Africa Day: A Celebration of Shame?

By Chiyedzo Josiah Dimbo

May 25th marks Africa Day—a symbolic occasion rooted in the hopes and dreams of Pan-Africanism, born in 1963 with the founding of the Organization of African Unity (now the African Union). It was a bold vision: a united, free, and prosperous Africa. Yet, over six decades later, that vision lies battered under the weight of corruption, mismanagement, and self-serving leadership.

The Reality

From Cape to Cairo, the story is all too familiar:

Millions live in abject poverty, lacking access to basic services like clean water, healthcare, and quality education.

Leaders and their inner circles thrive, enjoying luxury while the masses languish.

Africa continues to export raw materials to the rest of the world—unprocessed—leaving potential wealth and jobs behind.

The Shame

Despite vast natural and human resources, Africa’s riches serve the few, not the many.

Corruption has become normalized, draining public coffers and eroding trust.

Nepotism and incompetence have replaced merit and accountability.

Youth, who should be Africa’s strength, are jobless or fleeing in search of dignity elsewhere.

Is this the dream of Nkrumah, Mandela, and Sankara?

A Call to Action

Africa must rise. Not in slogans or summits, but in substance.

We need leaders with vision and integrity—men and women committed to the collective good, not personal gain.

We must demand transparency, justice, and policies that build inclusive economies.

The ideals of Pan-Africanism—solidarity, self-reliance, and unity—must be reclaimed and redefined for our time.

The Future

Africa’s future is not a given. It is a battle to be fought and a dream to be built.

Let us ensure that our minerals, oil, land, and talents work for our people, not foreign interests or local elites.

Let this Africa Day be more than celebration—let it be a wake-up call.

We owe it to ourselves and to generations yet unborn to make Africa a continent of dignity, opportunity, and justice for all.