitality) at least thrice from anyone. It is a way of cordial hospitality acting as one of the pillars holding up the basin containing cultural diversity, tolerance, peace and democracy, as well as tolerance of religion affiliations and identity. Senegalese Teranga manifests itself in daily life through simple acts of kindness such as sharing one’s goods, usually one's meal, with anyone regardless of identity, situation or background. This also includes checking up on you and every family member and acquaintances during our long greetings. Although the presence of globalization has influenced and affected the effects of the Teranga, this ritual is still prevalent and deliberately undertaken by the majority of the population, especially traditionalists and the elderly.
To me, there is nothing more fascinating than the amalgam of culture and the tolerance exhibited and chaperoned by our hospitality. It created an atmosphere of peace and serenity in my environment for all my years living in Senegal and to it I am grateful.
Senegal has regularly been described as one of West Africa’s strongest democracies. For example, in 2012 Abdoulaye Wade changed the constitution so he could run for a third term, but was defeated in the election by Macky Sall. What do you think makes Senegal a democracy with more fortitude than its neighbors?
I believe that religion played a major role in preserving stability and peace around the country. Islam and Christianity are the dominant religions in Senegal. In the case of Islam, there are many religious groups, each led by a caliphate (Muslim imam that advises their disciples and perform rituals), which gather people into a tight knit brotherhood. The disciples sincerely believe in their marabout, or religious leader. Some even worship them and give offerings, resulting in a patriarchal system where the marabout guides their disciples in the right religious path toward heaven. Just like how people believe in experts, Senegalese people also put their faith on marabout when it comes to religious matters. For example, when we are sick, we trust doctors and receive a prescription; the same goes for a marabout, when we have a religious ritual to perform, we reach out to marabout. The marabout never promotes violence and preaches for peace. Not to mention, the approval of a marabout means a lot to politician as it encourages the disciples to cast their vote to the approved one. Therefore, he has to follow the marabout's teachings and affiliate himself with the brotherhood to achieve his political goals.
In the case of Christianity, due to their small number in the population, I personally do not know their situation but I know for sure that they are contributing in preserving the democracy.
Your efforts in leadership are specifically focused on environmental development. Africa faces a unique challenge from climate change, as rapidly expanding populations and economies are sure to collide. Can you describe your efforts for the environment and what effect you expect them to have against climate change?
I promoted sustainable agriculture in my former Military academy. Many lands were unexploited and soldiers had free time so I created an agricultural club that could give the opportunity to learn farming, taking care of a business.
Education is critical in promoting future development in Africa. Can you talk about your presentation for local schools in Senegal? What impact on education do you believe you have made?
My friend and I did a presentation about our experiences and the benefits of taking a gap year. As a Senegalese students and citizens ourselves, we were aware of the challenges of relatability with 12th grade students so that the presentations could be relevant for the students. We started off with mini games to facilitate our introductions in which everyone shared their passions and worries in general. It was followed the lessons we learnt from our gap year at Global Citizen Year. Knowing that in Senegal students tend to disregard extracurricular and non-academic activities, we made sure to emphasize their importance and shows how life changing they were for us. For instance, they helped us become aware of our values and passions, build a strong network and friendship, practice or learn new skills and much more. Finally, we presented opportunities for gap years and extracurricular programs, as well as created groups on social media in order to brainstorm ideas and share information.
Regarding the impacts in education, we believe we assisted in creating awareness about non academic programs and opportunities after high school. Above all, we reduced stereotypes affecting students perspectives on gap year.
Who is your personal icon and why?
My personal icon is Kwame Nkrumah, the first President of Ghana. He wrote a treatise on education called "Education for Self-Reliance". It details how different and diverse education in Africa was before the introduction of formal education by colonizers. Urging to not disregard or reject any of the legged education, Kwame insisted on integrating both in the evaluation of education and pedagogy to create better and more socially relevant statistics.
What is your favorite quote from an African leader?
“A winner is a dreamer who never gives up.” Nelson Mandela
Who do you see as the strongest figurehead for African unity right now?
