Africa Unbound: Dr Arikana Chihombori-Quao's Call to Reclaim Power

By Gillian Schutte

On October 31, 2024, the University of Cape Town's Graduate School of Business hosted the inaugural Albertina Sisulu Memorial Lecture in collaboration with the Sisulu Foundation for Social Justice.

The event honoured the legacy of Albertina Sisulu, a prominent anti-apartheid activist and nurse, whose life was defined by an unwavering commitment to social justice and human rights. The keynote address was delivered by Her Excellency Ambassador Arikana Chihombori-Quao, a Zimbabwean-born medical doctor, activist, and former African Union Ambassador to the United States. Her speech, titled “The Sisulu Legacy and the Future of Socio-Economic Justice in Africa”, served as both a tribute and a call to action, emphasising the need to continue Sisulu's work in tackling socio-economic inequalities across the continent.

In an electrifying and unapologetic delivery, Dr Arikana Chihombori-Quao stood before her audience not only as a speaker but a voice embodying the spiritual intensity and wisdom of an African oracle. A fierce advocate for Pan-African unity, Dr Chihombori-Quao has gained renown for her critiques of neo-colonial structures that still attempt to constrain Africa’s independence. On this night, she rose as a revolutionary, a healer, and a relentless advocate for the African continent’s self-determination, calling upon Africa to confront its inherited trauma, systemic oppression, and internalised colonial mentality. Her words demanded that Africa reclaim what is rightfully its own and pushed the audience into a shared urgency for change.

Colonial Trauma as a Persistent Wounding

Dr Chihombori-Quao began her address by describing what she called a “sickness” within the African spirit – a deep psychological wound inflicted by colonial brutality and perpetuated by systems that keep the continent dependent. She illustrated the trauma using powerful imagery: during the colonial era, Africans were tied between two horses and torn apart as a demonstration of what could happen to those who resisted. “They wanted to break more than our bodies,” she said. “They sought to tear apart our spirit.” For Dr Chihombori-Quao, this was not a story confined to history but a wound that still bleeds today. Colonialism, she argued, did not merely seize African land and resources; it fractured African identity, shattered community bonds, and embedded a fear that has echoed through generations.

She did not mince her words as she reiterated that this trauma continues to shape Africa’s psyche, holding Africans back from claiming their rightful autonomy. She argued that this fear, this “sickness,” persists as a weapon used to ensure complacency and passivity, keeping African nations subjugated and internally divided.

One of the symptoms of this sickness, Dr Chihombori-Quao, said, was internalised whiteness. Her words echoed Frantz Fanon's quote from Black Skin, White Masks: “The black man wants to be white. The white man slaves to reach a human level... For the black man, there is only one destiny. And it is white.” This movement toward “whiteness,” she argued, is a choice that some Africans have made to align with Western ideology and to distance themselves from anything that reflects their African roots—including teaching their children indigenous languages and prioritising “the Queen’s English.” For her, this was not merely a misstep but a betrayal. “Why do we choose this?” she asked, challenging the internalised colonial mentality that drives individuals and nations alike to seek Western validation instead of embracing their heritage.

“It’s not enough to resist colonial rule if we invite it into our minds.”

This voluntary assimilation, she argued, serves as a dangerous form of complicity. “It’s not enough to resist colonial rule if we invite it into our minds,” she contended. Her words urged Africans to reject this pursuit of Western validation and to stand proudly within their own culture. Dr Chihombori-Quao held up Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali as examples—nations actively resisting foreign control. “Do what Burkina Faso and Niger are doing,” she urged, her words a call to Africans everywhere to awaken to their agency, their autonomy, and their rightful self-determination.

Honouring African Voices

Dr Chihombori-Quao made it clear that she was not alone in her mission to reawaken African pride and agency; she stood alongside a legacy of African leaders who have long championed these ideals. She recognised Dr Allan Boesak, a revered theologian and anti-apartheid activist, for his lifelong commitment to justice, calling him a warrior for human dignity. She honoured Minister Lindiwe Sisulu, daughter of Walter and Albertina Sisulu, noting her family’s profound contribution to the liberation struggle and her own role in continuing that legacy. Dr Chihombori-Quao’s words resonated with respect for Minister Sisulu’s dedication to governance and public service, acknowledging her as a symbol of South Africa’s ongoing journey toward equality.

She also extended profound gratitude to former President Jacob Zuma, who was present on the podium at the lecture, for his role in the African struggle for freedom. Despite the controversies and media attacks that have surrounded him, she highlighted his contributions to the continent’s liberation and his significance as a leader in Africa’s fight for self-determination. These figures, she noted, are often marginalised and misrepresented by Western media, which strives to erase the voices that challenge its control. She pointedly noted the absence of mainstream media at this gathering as evidence of a liberal hegemony that attempts to silence leaders like President Zuma and Minister Sisulu, creating a narrative that aligns with Western interests.

Global NGOs and Neo-Colonialism

Dr Chihombori-Quao’s delivery did not stop with political figures and historical trauma; she addressed the role of non-governmental organisations as neocolonial agents in the modern era. “The NGOs come with their dollars, with their ‘help,’ but it is never help,” she declared. Her words exposed the insidious nature of foreign aid, which reinscribes dependency rather than empowering true African autonomy. “It’s a new form of colonialism,” she stated. “They act as though we are incapable, when it is they who are there to keep us from rising.” Her analysis was a scathing indictment of these organisations that operate under a guise of goodwill but, in reality, hold Africa’s future hostage, limiting true progress and independence.

“It’s a new form of colonialism.”

For Dr Chihombori-Quao, NGOs serve to maintain Africa’s subservience by masking exploitation with benevolent language, presenting Western intervention as necessary while undermining African self-sufficiency.

