Africa Wants More Than Survival to be Able to Compete Globally, Kagame

By Staff Writer

Rwandese President, Paul Kagame, has said that Africa can achieve its goals and objectives through unity and good leadership, Thursday July 10 in Accra.

He said Africa needed confident, objective and sincere leaders, who believe in African values and cultures to build the future.

Kagame made the remarks during the launch of a book written by Professor Wole Soyinka, a renowned Nigerian Poet and Playwright, titled “Crucible of the Ages,” to mark his 80th-birthday anniversary later this year, in Accra Ghana.

He said Africa wanted more than survival to be able to compete globally, however, “we cannot move forward without a change.”

The president said the aspirations of Africans were depressed by the failure of political leaders to effectively manage issues, adding that, it was important to have a stable leadership.

He described Professor Soyinka as an untiring fighter, and an outspoken figure on the African continent, who had been punished for his work, but never gave up.

In his remarks, Prof Soyinka said anti-humanism had extended throughout the continent, and African leaders should not wait for writers to remind them to take the mantle of their respective positions to rule effectively.

Soyinka noted that there was hope for the transformation of negativity on the continent, an atmosphere that existed centuries ago, adding, “we must accept the responsibility of history as a continent.”

He commended Kagame for his efforts in uniting Rwanda after the 1994 genocide.

Chief Executive Officer of Lumina Foundation, Dr Ugochukwu Promise, organizers of the book launch, said the ceremony was part of projects the Foundation embarked on to celebrate the life of Soyinka.

Dr. Promise described Soyinka as a man who had contributed to the transformation of the African Continent, through his writings.

The book was edited by Dr. Promise and Mr Ivor Agyemang- Duah, Development Policy Advisor, Lumina Foundation.

It is a collection of essays that transcend the personality of Soyinka as a prose master, language analyst and dramatist.

Through literature African writers have been able to stand up against poor leadership and authoritarian governments, pointing out the ills of our societies, depicting the suffering of the people in the black continent causing many of them to go into exile, killed, branded terrorists or communists such as Kenyans, Prof. Ngugi wa Thiong’o and Wahome Mutahi.

 “The pen is mightier than a sword.”