I see the former president of Senegal, Abdoulaye Wade, the strongest figurehead for African unity because he championed the construction of the African Renaissance Statue. Many countries contributed in financing it and this proves that unity is possible and the former president knows it.
What do you see on the horizon for Senegalaise politics?
I see a stronger democracy with the people holding the government accountable for their actions. Every time a political scandal is publicly revealed protests arise and sanctions are enacted. In addition, the transition of power is smooth.
Do you believe politicians around the world are doing enough to address climate change?
I believe politicians are doing enough to address climate change. There have always been researches, summits and projects that are designed to tackle climate change. The only issue revolves around the biggest polluters who sometimes do not want to contribute to the greater good.
Do you believe Western perceptions of Africa are harmful or have they evolved beyond narrow mindedness?
Because media, environment and the people play a huge role in shaping one’s perception of Africa, many of the stereotypes and negative perceptions are understandable. That is why as long as one understands that there are many stories inside a single story and that each situation has its own specific causes and consequences then these perceptions will not be harmful and could be easily altered to less narrow minded perceptions. I understood this concept after listening to the Chimanda Adichie Ted Talk titled: The Danger of a Single Story.
I would say that many perceptions evolve beyond narrow mindedness.
"To me, there is nothing more fascinating than the amalgam of culture and the tolerance exhibited and chaperoned by our hospitality." - Momar Mboup
Interview #1 - Alan (Kenya)
Alan Kagiri is a Kenyan-American living in California. When I first met him, we were both attending a summer program at Tufts University on International Relations and took a course in Arabic together. He easily makes friends with his charismatic, warm personality and vast knowledge. We passionately discussed Pan-African figures such as Patrice Lumumba and, of course, Jomo Kenyatta. Transcribed below is my interview with him for ArtemAfrica.
- Joseph Mullen
Joseph Mullen: My first question is what is your most vivid memory living in Kenya?
Alan Kagiri: Let's see. My cousin had a dog who was very aggressive and only listened to him. We used to play this game where he would stand on one end of the house with this dog, and we would stand on the other. He would let go of the dog, it would chase us around the house, and we would try not to be the last one back inside the house.
JM: Wow.
AK: Yeah, it was kinda like that feeling you get when you're about to go on the death-drop, or you're at the top of the rollercoaster, and we were experiencing that every ten seconds. This one time, my cousin misses the dog, and now it's no longer a game. It's a dog going to bite you. Now, no one's laughing. We're screaming and running in every direction. I run into the outdoor kitchen. I lock the door thinking I'm pretty safe. We realized, though, that the window was open, and we see the dog jump in through the window. Now we're thinking "What is one going to do?" We run through the door of the kitchen, and my sister's right behind me. The environment we lived in was kind of a hill, so we're sprinting down this hill, and it's very rocky. I outran my sister... I did not feel bad about it, at the time. It was like, "I gotta leave you behind. I'm sorry!" The dog comes out and trips out my sister then comes after me. Now it's just me and the dog running, and I'm running for my life. I run into this garden, and there's this cabbage stalk there. The dog stops when I pick up this cabbage stalk and turn around ready to hit him, but because he had so much speed it was harder for him to turn around. I turn around, now that the dog has slowed down, and run back up the hill. Thankfully it was just in time for my cousin to come and stop the dog. I remember this because it's a moment that shows the laughter and joy my cousins and I used to always have. I used to hang out with my cousins so much because our houses were close to one another. We used to spend so much time together, going around to shops and eating random food, climbing trees, and stealing fruit. That one story encompasses all those memories that we made together in Kenya.
JM: That's really cool, especially that you survived that.
AK: (laughs)
JM: The next question pertains more to the future; what fields do you see yourself pursuing as a career choice later in life?
AK: This is something I'm still trying to figure out myself. I know for sure I am locked on either computer engineering or international relations. If I choose computer engineering, I would like to go back to Kenya and work with startup businesses there. I feel like right now Africa and Kenya have so much potential to advance with technology, and the cool thing now is because a lot of advances have been made with technology all over the world, there's a lot of possibility for that technology to be brought to Kenya and advanced there. Because even though most of Kenya hasn't spearheaded a lot of technological advances, we have the advantage of knowing which ones work and which ones don't. I think going to Kenya and working there would be a wonderful opportunity to incorporate technology into different systems: economic, social, governmental. I definitely want to learn computer engineering for that.
