ACKNOWLEDGING AFRICA’S DIVERSITY
In our recent interviews I have seen the topic arising a couple of times and it was also part of our Africa Online! report. A clear view that comes forward is to give expression to the diversity of the African continent and I very much appreciate this view as it is doing justice to the intuitive opinion about the power of freedom of choice and opportunities. Every man and every countries deserves to have its own destiny at its disposal and this emancipation and self-determination will give, on the long term, a firm basis for sustainable growth.
The contradictory voice (of some) in this though is that it calls for acknowledging the differences between and diversity of 55 African countries. A short review on African history will show us that the existence of 55 countries is the consequence of exactly the opposite that is preached. In no way at all it is giving justice to the diversity on the continent! These borders are the result of the colonialist era and have neglected existing identities, as their borders cut straight through the living areas of tribes and ethnicities. I would suggest we ignore the borders of 55 countries if we want to give expression to the diversity on the African continent. But are all Africans the same? Or all different? Neither!
TWO LEVELS OF GLOBALISATION
In one interview the former State Secretary of the USA makes a distinction between two levels in the process of globalisation. One level would be that of the international politics and diplomacy. I think for Africa to play a role on this level it must seek cooperation and unification. With the rise of the EU as a player in the international arena, and likewise examples of cooperative institutions in Asia and South America, I think it will be necessary for Africa to let its African Union to follow these examples. It needs to find a common identity (philosophy of ubuntu) or a common goal (the standardisation of policy on foreign investments that Harry Broadman is talking about) and formulate an intimate and extensive collaboration based on that idea to strengthen its position on an international level. I think that the voice of so many African artists and leaders are with right when expressing this need for unification of the African people.
The second level would be about the consumers perspective. Africans are not just Africans, but they bare off course far deeper and diversified identities. It is clear to all that a person living in the country of Congo will have different needs, opportunities, capabilities and limitations than a person that is living in Tanzania. So why approach and treat them the same? This idea I share and I think it can be, as said before, of great importance in the emancipatory process of the African people from aid to trade. But giving expression to the diversity of the African people would not be the acknowledgement of 55 different countries, but would be, in my opinion, an approach in which you enable people themselves to form groups or communities, with a community specific context.
ONE NETWORK: THE DOUBLE LEVEL APPROACH
A great example of the double level approach of the African continent is I think the African telecom company Celtel with its “One Network“. The company had started an East African borderless network, that ignores geographic borders and has one tarrif within an international area. Starting off with three countries in 2006, the One Network project has now expanded to 22 countries both in Africa and the Middle East, under the brand Zain. I guess that truly expresses the acknowledgement of diversity, while paying attention to the great power of unification.
