Letter to my African Brother (and Sister) by Christina MUKONGOMA

My African brother or sister. It is with a heart full with love and hope that I decided to write this letter to you today. It is extremely probable that you do not speak French, but it is also sure that one way or the other, this letter will reach you. Dear brother, it was necessary that I write this letter to you - to share with you a subject in which I am passionately interested for a while. I am writing it to you,  not to the others, quite simply because you are sufficiently informed, educated and sharp enough to understand the challenges of your city and change them into opportunities. Moreover, these are matters that we discuss about in family. 

By this letter, I just wanted just to remind you that the authorities (policy makers) of your city will give you credit only by the way you will react to the various circumstances that occur to you - depending on the context. They will not change anything if you do not ask for it, neither will they give you a place in decision making, if you do not prove your deep desire to change things in your surroundings.

  Dear brother, I did not say that it will be easy. There will be period of discouragement and despair, but during these dark periods, always remember that you are not doing it for yourself; but for your grandfather at the village, who once believed that with the departure of the White Man, Africa would be a paradise... For your father, who really wanted you all to be at school... For your mother, who dreams to satisfy your hunger every day; your brother, which would like to study in good conditions, and your sister who would like to walk everywhere without fear of being raped. Remember that it is for that twelve year old lad, who is fed of being a “kadogo” (small soldier). It is for those families that lost their loved ones in meaningless wars, and that it is for your child and all your generation to come that you are doing it. Continue...

At secondary school, my french teacher often repeated this sentence: “ silence implies consent”. So raise your voice, say very loud what others are saying very low, write black on white what others are willing to erase, and you will stop giving consent to all those evils which corrode our African societies. Would you like that one day our children or the children of our children blame us for (our silence) not having done anything? Or would you like them to be proud of being part of our blood line and to be the children of a beautiful woman, full with life, the Beautiful Africa?

I do not want to write much, our forefathers said that a wise person understands in very few words. Dear brother, I just wanted to remind you that the destiny of your country falls upon your shoulders. Do not think that this task belongs only to others. The country is expecting you, to move forward. So rise up, begin to change the course of things where you are, start “small” and start now. And when you will overcome, even if I may not be there to share your victory, know that you will have contributed into the happiness of all Africa. Do not forget that all the African countries are bound by an unimaginable force, all is contagious on our premises, remember the Sixties (60s), the period of Independence of our countries; thus make the things well, and you will contaminate all of us - making it well for us. 

I believe in you my brother (my sister)!!!

 

Written By: Christina MUKONGOMA Dolce
YALI Forum Member, DR Congo.

Translated By: Narcisse Noutai

YALI Forum Member, Benin.