JM: Mm-hmm.
Ak: The flipside of that is international relations. I'd love to be either an ambassador or a diplomat or work at the UN or [African Union]. It's similar to that idea of expanding communication systems in Kenya. I'm very interested in discovering what role Africa has to play in the making of the global order, and I would like to interact with global leaders and see how new innovative ideas are coming from global leaders. However, right now I'm not working as much in an environment with people who look like me, and I'd like to see an environment with more people who look like me. [People] who are really able to understand how our social and cultural dynamics work.
JM: Yeah, absolutely. Looking more into international relations (IR), do you want to just comment on the summer program we recently attended at Tufts University focusing on IR?
AK: I participated in this two week program at Tufts focused on IR. In that time, I took language classes in Arabic and learned from lecturers at Tufts about international relations followed by group discussions. We covered a wide range of topics, such as negotiations, diplomacy, and security issues such as Russia and China, just to name a few. It was sort of a crash course in IR, discussing the branches throughout how we learn about the world. I really enjoyed it because I got to meet a lot of students who were really informed and passionate about the topics.
JM: Mm-hmm.
AK: I loved learning about international relations beyond just theory, right? Going beyond the what-ifs and the world of hypotheticals and learning about implications in the real world. Because to really understand what IR is, we need the knowledge to not just understand the past, but also predict the future and how that impacts people. This program definitely made me really understand the perspectives of history. For example, we delved into the perspectives of Russia and why they operate the way they do today based on what's happened in their history. The way they continue to be aggressive reflects their history of foreign invasion and aggression. That was something I've never thought about and considered, and it ties to the need to be well-informed in diplomacy. That's a long way of me saying I really enjoyed the program, and it pushed me further into interest in IR and diplomacy.
JM: That's great. I also enjoyed the program, and I'm glad you did too. Next, I want your thoughts on ideas of Pan-Africanism, and where you think they're going.
AK: I was actually having a conversation with a friend a few days ago about Marcus Garvey, him and W. E. B. Dubois. Sort of the two kick-starters of Pan-Africanism, black beauty, and black power in America. I was really thinking about how Garvey's rhetoric was kind of radical then, as he advocated for black people to be really independent, have their own states and land, and not rely on Western technology and aid. I was realizing that at the time I really looked up to Garvey, and I still do, but we were just talking about how there was collaboration between the West and the rest of the World. How there is some collaboration possible by an exchange of ideas and technology, especially. So even though that was a necessary mindset back then, under imperialism, we live in a different time and a different cultural understanding. In the modern day, it's not so much about the people doing it themselves, but it's about getting key influential allies all over the world who can collaborate to promote ideas of global equality. I do admire ideas of Pan-Africanism, and I really admire how leaders who grew up during colonialist times still had the courage to band together and demand freedom. I think that part is really understated. During that time, there were oppressive regimes that eliminated people for the most malicious reasons. These people rose up; they had the fortitude, the spirit, and planning to be able to use Western tools and allies, as well as relying on themselves, to insist that Africa rise up and that Africa has more to offer the world than just commodities and raw materials that power the global economies.
JM. Mm-hmm.
AK: We have the ability to redefine what culture is, what family is, and we share in the global culture. This is lost sometimes when we try and modernize and "Westernize." I think having that Pan-Africanist mentality is always a good reminder to always look back to your roots, as Garvey said, and embrace our identity and culture and hold on to that, and I found that very inspiring.
JM: That's very powerful. Furthering on that vein, talk about an African leader. He or she can be current or historical, but talk about an African leader that you admire and why.
AK: Finding just one is hard, is it okay if I talk about a couple that inspire me?
JM: Perfect, yeah, go ahead.
