Africa - from Vuk'uzenzele to Vuk'uzakhe

Vuka uzenzele and Vuka uzakhe or, spoken form, Vuk'uzenzele, Vuk'uzakhe are both Zulu expressions. Zulu or IsiZulu in formal expression, is one of the 11 official languages in South Africa. Vuk'uzenzele mean "wake up and do it yourself" and Vuk'uzakhe, "wake up and build yourself". The expressions are commonly used to promote a courageous fortitude for a self-reliant mind-set. 

For the past three months having temporarily settled here in Europe, i have been fascinated by the socio-economic and political developments but at the same time dissappointed at the depth coverage, or lack thereof, by European newspapers on Africa, with specific reference to her economic prospects and benefits of her people, inevitably a future for most Western nations. My dissapointment is not so much about the generic coverage of current affairs which are mainly in the political domain and which Africa gets attention. My fret is on the complete absence of profound or perhaps comprehensive coverage on the positive, economic prospects, growth and positioning. At best, the only time i came across a positive "on-your face" coverage about Africa is when i noticed advertisements from a few African corporates and some governments.   

Of course i am venting to the media. Let me qualify my fretting. In general Africa is still projected as the poor continent, in 2011, amid private presidential dialogues, presidential visits and trade missions between African and developed countries in the West. This narrow, shallow view and projection about my beloved continent with mountains, rivers and green valleys is mind sapping, as if i dont have such media problems at home either. Media, generally and according to my experience, is a propagandists tool in both business and politics. As a proud African child first and a professional, i am tempted to feel and perceive that i am being taken advantage of.

For every topic about emerging markets, only China, Brazil and India are mentioned. Russia and Vietnam in the waiting. When i look forward to read news segments about BRICS, it's all the same disappointment. The acronym, as universally known, was coined by Jim O'Neill as BRIC (Brazil Russia India China). The S was added after the latter's nations welcomed South Africa in December 2010, to BRICS. As of late, this acronym is spelled BRICs. I first took offence but subsequently took solace that it was a printing error. It dawned on me that it was reality powered by perception of media, of course with influence from elsewhere. To my jolt astonishment, the small S does not even represent South Africa in the acroym, or Southern Africa for that matter, it's a plural letter for the BRIC nations. I give up!

If there's one lesson that Africa should learn from the colonial eras, is to guard against a state of De ja vu, i.e. the second coming of colonialism disguised as Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). We need more visionaries, leaders, our own economists, intellectuals, intelligentsia, entrepreneurs, a plathora of academic researchers and professionals alike. The spirit of African self-reliance is not in any manner suggesting a closed development amid globalisation. It simply denotes a state of saying "we are tired of being robbed and ripped off", we are well conscious of market transactions and can do it without relying largely on external advice. The better part of the 21st cenntury is for Africa!