Ibn Chambas Urges Africans to Reclaim Dignity & History
Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, the African Union High Representative for Silencing the Guns, urged Africans worldwide on Saturday, Dec 6, to boldly defend their dignity, identity and cultural heritage.
The call was made at a symposium held at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) in Accra, marking Dr Chambas’ 75th birthday. Dignitaries, scholars and youth leaders attended the event.
Addressing the gathering, Chambas warned that the continent is becoming “uncomfortably timid” in confronting long‑standing injustices such as slavery, colonialism, neo‑colonial interference and racial discrimination abroad.
“We are becoming too timid even to defend our dignity as African people. It is not acceptable,” he said.
He added, “We have been victims of colonialism, slavery, neo‑colonialism today, and racism in North America and Europe. It is about time that we started standing up to defend our dignity as an African people.”
Chambas called on African citizens, academics, policymakers, cultural leaders and the youth to actively reclaim ownership of Africa’s story and assert the continent’s identity with confidence and unity.
The former Ghanaian Minister of Foreign Affairs also praised institutions such as the Pan‑African Heritage Museum for championing the preservation and celebration of African civilisation, describing their work as vital to strengthening the “African personality.”
“We must begin to defend our history and heritage, and not allow others to demean us as a people,” he asserted.
For Ghana, the message resonates strongly as local universities and cultural bodies intensify efforts to integrate African heritage into curricula and public discourse, reinforcing the nation’s role in the broader Pan‑African narrative.
Chambas indicated that the symposium will be followed by a series of workshops across the continent aimed at equipping youth and cultural custodians with tools to safeguard their legacy, a development Ghanaian civil society groups have welcomed.
Image Source: MYJOYONLINE