AK: I'd say that the first one who comes to find is Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia. During the 1970's, he kind of had this oppressive regime, so I just want to say I don't admire him during that time, when he created a feudal system. I do admire how he rose to power and how he fought for Ethiopian independence. He met Western military leaders and educators, and he used their systems and their advice. When the West tried to attack, specifically Italy [in 1936], he was able to fight back using the strategies he borrowed from the West and maintain independence by 1945, the end of the 2nd World War. He used the same tactics that Europe employed and was able to collaborate with the West, such as Britain and France, to fight Italy off. Selassie merged the two worlds of borrowing technology and strategy from the West while maintaining independence from the West. Ethiopia was able to survive domination by the West by using the strategies of the West. I think that worked well, so nowadays we can realize that in order for modern Africa to survive, we must maintain that spiritual coexistence but take advantage of what the rest of the world can offer us. We must use what works in other countries to better our countries. He was a pretty huge Pan-Africanist himself.
JM: Right.
AK: My other leader is Wangari Maathai of Kenya. I don't know if you know her. She won the Nobel Prize. What I love so much about her is that she tried her best to go beyond politics, and go beyond tribal or ethnic identification. She tried to create a blend of global and national identity. She was extremely concerned about the environment, so she kickstarted a movement to plant millions of trees in Kenya, and did this during a time that women in Kenya had little social power and little social authority. She is one of the leaders who throughout most of her actions I find basically no wrongdoings. She was able to surpass the temptations of money and greed. She created these practical steps towards environmental conservation, and these are steps still being used today; for example, Ethiopia just broke a world record for planting so many trees in honor of her work.
JM: Wow, I didn't know that.
AK: These are the types of leaders we need to look to, who rise above money, greed, and corruption. Also, someone to put the world above yourself. It's very easy to just say, "Oh, I'm Kikuyu, so I worry about the Kikuyu first, and I'm Kenyan, so I worry about Kenyans first, and I'm African so I worry about Africans first," and so on. We have to worry about the rest of the world to create a big change. We can't get lost in our tribal, ethnic, or national identities to help the world. In 2008, Kenya had these violent clashes around its election because of those clashing identities.
JM: Right. Well it's good you brought that up because my next question is actually what are your thoughts on the current state of politics in Kenya with Uhuru Kenyatta being president?
AK: Well, there are different aspects of Kenyan politics today. I would say I commend the steps being taken to overcome corruption in the Kenyan government. Government officials are being held more accountable by these independent inquiries and commissions, and I think this is wonderful, because just like any other African government, we have lost many of our representatives to money and greed. We would get governments with different faces but the same corruption.
JM: Right, mm-hmm.
AK: There's progress in battling corruption. I think in regards to Kenyatta and how he's doing, I'm disappointed in that sense. There's an ongoing conflict between him and Raila Odinga, the opposition leader, who Kenyatta is silencing and building more tension with his party. This has been going on since 2010, if not earlier. There have been frequent attempts to reconcile, and they always fall apart somehow. If Kenyatta allowed some opposition, some dissent, they could help reconcile Kenya. But I think Kenya is serving as a model for progress for the rest of Africa, even though I'm obviously biased in that statement.
JM: (laughs)
AK: Another thing I'm concerned about is how Chinese-Kenyan relations are going right now. You've seen China adopt this very aggressive foreign policy towards Africa, called "debt-trap diplomacy," with China offering these loans that African countries can't pay back. The Chinese use the debt they have to take natural resources and important infrastructure, such as in Madagascar. China owns 45% of Sudan's oil reserves.
JM: Wow.
AK: Angola is making so many concessions to China as well. I'm concerned and disappointed by China but also African leaders. I'm worried that they're going so far to modernize that they're not uniting and being taken advantage of. That's what we have the AU for. African leaders are rushing and getting taken advantage of by China. They should discuss this debt-trap diplomacy in the AU. They're not understanding the consequences of working with China. In the long-run, African resources and infrastructure will be controlled by China. This is a scary state, and one can argue that it's the new version of colonialism, and that's the perspective I take.
JM: You know a considerable deal about politics in Africa and Kenya, so would you ever consider going back to Kenya to be involved in politics there?
