A United States of Africa

I really love the concept of continental pan Africanism. According to MSN Encarta, continental pan Africanism advocates the unity of states and peoples of Africa. The initial proponents of this theory proposed a United States of Africa, and the ever-present civil conflicts and waste of natural resources should point all the more to the wisdom of this proposition. To read the minds of such great African philosophers and proponents of continental pan Africanism like Jomo Kenyata, Kwame Nkrumah, Sekou Toure, Steve Biko, Haile Selasie, Julius Nyerere, Patrice Lumumba, Kenneth Kaunda and Banda Hastings Kamuzu is enlightening all the more so when you consider the cumulative wealth of the continent compared to the overall suffering. Imagine, as Nelson Mandela famously said; … (the) dream of the realization of the unity of Africa, whereby its leaders combine in their efforts to solve the problems of this continent, (The) dream of our vast deserts, of our forests, of all our great wildernesses, (the) dream of an Africa, which is in peace with itself.

If there is one thing such a Country will do, it will be to help the majority of Americans to know a bit of Geography. Picture this scene, you are out with your guys and you meet some of their friends. Upon been introduced to them, they ask where you’re from. You say Africa. With an intriguing smile, the next statement is usually something bizarre. Asking about something they’ve seen on national geographic or more often than not, asking you if you know such and such a person because they are also from Africa.

Then often times I end up giving geography lessons to people whose educational system warrants that they know at least the amount of geography that helps them determine Africa is a continent and not a country. People’s ignorance and naivety comes to the forefront when they consider Africa as a country. I sometimes feel guilty in my criticisms of the stupidity of those people who consider Africa as a country and not a continent. Is it their fault they do not know the difference between fantasy and reality, can they be faulted for the medias negative portrayal of the African continent? But then I feel justified voicing my opinion as I never considered all African Americans to be gangster looking, gun toting, bling wearing, cuss uttering people, or Caucasians as either racists trailer trash simpletons or rich and shallow opportunists so I fail to see why all Africans should be portrayed as crotch covering, tree living, belly swollen, war loving and uncivilized polygamist mammals.

Strong language you may say, but I didn’t come up with them. Isn’t it funny how it is the sweet and innocent looking ones who always come up to you and ask questions like how did you dress, what did you eat, did you live in trees, did you have zebras and lions as pets, how many wives did you have, have you ever flown on a plane.

Besides the simplification of geography for some imbeciles, a unification of Africa will provide the forum for maximizing the wealth of all individual states. If we are to believe Aristotle, then a united Africa will not only be a superpower, it will be the greatest nation in the world, because Aristotle said “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts”. All the African Countries have great things to bring to the table, and the juxtaposition of individual parts will make an awesome whole.


Sierra Leone for example, Can be the greatest country in the world if we really put our mind to it, but it can never be greater than a united Africa can be. It is just coming out of a brutal civil war that not only ravaged the whole country, but also exposed the inhuman capabilities of our fellow men. However, there ceases to be no shortage of tourists to that country, primarily because of Diamonds, but also because of the rich cultivable land, the rich marine resource, the wild rainforest and the strong, diverse and intelligent human resource. Consider what Sierra Leone has to offer to a United States of Africa, finance from the sale of minerals like Diamond, Rutile, Bauxite, Gold, Iron ore, ilmenorutile, platinum, chromites, manganese, cassiterite, molybdenite and a host of others to back a strong economy, jobs in the marine industry, and the propensity to be utilized as a whole state of tourist resorts.

Nigeria, The most populous country in Africa, 2nd largest economy, largest army, and more educated country in Africa. With our economic power, and political strength we can unite Africa. We can provide manpower to other nations that do not have sufficient manpower, issue loans, and offer economic aid, we can unite the continent into a powerful political block. Develop the continent militarily. (By Oluseyi Oyegunwa)

Dreamlike you may say, but maybe, just maybe we can act towards fulfilling the dream of a united states of Africa. God bless Sierra Leone, God bless Africa. God bless us all. For it is not going to be easy but as Samuel Hume, a young African intellectual and poet whom I admire succinctly put it;
The plan....Pan Africanism. United States of the Motherland.
Unity...the dream of her children philosophers shattered!...By their borthers hands.
Many still dream the dream
Many still believe in

The geaographically challenged mistakenly concludes,
What's seen on TV everyone includes
Unknown to them..that's what she is..
Country or Continent?..for now..Continent, please

Aristotle: "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts"
Oh!..how I, you, them, we all long to see the start.
Of a great superpower Africa
With her great natural riches to offer:

Diamonds, gold, rutile, chromintes..
A few of her immeasurable might..
A difficult task to be alike...
United States of Africa.

Having said all this, is the dream of a united Africa realistic? I would love to think so, but then I am no African leader fighting to maintain power over my territory or an European businessman or statesman, compounding the misery of a divided Africa by trading in illicit goods or war materials, or using the plight of Africans as a platform to gain office only to end up continuing the exploitation of Africans.