Africa, my dearest love of all: Commentary #1
What a precious time it is to be a black, African American woman living in a progressive African country that recognizes its potential and fearlessly reflects that recognition of itself back to the world. Because too few elementary and secondary schools in the West teach more than a handful of lessons about Africa, I must clarify that Africa is a continent of 54 countries and 55 as of 2011, with the addition of the Republic of South Sudan. Every African country has its own cultures, languages, systems, religions and governing structures. The experience of living in an African country in 2020, is like living in the midst of a grand transformation. It is a spectacular gift of life unfolding more and better every day.
I live in Ghana. It is the land of gold, cocoa, oil, bauxite, Adinkra and women entrepreneurs. Ghana is home to approximately 29 million people. It is a country where I feel welcomed to be a part of a 21st century expansion, one that seems determined to allow the African Diaspora to participate in a dynamic homecoming experience that is poised to amplify growth and prosperity. This is the moment and the movement in which I find myself a part of right now.
When I travel around the African continent and in my everyday life in Ghana, I sincerely believe my black life matters. My black is beautiful. My ideas matter. I see so much of myself in the vibrancy and hopefulness of what Ghana and Africa are becoming. I even dare to be a writer and share these pent up words with you. I am liberated. I am joyously free to be myself.
What is the cost of leaving the home of my birth for the home of my dreams? If that is the question that lingers for you, here is my answer. The biggest cost is that I live far away from my parents, sister, family, and closest friends. I am grateful though that I can virtually experience my life with them anytime. Soon enough, they will visit and get to experience this liberating paradise for themselves. I think every person of the African Diaspora would greatly benefit from spending some time every year in an African country. The time on the continent would be a salve to the soul and a straighter path to self-love and healing for many black and brown people around the world.
For some of you dear readers, my portrayal of Africa may read like an overly romanticized description of a fantasy land. However, I intentionally will not write about the problem of poverty, corruption, and all of the other challenges that too many others have overdone for far too long about my beloved Africa. The Zulu proverb reminds me that “when heaven is pointed out, a fool only sees the tip of the finger”. Indeed, I choose to focus on the heaven I see in Africa. I will not point a finger at the flaws.
I offer no counterpoint of criticism in my ode to the majestic Motherland. Here, there is only love for Africa, the one-of–a-kind supernova of a continent primed to shine.
Even now as I write these words, Africa is in the midst of an accelerated transformation shaped by digitization, “entrepreneurial energy,” and the creative aspirations of hundreds of millions of youth under the age of 20. All of us who call the African continent home and long for it to be home, are making it what it was always meant to be — the continent where the people of African soil, those who were born here and those who were stolen from here, are consciously awakening to the potential of what we represent to the world in our period of transformational growth. It is a palpable awakening. Africa stands on top of the world’s most valuable natural resources with over one billion people in tow. Our potential is limitless. Come and experience the resplendence for yourself.
This is the first commentary in a monthly series of articles, commentaries, short stories and poems called, “Africa, my dearest love of all.” To read more of my work, follow me on Medium. If you want to be in conversation about our mutual love for Africa’s present and future, you can connect with me on Instagram and Facebook at Nish McCree. Thank you~Renicha McCree Tetteh-Kujorjie~
