“The Africa I want to see…”

Marthinolly
Aug 26, 2017 · 3 min read

I attended women advancing Africa Forum in Dar es salaam between 9–12th of August, 2017. Among the great sessions at the forum, “The Africa we want” made me question what kind of Africa I want. What is the Africa we want to see? what is the Africa you want to see? What can we do to bring that Africa we dream of into reality?

“Stop complaining and act.” — Graça Machel

Here are some of the great women I met at the Forum with “different” dreams for Africa or the Africa they want to see:

We need to challenge the narratives by throwing away stereotypes. — Maria Sarungi Tsehai, Tanzania
An Africa where we embrace our differences and harness our strengths. There is an African proverb “Sticks in a bundle are unbreakable” — Gloria Biwott, Kenya
Implement the change you want to see — Daria Makaramba, Tanzania
I want to see an Africa where we all the space to thrive. — Muthoni Kamere, Kenya
An Africa with liberated mindsets. — Amanda Lieto, Zimbabwe
I want to see inclusiveness. Specially, young girls into the women rights movement. — Donatha Ghana, Rwanda
An Africa truly liberated, bilateral trade agreements across the region. — Aisha Aminu, Nigeria
An Africa where there is real gender equality. — Nakitia Yona, Tanzania
Where women find their voice and aren’t afraid to be judged. Hazel Chinake, Zimbabwe
I don’t really like the theme “The Africa we want”, there is Africa already! We should talk about legacy, emancipation, empowerment and inspiration to eradicate gender based violence in our life. When law and justice don’t correlate, destroying the law is one of the path ways to attaining justice. — Monalisa Danieli, Botswana
Equity, Social justice and quality of service available for everyone. — Gina Sitoe, Mozambique
Empowered women and girls through mentorship and leadership. — Irene Kiwia, Tanzania
I want to see more inclusiveness, where we see each other as one — proud Africans. — Tumi Sisulu, South Africa
The narrative will change when inclusiveness is valued,. — Editar Ochieng, Kenya
An Africa free of poverty in the mind. — Mwenya Mapoma, Zambia
An Africa whose second nature is collaborating. Pearl Maphumulo, South Africa
An Africa that allows women to stand on their own as most lack access and opportunities. — Happy Seith, Tanzania
An Africa where equality and dignity have real meanings and where differences are respected. — Karen Williams
I want to see an Africa where every man and woman youth and children are happy, healthy and self confident. Once people are self confident, authentic empowerment starts within, it starts within.- Scholastica Kimaryo, Tanzania

I celebrate these women as they are doing something for the community one way or another. Their dreams may look different but do you see what I see?

Space + opportunity + inclusiveness + liberty + collaboration

I loved what Dr. Mamphele Ramphele, former activist against apartheid, academic and businesswoman said during one of the sessions at the forum,

Reimagining our country [continent] is fundamentally important as an energy source. Dreams gives us energy.

May we dream, complain less and act towards the change we want to see.

Last but not least,

I want to see an Africa where everybody’s story matters. We all matter regardless of our ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, political and economical status.

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Marthinolly

Written by

Humanitarian Photographer www.instagram.com/marthinolly

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