African youth have been taught for far too long that democracy is something derived from abroad, something borrowed, or something entirely new. However, the truth is very different from what we can tell from history. The concept of democracy originated in the West, not in the West. It is a thought process by humans. And Africa used it before modern-day states ever became a reality.
The democratic past of Africa dates back more than the continent’s fracturing colonial boundaries. Every man could speak, debate, and cast a ballot in the open councils that decided collective affairs in the Somali shir. Before they became popular elsewhere, the Oromo Gadaa system developed rotating leadership and fixed term limits. Indigenous communities were governed by consensus-based village assemblies that opposed kings. When they hacked their trust, the Ashanti used elder councils to resign. The Tswana kgotla organized public debates where leaders listened rather than spoke. Although these systems did not resemble contemporary democracies in appearance, the guiding principle was clear: power must be used by the community and that the community must hold those in charge.
Democratic principles do not apply to any particular civilization. Ancient Athens developed its own system of citizen control. Shaura and consultation were stressed by Islamic governance. A meritocratic civil service was established by Confucian models in East Asia before it was established in Europe. America made a historic contribution by reviving it in the 18th century by creating institutions that would withstand war, crises, and political division. That legacy is real, and it deserves recognition. However, Western democracies are not their story. It is a human being. And it is undeniable that Africa contributed to it.
Young Africans are currently faced with a brand-new challenge. They are residing in an attention-focused society where misinformation travels quickly and anger spreads more quickly than just reason. Leaders are under enormous pressure to react rather than reflect in this environment. Instead of the traditional marathon, it rewards the strongman’s sprint. However, democracies do not win races. The ability to maintain accountability in the face of uncertain circumstances cannot compete with its short-term appeal. Africa is unable to exchange long-term freedom for short-term frustration.
Modern African societies don’t start from scratch. The democratic resilience of Botswana, Senegal’s peaceful transfer of power, Ghana’s strengthening institutions, and Kenya’s judicial independence demonstrate how adaptable and adaptable African democracies are. Other nations also face significant challenges, including contested elections, corruption, political exclusion, and identity-building. It is not a weakness to honestly name these issues. Democracies develop in this way.
Today, regaining democracy must also entail extending it. Women and underrepresented groups were frequently excluded from the past’s systems. Women, young people, minorities, and all those whose voices were historically silenced must all share the building blocks of a modern African democracy. Reclaiming an inheritance does not imply going back in time. It implies advancing it with more justice.
Africa’s new multiplier is technology. Young Africans can learn and compete globally without the need for gatekeepers’ permission thanks to artificial intelligence, digital platforms, and open learning resources. The level of connectivity is still unbalanced. Infrastructure is still expensive. Innovation is lagging behind politics. However, it is unmistakable that there is potential. The adopters were rewarded by every significant technological advancement: the internet, the internet, steam power, electricity, the printing press, and now AI. The population of Africa is young. The continent can make a leap that no other region has ever made if it embraces AI early, adopts strong civic values, and has clear safeguards.
Slogans do not safeguard democracy. Habits protect it. Young Africans can advance democracy through regular elections as well. Bringing back regional consultative forums. establishing student legislatures organizing discussion groups. provoking false information defending the right to journalism. promoting campaigns to promote digital literacy. These minor behaviors lead to widespread cultures. Africans must reject the notion that democracy belongs to someone else, perhaps most importantly. African Authoritarianism is not. Not African, silence. Debate, dialogue, consensus, accountability, and community decision-making are the continent’s hallmarks. What Africa has always known: that power must be held in trust rather than taken by force, in order to reclaim democracy.
The young are in charge of the future. If African youth stand up for their rights, freedom, diversity, truth, and dignity, they will create stronger institutions than any other person. They will create a continent where people can live together without division and are not oppressed. a continent where Africa emerges as itself rather than as a copy of another. Africa is not required to borrow a democracy. Africa is prepared to take the lead in this regard.
Source: Aljazeera
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