
Ajayi Olutayo
People like you are needed on this continent to take us to where we should be. Keep it up man!
Welcome to the premier issue of Africa Unbound! This is a forum for those of us who are passionate about Africa-the people, the culture, the land, etc. We know that there is something rich, full, and beautiful about Africa that is diametrically different from the poverty and suffering seen throughout the continent, and we are interested in exploring ways of development that will allow the full manifestation of the wellbeing and prosperity that we know is possible for Africans.
The basic premise of this publication is this: the development of Africa depends on each one of us, more specifically, on our state of mind. So far, development has been regarded as the business of governments and international development institutions. Decades of experience has shown, however, that the capacity of African governments is, in many cases, very limited and that no donor organization can deliver development to Africa.
For the most part, Africa’s most important resource, its people both in the continent as well as the Diaspora, has been grosslyunderestimated. While the need to invest in human development is recognized in development discourse, the effort is usually limited to the expansion of access to education and health services. While these services are important, the role of ordinary individuals as agents of development has not gained the attention it deserves. Conscious citizens demand the accountability of governments, quality services in health and education, and an enabling business environment. Conscious individuals come up with new ideas and innovations to improve living conditions for themselves as well as others.
In this moment, we have a choice. We can either let business go on as usual and complain about the lack of progress, or we can awaken to the truth that each one of us has a critical role to play in the development of our beloved continent.
This forum aims to facilitate this awakening process, which requires a deep desire, courage, and willingness to learn and engage in open and honest conversations about what is working and what is not in our individual lives as well as in Africa. It requires us to pay attention to how we are living, what and how we think, and how we relate to the world around us.
Metaphysics tells us that every thought is a cause and every condition is an effect. Hence to change the effect, we need to change the cause. In other words, to change our condition we need to change our thoughts. What are these thoughts that we need to change? They are the limiting belief systems that we have about ourselves and others that inhibit our development and creative potential. In Campaign Against Dysfunctional Behaviors, Salaam Yetbarek identifies a number of limiting traits he has observed among Ethiopians. While Salaam writes about the Ethiopian community because he is an Ethiopian and that is the culture he knows intimately, a number of Africans as well as non-Africans point out that these characteristics are not unique to Ethiopians, and are in fact dysfunctions of humanity in general. In this deeply introspective article, Salaam invites us all to turn inward and see if we can identify the issues he raises within ourselves, and provides specific remedies for us to consider.
While the identification of factors that constrain our development is critical for our growth, it is equally important to pay attention and nurture the good that is inherent in us. The article by Abdul Mohammed in the Culture and Ideas section and my conversation with Brother Ishmael Tetteh reveal to us that, as Africans, we have a strong foundation to build on. We have cultures that are rich with knowledge and wisdom. We need to honor this and integrate the ancient with the new to expand our knowledge base and build on the legacy of our ancestors.
My vision for AfricaUnbound.org is to be a dynamic and evolving forum that will continually empower its community. I invite you to participate by reading the featured articles, posting your comments and ideas on the message boards, and by submitting articles for publication (please see our guidelines for article submission). I trust you will join hands with us as we embark on this journey to fulfill our deepest desire – to recognize our unity.
People like you are needed on this continent to take us to where we should be. Keep it up man!
Thanks for this powerful article. I am very glad I read it. Keep up your great work and remain Blessed Law!
Reader Feedback (25)
Preston Tulay
\"Many talk, serveral them hear the message, few of
them understand the message, and one of them take action.\" Thank you
for taking this action. I promise to do my part in support of your laudable
action....
Pres...
yoga2heal@yahoo.com
your smile is radiating to awaken Africa. Astounded by this
organization, i support and participate in introducing the concept of this
magazine to all I know.
in truth, you present sprituality, divine awakening, transformation, economic and financial growth, African development, encouragement to support Africa together. It is time to teach and enliven African kids , the next generation. The kids are the innocent spriritual beings that can transform to a different reality trusting the higher power. Education is key. It starts from thinking positive. An imagination that has no limit to express the individual GOD SELF. Create visual inspiration to heal the wound of childhood suffering, promote hope and raise awareness in the art of unlimited possibilty practicing absolute love. Love is the key to healing. There are many factors to be discovered and realized in order to create a new begining and be able to maintain the new growth.
may the divine work its miracle.
may all
beings be enlightened and liberated.
may all beings be in peace and
harmony.
may all beings be with joy and happiness.
