AFRICANISM

"Participation Builds Unity"

"MADE IN AFRICA - FOR AFRICA"

PRESENTS

AFRICANISM

PETER METCALFE
15 November 2003

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AFRICA UNITED ... AS AFRICANS!
The following email was circulated to all the Foundation for the Development of Africa contacts:

For some time now the I SUPPORT AFRICA campaign website has been proclaiming:
"For Africa to succeed, in her efforts to become sustainable, we all need to stand as one"
See: http://www.isupportafrica.com
Public Participation in the African Union and therefore the NEPAD (New Partnerships for Africa's Development) initiative is essential!

NEPAD has made the following plea to Africa:
"The AFRICAN peoples must take up the challenge of mobilising in support of the implementation of this initiative (NEPAD) by setting up, at all levels, structures for organisation, mobilisation and action!"

I do not believe that NEPAD only referred to a specific population sector.
The one thing we (AFRICANS) all have in common is the fact that we are AFRICANS!
I was born in Africa (South Africa - Cape Town) and therefore an AFRICAN. I will challenge anyone who may refute my claim.
We now need to take hands - as Africans, share our expertise - as Africans, capacitate - as Africans and find ways of creating wealth - as Africans.

COMMENTS RECEIVED

Dear Peter,
Thanks for the mail. Sure wish Mr. Mbeki shared your view on the definition of "African".
Kind regards,
Mark Howells
Deputy Director
Energy Research Institute, Mechanical Engineering
University of Cape Town

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From: Chris Jacobs
To: Peter Metcalfe
Subject: FW: INTERESTING ARTICLE

In the light of your statement on your e-newsletter I send you an article which makes all white (or should I say, all non blacks) Feel very insecure.
I would appreciate your comments.
Kind regards,
Chris Jacobs.

(It was not possible to publish the article without the authors permission - Peter)

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Dear Peter,
If I have one comment to make, it is that you do not even need to challenge anyone that you are an African.
You are blood, soul, spirit and flesh African.
You have been proving your good sense of Africanism all along. Do not fall into the pit of any distraction!
Keep up!
Leke

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Dear Brother African,
I strongly believe in Africanism to the core.However, I suppose various African nations should encourage any, irrespective of your country, to integrate normally and freely in any African state.
This will help build African as a world-power continent.
I personally hate traits of Xenophoia exhibited by some African countries on their fellow African brothers.However, the stuggle for the emancipation of africa from poverty, war,diseases, etc will continue till we suceed.
Hail Brother African!
Nnamdi Molokwu (Nigeria)

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Hi Peter,
I have one thing to say about Africanism..."I am African, therefore I am".
I don't believe we need to strive towards one face of Africa, because I don't believe such western ideals of conscious unity are important or relevent to Africa.
I believe Africa is only united through cause, and the strength behind our survival depends not on our ability to stand together and make our voices heard, but rather our ability to stand alone and be heard...
[I have my own thoughts on how this concept may be continued, but I would like invite others to continue from where I've ended: "and be heard..."]
Regards
Ravi Gajjar
Salty Nuts - Adventure Productions (South Africa)

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Dear Peter,
I couldn't agree with you more regarding being an African.
I am a fifth generation African of Norwegian and British decent which makes me a European African (as opposed to an African American). I shared that recently during a presentation I made to African editors from all over the continent gathered at Mindelo in the Cape Verde Islands under the auspices of the Africa Caribbean and Pacific group of countries funded by the European Union.
As I expected I received a warm response.
What defines an African?
Does having a white skin make one a European? or a black skin an African? Surely not!
Yes it must have something to do with history, but for me it is more than that, it has to do with belonging and belonging comes with participating, taking up responsibility and ownership. That is when acceptance comes.
Sadly for far to many of European decent in this country they have never taken ownership, never really belonged. Given half the chance they gap it back to the "mother country".
That is true too of man of African decent that I have met who have taken up permanent residence in Brussels or London, Washington or New York. Their allegiance has switched and they are now citizens of those nations.
Is it fair to call them Africans? African Americans or African Europeans perhaps (with the emphasis on the second word), but not Africans. In the same way I am a European African with the emphasis very much on African. After all I have never been to Norway and have only visited the UK and Ireland twice briefly.
I am a son of Africa and proud to be part of her.
All my life I have had hope and passion for her and that hope and passion only grew in the two years I spent away from her doing postgraduate studies in Canada.
We're in it for the long haul, thrilled to be part of the unfolding adventure of our generation - the African century!
David Larsen
Bureau Chief - AMO

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GOOD DAY,
MY GRAND PARENTS ARRIVED AT THE END OF 1880
BOTH MY PARENTS AND BOTH MY IN LAWS WERE BORN HERE. I WAS BORN HERE. MY CHILDREN WERE BORN HERE. MY GRAND CHILDREN WERE BORN HERE.
I AM AS AFRICAN AS THE NEXT .. WITH EXCEPTION TO THOSE WHO ARE COLOR DISORIENTATED.
I AM NOT AN AFFIRMATIVE CANDIDATE, I AM NOT A BLACK EMPOWERMENT CANDIDATE, BUT I AM AFRICAN.
CAN ANY ONE DISPUTE THIS?
COMMENTS?
THELMA BATTISS (South Africa)

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TO: Peter Metcalfe
FROM: William McKay
Re: I am an African
I fully agree with your personal statements and comments:
"The one thing we (AFRICANS) all have in common is the fact that we are AFRICANS!
"I was born in Africa (South Africa - Cape Town) and therefore an AFRICAN. I will challenge anyone who may refute my claim. We now need to take hands - as Africans, share our expertise - as Africans, capacitate - as Africans and find ways of creating wealth - as Africans".
Dr Neville Alexander stressed the point that this is our country. We do not have any other "Homeland". We are "Africans" - We are from Africa and given to Africa.
Thanks for the boldness and the spirit you stated these personal facts.
We need a new "paradigm" to unite us. Our colour and even our language & culture divide us. Our hearts and frame of mind will unite us. We urgently need "a new point of refence" like: "I am an African".
On an international platform this will sound great!
Sadly, in South Africa we still debate it!
Wiliam McKay (South Africa)
I Support Africa.

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