Carnet de Voyage: To You Children of Africa

My Young sisters, my young brothers
    I want You to read this post. I feel so inspired tonight to write this little post to You. It probably sounds weird but I feel that I should write something I must say something. Someday you will understand these words, these thoughts. Someday you will understand me. No more cry no more tears in your eyes because a bright future is yet to come. I want you to smile and stand up for your dreams. I believe in you the New powerful Generation of Africa, the new people of Africa. I believe in a future Africa getting strong and stronger. There is a new wind coming from somewhere a new wind that will blow all over the continent a new life a new beginning so wipe your tears.
Do not and never be ashamed of who you are. Do not accept negativity about our land our continent. I want you to raise up your heads. You come from a royal continent yes once upon a time but true facts we had proud queens and kings in Africa. Yes we had kingdoms and empires. We had a great civilization, great warriors, great leaders in Africa who believed in freedom even though oppressed, rejected. we had great poets, great artists in Africa. Africa has a rich culture, Africa has a rich land it is the continent of the future. There is a new sun rising soon with a bright light do not fear because things will be different. Someday you will understand.
   We, the African, the older brothers and sisters understood some mistakes made of the past we are trying to prepare the way for your time which is coming we are preparing your time to shine to make this continent great. It might not be enough but at least we are trying to start changing things...The mistakes of some of our ancestors should not be "forgotten" but forgiven. We must simply move on. We don't need to keep repeating and look back to the past. Yes we had some dictatures, awful bloody and greedy killers in some countries...There were genocides, wars in some part of the continent we can never forget what they did... but look! we must move on otherwise it will be a strain to our advancement. For the sake of those who fought for a free Africa, for the sake of those who prematurely died who were victims please stand up! You are the hope of tomorrow. I am sure they will be proud to see you reigning.
   I want you to think about and help those who have not a lot opportunities, I want you to stand for humanitarian causes such as protecting and taking care of widows and orphans. Support your brothers and sisters who deal with physical differences and difficult medical conditions. I want you to be involved in some other causes such as problem of clean water in some rural places, social causes, protect our endangered animals (our elephants, rhinos, gorillas, and many others are killed every year for greediness, these people are so stupid that they cannot understand the importance of the natural environment) ...
Keep and learn our valor, our own languages and cultures. Look up to God and follow His instructions that's how we succeed in life. He is the only and real support for our change never make God on the side or behind. It's a big and huge mistake!. Put God first in order to have success. We need to keep wisdom and God is the source of our strength and wisdom. He is the source and the essence of our continent. He is about to do great things in Africa just open your eyes and get ready you will be surprised. Someday you will understand...
I want you to concentrate on being great men and women in politic, business, literature, religion, medical fields, sport... I want You to concentrate on education, your studies because education is the key for success as it is said in the Bible that " my people perished because of lack of knowledge." Yes! Knowledge is the key to success for a better life a better tomorrow. Do not be afraid to learn do not be tired to learn. Dream big! for you for your families and for our countries. Have vision for a better tomorrow.
I do not want you to make differences between all of us. You are either from Gabon or Senegal or Benin, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Zambia, Congo, Algeria, Morocco, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Tunisia, Botswana, etc. It does not matter at all! We are all the same because we share the same land, the same continent. No more differences among countries in Africa no more differences among tribes. Embrace who we are. Know who you are.Those kind of "differences" make our originality .You must be proud of your culture be proud of who you are. You need to understand that strength and success come from Unity, and solidarity. Therefore, We must hold our hands together, think positive and everything is going to be alright... I am not promoting a revolution or things like that, I am not a philosopher neither a writer. I am a person who just wanted to write what is right to say which is encouraging you all. I believe that sometimes we need to read positive things.This message sounds strange today but someday you will understand. I want you to read it and feel inspired.
A letter written from me, your sister to you young brothers and sisters from Africa.

(You can read my post "Africa Sweet Africa")

"Africa" One of my favorite of Salif Keita from Mali. Enjoy and be inspired!