Blessings,
AAA,
Venice, CA
Paul Silundika
Thank you very much for introducing such a noble forum of
communication amoungst us Africans.This century needs us to make a turning point in our history.We have gone through all what suffering as a continent can be done and by a people,as we are as Africans that it is time to do all possible to turn the tide and focus on Africas re-discovery.This time it is us who have to rediscover ourselves as a people and rise up to meet the challenges of rebuilding of our continent and redirecting our people to further heights of a
new tomorrow, a new Africa.There is indeed a need to have a rebound and only Africans can make Africa happen once again.
Andy_Zewdie
My deepest gratitude and admiration to your vision and action!
In my humble opinion, this is one step in the right direction. This is a type of forum/medium setting that I would love to participate and exchange ideas/opinions.
Do you accept short research papers from members? I am
basically asking if it is possible for the members to conduct research or write brief articles so as for you/your team to edit and post on this site?
Please do not hesitate to let us know how we can help you maintain this site.
Andy
Zewdie
rkassahun
Thank you so much for all your support and encouragement.
We very much welcome contributions from our members. Please see our guidelines for article submission under Contact Us. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me. Thanks again.
Rahel
kngtgirma@yahoo.com
the spirits of our ancestors are guiding you in the right direction. You are a true African jewel, keep shining and guiding the conversation in the much
needed path.
Haile Giorgis Demissie
itis a great job and thank you very much.This forum will have good
impact 0n the development and unity of Africa.
I wish you all the best for
your sucess.
samson stefanos
It about time that we take responsabilty for our own africa. It takes one at a time to make changes in our attitude and something about our problems.If they (the so called first nation) could do it, we can too. Look at how n much africans contributed to the development here. Thanks for the idea and hope you keep at it Rahel! Change is gonna come...i am sure of it...
samson
Lily Habte
tsiona@yahoo.com
Thank you for breaking the silence, and opening such
great forum. Such forums will not only wake us up, but will keep us from
falling asleep again, and help us in achieving our dreams.
Tsion Hailu
zeituna. M ismael
Stevens Jay Carter
It is rewarding
www.stevensjaycarter.com
Mahlet Solomon
don’t let anything discourage you and stop you until, not only Africans but
also the World know that Africans are God freeing, beautiful, talented,
educated, rich, and cultural people in the world. May God be with you and in everything you achieve.
Folake B. Ogunyemi, LL.M.
you have done an excellent job and thank you very much! This is
definately a positive contribution towards African development
and uniting the African diaspora as well. May God Bless the mother
land and continue to bless you on the job :-)
Roland Bankole Marke
Roland
www.rolandmarke.com
peacecrp@yahoo.com
Samuel M
From
D.R.Congo
Aly
emphasizing that ordinary individuals are agents of any development.
Ayale
work.
JP Sebageni
contributors and other signs that we are seeing really point to
that.
Congratulations and thanks for bringing focus and a forum for the sharing and growing of such positive ideas and thoughts! Inspiring, enlightening and encouraging.
JP Sebageni
Kigali, Rwanda
ekebede@worldbank.org
it!!
Best always,
Ephraim
Dr. Kwakiutl L. Dreher
Africa! Rahel, I am so very very proud of you and the work that you are doing! What a fantastic gift to the world.
Congratulations on a job
well-done.
Many blessings and honor to the contributors.
Best,
Kwakiutl
Amare Aregawi
C O N G U R A T U L A T I O N S !!!!
Beautiful web design and content.I am very happy with everything you have produced. We are all with you.
Amare
Nikhil
awakening the mind.
TEFERRA SHIAWL
Teferra Shiawl-Kidanekal (Ambassador)
Eastern Africa Standby
Brigade Coordination Mechanism
Nairobi, Kenya
Mesfin Felleke
Congratulations on a superb beginning. Your intellectual and
decisively positive twist to the issues concerning Africa is energizing and
contagious. Thank you for inviting us all to gather around a bonfire of new
ideas and applications.
Mesfin F.