Fear and Division as Tools of Control

Dr Chihombori-Quao returned to the theme of fear, dissecting it as an inherited colonial weapon that stifles African assertiveness. She insisted that this fear is not inherent but an emotional scar left by colonial oppression. “Fear was their tool to enslave us, and it remains their weapon to control us,” she explained, urging Africans to recognise this psychological manipulation. She argued that this fear binds Africans to systems that do not serve them, creating a hollow peace that leaves Africa vulnerable to exploitation.

Her solution was as daring as her critique: she called for a revolutionary reclamation of African autonomy, a bold self-determination that rejects Western influence altogether. Drawing from the examples of Burkina Faso and Niger, she called upon Africans to throw off the remnants of colonial rule and to resist the forces that still seek to dictate Africa’s economy and politics, asking why this has not been done already.

Unity and Self-Determination

At the heart of Dr Chihombori-Quao’s address was her vision of a united Africa, a continent where borders are bridges and natural resources enrich local communities instead of foreign corporations. She spoke of an Africa where cultural heritage, languages, and identities are not diluted to align with Western ideals but preserved as sources of strength. For her, unity was not simply a solution but a radical reimagining of Africa’s destiny.

She argued that African nations must decolonise their minds as well as their economies, freeing themselves from the internalised oppression that keeps them bound to Western powers. Her vision extended to the African diaspora, whom she urged to reclaim the narrative of African resilience. “The diaspora must take back our narrative,” she declared, calling upon Africans worldwide to reinvest their talents, skills, and wealth into Africa’s future.

Women as Leaders of the Revolution

Dr Chihombori-Quao’s parting words were a bold proposition: perhaps it is time for African men to step aside and allow women to lead the revolution. “African women are more forthright,” she stated. “More determined. Men, you have an inbuilt diplomacy that holds up the process. Women, when we are enraged, will not stop at anything.” She proposed that African women possess an unyielding resolve essential for reclaiming Africa’s dignity and autonomy, suggesting that women’s leadership could cut through the compromises that often hold back revolutionary action.

In her closing remarks, she even suggested that, like the women of Liberia once did, African women deny men access to their bodies until they are willing to take back what is rightfully Africa’s. Her words echoed the spirit of women’s resistance across history, calling for a radical shift in leadership that draws upon the resilience and fortitude of African women.

Towards Collective Renewal

Throughout her address, Dr Chihombori-Quao grounded her call to action in a legacy of African resistance, honouring the Sisulu family, especially Albertina Sisulu, as symbols of the courage and leadership that Africa needs now. She paid tribute to Dr Allan Boesak and former President Jacob Zuma for their lifelong dedication to justice, despite the media’s attempts to erase or diminish their impact. For her, Africa’s liberation must be driven by a force that is uniquely African, unburdened by Western constructs and undeterred by external validation.

Dr Chihombori-Quao’s closing words resounded with clarity and conviction: “Liberation is not a gift. It is a birthright to be reclaimed.” She left no doubt that Africa’s freedom is not something to be granted by foreign hands but to be claimed by Africans, united in their purpose and led by those who possess the fortitude to withstand opposition. Her vision for Africa was radical, a call for a continent that does not wait or negotiate but seizes back everything that has been taken.

Throughout her delivery, audience members voiced their agreement, and the standing ovation at the end spoke volumes. Revolutionary vibrations reverberated in the auditorium, as Dr Chihombori-Quao’s words ignited a collective resolve among those present. This was no ordinary lecture; it was a summons to reclaim the African spirit, to rise above centuries of imposed limitations, and to embark on a journey towards true autonomy. Her address left an undeniable mark, one that resonated as both a call to action and a roadmap for Africa’s future.

As Dr Chihombori-Quao stepped down from the podium, the echoes of her address lingered. She had cast a vision of an Africa where borders are no longer barriers but connectors, where wealth generated by the continent’s resources nourishes its own communities rather than being siphoned off to enrich foreign powers. Her rallying cry—“Liberation is not a gift. It is a birthright to be reclaimed”—was more than just words; it was a reclamation of identity, power, and heritage that had been denied for too long.

Audience members, still on their feet, engaged in fervent conversations, eyes alight with a new energy. Dr Chihombori-Quao’s words had rekindled a fire, reminding every person present that Africa’s true liberation will come from within, driven by an unshakeable pride in its history and an unwavering commitment to its future. Her speech had not only called for unity but had also breathed life into it, inspiring those in attendance to look beyond national borders and individual differences and to imagine an Africa bound by a common purpose.

Outside the auditorium, the impact of Dr Chihombori-Quao’s address continued to ripple. For those who had heard her, the challenge was clear: to reject complacency, to confront both external and internal forces of oppression, and to stand unapologetically in the fullness of African identity. She had pointed to the only path forward,steeped in the power of collective action and the strength of Africa’s people, especially its women.

Dr Chihombori-Quao’s message transcended the boundaries of the room; it became a testament to the enduring spirit of Africa. For a continent often seen through the lens of its struggles, she had reframed the narrative to one of resilience, agency, and boundless potential. Her call was clear: Africa must no longer wait, ask, or compromise. Instead, it must rise to reclaim everything that has been denied—its land, its resources, its identity, and its destiny.

As the audience slowly filtered out, many left with a renewed sense of purpose, their minds stirred and spirits lifted. They had not just attended a lecture; they had witnessed a vision that demanded to be realised. Dr Arikana Chihombori-Quao had left all with a mandate: to build an Africa that is powerful, united, and unapologetically proud, an Africa that would no longer stand in the shadow of others but would take its rightful place on the world stage, driven by a collective will and fortified by the indomitable spirit of its people.

* Gillian Schutte is a film-maker, and a well-known social justice and race-justice activist and public intellectual.

** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media.