A friend sent me a story today that certainly struck a cord. It questioned whether non-profit organizations serve or harm Africa. That question has been at the crux of the internal battle of my life, given that my mother is a social worker who has dedicated her life to the service of folks who are suffering and I spent several years of my youth at global multicultural conferences, telling the “African Story.”
The African Story is not dissimilar to that of many places. It’s not one story. It’s a story of many faces and places, beautiful and gruesome.
I’ve certainly been blessed to be in a position where I’ve witnessed some of these faces, and told the story from many places… I’ve spent lots of time reflecting on the African Story, with the unequivocal realization that there is no African Story.
I’ve told the story of a desolate place where a helping hand sometimes not-so-momentarily means a hand-out, and even there, sometimes in spite of the insurmountable obstacles I’ve seen consistent glimmers of ingenuity, creativity and innovation that truly inspires.
I’ve told the story of blatant exploitation by businesses, expatriates, politicians, and ordinary people pit against each other. I’ve told the story of negligent leadership, spineless governance, and pitiful resource management.
But there’s also the story of scarcely decorated “ordinary” African, doing extraordinary things: phenomenal African innovators, entrepreneurs, thinkers and does – movers and shakers.
Here are a few in my Facebook network I think the world should know about:
Deejay Slim | Anthony Mukuria | Joseph Mucheru
Miriam Chemmoss | Andrew Macharia | Trevor Katende
Bernard Kahiga | Wandia Mbuvi | Bernard Wandie
Lemayian Chris Kimojino | David Kobia | David Kuria
Kiriro Samuel | Mawuli Dake | Allan Stylez
Emma Too | Petronella Lugemwa | Grace Maina
May Lugemwa | Chibuzo Atukpawu | Kike Aluko
Ato Ulzen-Appiah | Adaora Asala | Lesley Gene Agams
Timothy Thairu | Onome Ofoman | Robert DjFresh Ndungú
Gifty Kwakye | Juma Mbwana | Mũthoni Ngatia | Temitope “Pleasesaythe Tope” Sho | Wangui Chiuri…
In her TED talk (one of my favorite, this year!), Ory Okolloh tells the story of her life and her family — and of the complexity and contradictions in the African story.
The African story has often been about crises, war, poverty and pain, often times at the root of which people sought to profit. In truth the African story is not like so many others around the world – it’s the human story, laced with change and challenge, in which people have faced many hurdles, but somehow made things work.
The African story is as vibrant as a savannah sunset – fiery red in places, glowing yellow in others… a story where some way somehow the horizon holds a golden promise. Tomorrow is yet untold.
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