Afrilition: A New Hope for African Growth

***Afrilition shows a new path towards African growth… Afrilition focuses on Africa as a global community that is diverse and aligned. It does not compete or compare with others but aims at growing its own strengths and goals.*

My new book, Afrilition: 21st Century African Manifesto was released and became available on Amazon on July 14th. It reflects my lifetime understanding of what Africa means to me. The late US commentator and media pioneer, Tony Brown, often quoted an African saying: “It is not what you’re called, but what you answer to, that matters.” To me, Africa is the evolution of the Egyptian term Afru-ika or Motherland. It is the Motherland of all humanity and home to a wide range of human diversity, both ethnically and genetically.

Africa is not just the birthplace of modern humans. It has the deepest ancestral roots and the largest genetic diversity. Afrilition celebrates the future of those who embrace their Africanness around the world. It targets people who proudly identify as African, not those who view it as a burden or an accident.

Afrilition is a commitment to those who will live over the next two centuries, choosing to embrace their African identity. It is also a call to action for us today to thrive beyond our limits. Africa will have the most young people in the world, with up to 50 percent of them and about one-third of the global workforce. It is expected to lead the world into the opportunities of the 21st century, with two African nations likely to be among the top ten largest economies.

Building a Better Future

To achieve this, Africa must move past the pain of its recent history, including slavery, colonialism, and ongoing injustices. We need to focus on our future dreams, not the nightmares of our past. To create a future of African excellence, we must be deliberate in our actions. We should shift our thinking and view Africa not just as a landmass but as a world. This includes our diaspora and everyone committed to improving humanity beyond material needs, aiming for our best selves.

The wisdom of Afrilition is not about strict rules. It is about practicing change based on a vision of the future. It encourages learning, even from failures.

Afrilition started during my teenage years at the University of Ife, now called Obafemi Awolowo University. I remember a hot day of Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s music at Oduduwa Hall. After waiting for hours, he made one key point: prepare for the age of Aquarius, when Africa will rise in the next century. That moment inspired me to observe and recognize patterns. Afrilition is not about competing for global power but about the growth of Africa through its own decisions, making a unique contribution to save humanity from destruction.

Afrilition is a path towards African excellence. It is a legacy for future generations, especially for my grandchildren who live in different parts of the world. Afrilition is about seeing Africa as a global community that is diverse and aligned. It focuses on developing its own strengths and goals.

It emphasizes understanding the diverse perspectives that drive creativity and resilience. It looks towards a future that values women, engages youth, and builds bridges across markets. It aims to create education systems focused on learning rather than obedience, valuing self-worth over outside opinions, and using our diversity for success. All of these elements support cooperation that benefits us all.

Africans must be willing to make sacrifices to realize their potential, which has been lost in recent centuries. We can create, build, and grow uniquely to ensure prosperity for future generations. That is the essence of Afrilition. We need to establish this over the next two generations with resilience.

Afrilition includes a Foreword by Professor Funmilayo Olonisakin, who helped start the African Leadership Centre at King’s College London. She provides a strong expression of the book's spirit, along with many colleagues from across Africa who praised the book and encouraged others to read it. In the coming weeks, I will highlight different aspects of the book to discuss important topics and share the core ideas of Afrilition as the pathway to African excellence.

The wisdom of Afrilition lies in its focus on real practices that bring about change, inspired by a vision for the future. It requires a commitment to learning and growth, even when faced with challenges. A world where Africa has at least half of all youth cannot afford to be just like others, blinded by false superiority.

Africans must be ready to sacrifice to realize the potentials lost over the years. We have a chance to create, build, and grow in our unique ways to ensure a better future for our African world. That is what Afrilition means, and we must make this happen over the next two generations with determination.