AK: Definitely. I'd love to go back to Kenya, because I love the country and my people. Because I'm in America, and I'm learning how American politics works, I'm starting to expand that to Kenya, and I'm in a privileged position where I can use what I learn to better the country I came from. I'd love to work with the new faces of Kenya and the new generation. Today, because of our global interconnectedness, we can really choose what governments we want and what works for us. History is our playground. We need to study what has worked and what has not, and use that to better the country. I think we need to expand our views and our reach with the rest of the world, and I'd love to do that for Kenya. So yeah, I'd definitely like to implement what I'm learning here in Kenya.
JM: So we can consider this your election campaign announcement?
AK: (laughs) Yes brother, yeah! Vote for Alan, 2030!
- Joseph Mullen
Joseph Mullen: My first question is what is your most vivid memory living in Kenya?
Alan Kagiri: Let's see. My cousin had a dog who was very aggressive and only listened to him. We used to play this game where he would stand on one end of the house with this dog, and we would stand on the other. He would let go of the dog, it would chase us around the house, and we would try not to be the last one back inside the house.
JM: Wow.
AK: Yeah, it was kinda like that feeling you get when you're about to go on the death-drop, or you're at the top of the rollercoaster, and we were experiencing that every ten seconds. This one time, my cousin misses the dog, and now it's no longer a game. It's a dog going to bite you. Now, no one's laughing. We're screaming and running in every direction. I run into the outdoor kitchen. I lock the door thinking I'm pretty safe. We realized, though, that the window was open, and we see the dog jump in through the window. Now we're thinking "What is one going to do?" We run through the door of the kitchen, and my sister's right behind me. The environment we lived in was kind of a hill, so we're sprinting down this hill, and it's very rocky. I outran my sister... I did not feel bad about it, at the time. It was like, "I gotta leave you behind. I'm sorry!" The dog comes out and trips out my sister then comes after me. Now it's just me and the dog running, and I'm running for my life. I run into this garden, and there's this cabbage stalk there. The dog stops when I pick up this cabbage stalk and turn around ready to hit him, but because he had so much speed it was harder for him to turn around. I turn around, now that the dog has slowed down, and run back up the hill. Thankfully it was just in time for my cousin to come and stop the dog. I remember this because it's a moment that shows the laughter and joy my cousins and I used to always have. I used to hang out with my cousins so much because our houses were close to one another. We used to spend so much time together, going around to shops and eating random food, climbing trees, and stealing fruit. That one story encompasses all those memories that we made together in Kenya.
JM: That's really cool, especially that you survived that.
AK: (laughs)
JM: The next question pertains more to the future; what fields do you see yourself pursuing as a career choice later in life?
AK: This is something I'm still trying to figure out myself. I know for sure I am locked on either computer engineering or international relations. If I choose computer engineering, I would like to go back to Kenya and work with startup businesses there. I feel like right now Africa and Kenya have so much potential to advance with technology, and the cool thing now is because a lot of advances have been made with technology all over the world, there's a lot of possibility for that technology to be brought to Kenya and advanced there. Because even though most of Kenya hasn't spearheaded a lot of technological advances, we have the advantage of knowing which ones work and which ones don't. I think going to Kenya and working there would be a wonderful opportunity to incorporate technology into different systems: economic, social, governmental. I definitely want to learn computer engineering for that.
JM: Mm-hmm.
Ak: The flipside of that is international relations. I'd love to be either an ambassador or a diplomat or work at the UN or [African Union]. It's similar to that idea of expanding communication systems in Kenya. I'm very interested in discovering what role Africa has to play in the making of the global order, and I would like to interact with global leaders and see how new innovative ideas are coming from global leaders. However, right now I'm not working as much in an environment with people who look like me, and I'd like to see an environment with more people who look like me. [People] who are really able to understand how our social and cultural dynamics work.
JM: Yeah, absolutely. Looking more into international relations (IR), do you want to just comment on the summer program we recently attended at Tufts University focusing on IR?
AK: I participated in this two week program at Tufts focused on IR. In that time, I took language classes in Arabic and learned from lecturers at Tufts about international relations followed by group discussions. We covered a wide range of topics, such as negotiations, diplomacy, and security issues such as Russia and China, just to name a few. It was sort of a crash course in IR, discussing the branches throughout how we learn about the world. I really enjoyed it because I got to meet a lot of students who were really informed and passionate about the topics.
