27/10/2023
My faith in the positive future of my Mother Continent, Africa, was renewed last weekend (20th – 22nd October) when I was in a retreat with 45 African scholars of the University of Oxford.
From 20 African countries, the scholars are pursing diverse programs that include Molecular and Cellular Medicine, International Health and Tropical Medicine, Law and Finance, Business Administration, Public Policy, African Studies, Environment and Water Management, Refugee and Forced Migration Studies, Economic History and Pharmacology.
What was it that renewed my faith in the future of Africa? What I heard scholars share and seriously reflect on made me look to the future with immense confidence:
1. AWARENESS: I was blown away by how aware the scholars were in many areas:
a. Present to the genuine efforts being made by some leaders, ordinary individuals and communities at home to improve the lives of our people.
b. Sensitive to the importance of putting less emphasis on national boundaries in order to promote collaboration and mutually beneficial partnerships.
c. Alive to the significance of solving problems from a wholistic perspective so that we do not solve one problem while creating another.
2. WHOSE KNOWLEDE COUNTS: Although they were grateful to be in one of the world’s top universities, the scholars were conscious of their responsibility to combine western approaches to knowledge generation and learning with Africa’s ways of knowing, learning and organising society.
3. HUMILITY & GRATITUDE: Even if the scholars understood that they did not get to Oxford without personal effort, they spoke about their experience of “impostor syndrome” (I do not deserve to be here). This feeling helped the scholars not to see themselves as more special than their brothers and sisters at home. It gave them a sense of humility and to see their “privilege” as a call to serve others. They all expressed deep gratitude to their parents, guardians and early teachers. The scholars were equally grateful to the Mastercard Foundation for the sponsorship.
4. RELATIONSHIPS: The scholars talked about the need to build quality relationships amongst themselves so that they could support one another during their tough years of study. They reflected on the need to form peer support circles that could help them survive “culture shock,” loneliness and, upon graduating, maintain high moral and professional standards.
5. CARE FOR THE EARTH: While appreciating the fact that Africa was endowed with incredible natural resources, the scholars were aware that continuing to be suppliers of mere raw materials – without value addition – to the rest of the world did not indicate a bright future for the continent. They felt called to taking care of Nature so that she could continue taking care of us.
If the above is anything to go by, one can hope that when these scholars assume responsibility in Africa, they will manifest a different form of leadership. A leadership that serves rather than seeks self-aggrandisement.
Martin Kalungu-Banda
Visiting Fellow at Said Business School & Senior Adviser to Africa-Oxford Program
