The Africa I dream of...

I often sit in awe of the amount of aid that comes Africa's way. Like the orphan of the world, handouts are often given to this sleeping continent not because the world wants to, but because of some moral obligation towards a continent abused for centuries. Like an orphan, lady Africa continues to take “aid” without discrimination as her need to survive far outweighs the need to sustainably remove herself from the vicious cycle of take and beg for more.

I, for one, dream of an Africa too proud to perpetuate the cycle of hand-to-mouth survival. I dream of an Africa whose bountiful resources are allocated amongst her children as wisely as the many mothers of the continent to their offspring on a daily basis. I dream of an Africa where those in power rule over the continent as a family that works together to better itself, where brother lifts up brother and sister hides the shortcomings of another sister. I dream of an Africa prosperous for all her people. An Africa where our girls are protected and our boys nurtured to become the very protectors. I dream of an all-inclusive Africa, where religion, race, culture and sexual orientation differences are acknowledged only as a measure of how unique we all are in the eyes of the Lord.

My Africa is far from perfect.

In fact, the religious intolerance in Nigeria, the continued rape of women in South Africa, the incapacity of the African Union to lead a united African agenda, the ever increasing presence of terrorism, significant levels of government corruption and the instances of misappropriation of aid meant for the poorest highlight just how imperfect my Africa is.

In spite of this, I hold on to "the Africa I dream of"…not because I am naïve, but because I am part of the greater generation that needs to work towards the realization of this dream. Our generation is given the opportunity to move towards this goal every day. Whether it be in the functions we perform at church, the kind gestures we make towards those who are different and those who do not know us, the mentoring of a young man who would otherwise not have a positive role model, in the rebuttal of and correction of my xenophobic brothers and sisters’ way of thinking or taking up an active role in government…we are given the chance to shape our Africa every day.

I choose to get involved because the Africa I dream of is the inheritance I would like to leave unto the generations to come. It’s time we as a people stopped being social media activists and rise up to the challenges we are faced. It’s time we stop being religious criers of empty prayers without action. Rise up young generation. Get involved. Actively shape lady Africa into the abundant and bountiful place she has the potential to become. This is the legacy our generation should leave for the coming generation.

Here I am, send me…let my soul and spirit be agitated to bring the Africa I dream of to reality!