JM: Mm-hmm.
AK: I loved learning about international relations beyond just theory, right? Going beyond the what-ifs and the world of hypotheticals and learning about implications in the real world. Because to really understand what IR is, we need the knowledge to not just understand the past, but also predict the future and how that impacts people. This program definitely made me really understand the perspectives of history. For example, we delved into the perspectives of Russia and why they operate the way they do today based on what's happened in their history. The way they continue to be aggressive reflects their history of foreign invasion and aggression. That was something I've never thought about and considered, and it ties to the need to be well-informed in diplomacy. That's a long way of me saying I really enjoyed the program, and it pushed me further into interest in IR and diplomacy.
JM: That's great. I also enjoyed the program, and I'm glad you did too. Next, I want your thoughts on ideas of Pan-Africanism, and where you think they're going.
AK: I was actually having a conversation with a friend a few days ago about Marcus Garvey, him and W. E. B. Dubois. Sort of the two kick-starters of Pan-Africanism, black beauty, and black power in America. I was really thinking about how Garvey's rhetoric was kind of radical then, as he advocated for black people to be really independent, have their own states and land, and not rely on Western technology and aid. I was realizing that at the time I really looked up to Garvey, and I still do, but we were just talking about how there was collaboration between the West and the rest of the World. How there is some collaboration possible by an exchange of ideas and technology, especially. So even though that was a necessary mindset back then, under imperialism, we live in a different time and a different cultural understanding. In the modern day, it's not so much about the people doing it themselves, but it's about getting key influential allies all over the world who can collaborate to promote ideas of global equality. I do admire ideas of Pan-Africanism, and I really admire how leaders who grew up during colonialist times still had the courage to band together and demand freedom. I think that part is really understated. During that time, there were oppressive regimes that eliminated people for the most malicious reasons. These people rose up; they had the fortitude, the spirit, and planning to be able to use Western tools and allies, as well as relying on themselves, to insist that Africa rise up and that Africa has more to offer the world than just commodities and raw materials that power the global economies.
JM. Mm-hmm.
AK: We have the ability to redefine what culture is, what family is, and we share in the global culture. This is lost sometimes when we try and modernize and "Westernize." I think having that Pan-Africanist mentality is always a good reminder to always look back to your roots, as Garvey said, and embrace our identity and culture and hold on to that, and I found that very inspiring.
JM: That's very powerful. Furthering on that vein, talk about an African leader. He or she can be current or historical, but talk about an African leader that you admire and why.
AK: Finding just one is hard, is it okay if I talk about a couple that inspire me?
JM: Perfect, yeah, go ahead.
AK: I'd say that the first one who comes to find is Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia. During the 1970's, he kind of had this oppressive regime, so I just want to say I don't admire him during that time, when he created a feudal system. I do admire how he rose to power and how he fought for Ethiopian independence. He met Western military leaders and educators, and he used their systems and their advice. When the West tried to attack, specifically Italy [in 1936], he was able to fight back using the strategies he borrowed from the West and maintain independence by 1945, the end of the 2nd World War. He used the same tactics that Europe employed and was able to collaborate with the West, such as Britain and France, to fight Italy off. Selassie merged the two worlds of borrowing technology and strategy from the West while maintaining independence from the West. Ethiopia was able to survive domination by the West by using the strategies of the West. I think that worked well, so nowadays we can realize that in order for modern Africa to survive, we must maintain that spiritual coexistence but take advantage of what the rest of the world can offer us. We must use what works in other countries to better our countries. He was a pretty huge Pan-Africanist himself.
JM: Right.
AK: My other leader is Wangari Maathai of Kenya. I don't know if you know her. She won the Nobel Prize. What I love so much about her is that she tried her best to go beyond politics, and go beyond tribal or ethnic identification. She tried to create a blend of global and national identity. She was extremely concerned about the environment, so she kickstarted a movement to plant millions of trees in Kenya, and did this during a time that women in Kenya had little social power and little social authority. She is one of the leaders who throughout most of her actions I find basically no wrongdoings. She was able to surpass the temptations of money and greed. She created these practical steps towards environmental conservation, and these are steps still being used today; for example, Ethiopia just broke a world record for planting so many trees in honor of her work.
