by Sarah Skidmore
Sarah Skidmore, a member of our Emerging Fellows program checks the possibility of shaping a conflict free future for Africa in her eleventh blog post. The views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of the APF or its other members. Along with the governance work of the African Union, the grassroots, organic African Rising movement is another essential influencer in the continent’s ability to embrace a conflict free future in the next three decades. The movement is centered around bringing about development across the continent. There are been a variety of expressions and beliefs that have evolved from the African Rising sentiment. The phrase African Rising came about at the turn of the century. Through its use in media such as The Financial Times, The Economist, and BBC, African Rising became a buzzword coined to shape the narrative involving economic development and the growth of the African middle class. But, is African Rising just a term used for digital click-bait? Is the African middle class being used as a pawn by those in power? Will the African Rising movement move past a narrative used by media and leaders and bring lasting change in the coming decades? The term African Rising sets the tone for growth and development that is essential for the middle class, economy, businesses, and entrepreneurs in African countries. By growing markets and stabilizing governments, not only does greater intra-continental opportunity open, but international prospects expand. Consider the additional foreign direct investment Africa may receive for critical infrastructure projects. Or even greater African representation within global collaborative projects that may become possible due to growth and development. Critical to the African Rising movement is an organized group called Africans Rising for Justice, Peace, and Dignity. The organization was formed to impact African society. In 2016, the organization convened with nearly 300 delegates from 40+ countries represented. Individuals gathered together to create a bottom-up approach for African influence and leadership. The group already holds a shared consensus regarding their work, through The Kilimanjaro Declaration, to bring about a peaceful, inclusive, and prosperous future for Africa within their continent and globally. Africans Rising for Justice, Peace, and Dignity is already home for activists, social reformers, and leaders throughout the various aspects of African society. For instance, the group is an endorser of the #WalkTogether campaign – a campaign furthering the message of hope stemming from Nelson Mandela’s work of peace building. Today the group represents over 20,000 individuals and 400 organizations as members of the collective movement including co-created events and campaigns to bring about greater justice, peace, and dignity across Africa. The bottom-up approach fueling the African Rising movement notably includes representation from females and younger generations which may be one of the leading factors for the movement’s ability to bolster a conflict free future in the decades to come. In additional to representation of females and younger generations, another factor suggesting the movement’s long-term success is the movement’s presence. The movement’s presence is filled with thousands of individuals throughout different facets of African society who uphold the ideals of African Rising. When considering Africa’s ability to bring about a conflict free future in the next three decades, the African Rising movement may have the opportunity to be an essential player in the continent’s ability to achieve that future. © Sarah Skidmore 2020
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