JM: Wow, I didn't know that.
AK: These are the types of leaders we need to look to, who rise above money, greed, and corruption. Also, someone to put the world above yourself. It's very easy to just say, "Oh, I'm Kikuyu, so I worry about the Kikuyu first, and I'm Kenyan, so I worry about Kenyans first, and I'm African so I worry about Africans first," and so on. We have to worry about the rest of the world to create a big change. We can't get lost in our tribal, ethnic, or national identities to help the world. In 2008, Kenya had these violent clashes around its election because of those clashing identities.
JM: Right. Well it's good you brought that up because my next question is actually what are your thoughts on the current state of politics in Kenya with Uhuru Kenyatta being president?
AK: Well, there are different aspects of Kenyan politics today. I would say I commend the steps being taken to overcome corruption in the Kenyan government. Government officials are being held more accountable by these independent inquiries and commissions, and I think this is wonderful, because just like any other African government, we have lost many of our representatives to money and greed. We would get governments with different faces but the same corruption.
JM: Right, mm-hmm.
AK: There's progress in battling corruption. I think in regards to Kenyatta and how he's doing, I'm disappointed in that sense. There's an ongoing conflict between him and Raila Odinga, the opposition leader, who Kenyatta is silencing and building more tension with his party. This has been going on since 2010, if not earlier. There have been frequent attempts to reconcile, and they always fall apart somehow. If Kenyatta allowed some opposition, some dissent, they could help reconcile Kenya. But I think Kenya is serving as a model for progress for the rest of Africa, even though I'm obviously biased in that statement.
JM: (laughs)
AK: Another thing I'm concerned about is how Chinese-Kenyan relations are going right now. You've seen China adopt this very aggressive foreign policy towards Africa, called "debt-trap diplomacy," with China offering these loans that African countries can't pay back. The Chinese use the debt they have to take natural resources and important infrastructure, such as in Madagascar. China owns 45% of Sudan's oil reserves.
JM: Wow.
AK: Angola is making so many concessions to China as well. I'm concerned and disappointed by China but also African leaders. I'm worried that they're going so far to modernize that they're not uniting and being taken advantage of. That's what we have the AU for. African leaders are rushing and getting taken advantage of by China. They should discuss this debt-trap diplomacy in the AU. They're not understanding the consequences of working with China. In the long-run, African resources and infrastructure will be controlled by China. This is a scary state, and one can argue that it's the new version of colonialism, and that's the perspective I take.
JM: You know a considerable deal about politics in Africa and Kenya, so would you ever consider going back to Kenya to be involved in politics there?
AK: Definitely. I'd love to go back to Kenya, because I love the country and my people. Because I'm in America, and I'm learning how American politics works, I'm starting to expand that to Kenya, and I'm in a privileged position where I can use what I learn to better the country I came from. I'd love to work with the new faces of Kenya and the new generation. Today, because of our global interconnectedness, we can really choose what governments we want and what works for us. History is our playground. We need to study what has worked and what has not, and use that to better the country. I think we need to expand our views and our reach with the rest of the world, and I'd love to do that for Kenya. So yeah, I'd definitely like to implement what I'm learning here in Kenya.
JM: So we can consider this your election campaign announcement?
AK: (laughs) Yes brother, yeah! Vote for Alan, 2030!
"History is our playground." -Alan Kagiri
|
|
Interviews with Young African Leaders who offer a vision of a brighter future for Africa.
African Leader of the Month
Each month, we'll highlight an African Youth Leader who is inspiring change across the African continent or abroad.
August:
Coming soon!
Meet the ArtemAfrica Writer
Joseph Mullen is a South African citizen living in Florida in the United States. He is passionate about African politics, and his icon is Nelson Mandela. He has traveled across Southern Africa, in South Africa, Botswana, and Zimbabwe.
|
|