Last week took me to Kenya, where I attended The Ibrahim Governance Weekend, the flagship event of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, which is held every year in a different African country.
In Nairobi delegates spoke about Global Africa — what it is, what it was and what it could be. That theme might seem like an oxymoron to many in this country or even those on this side of the world who know very little about Africa, but it’s not. Watching William Ruto, Kenya’s new president, taking the leadership role was powerful.
Several things struck me about the conversations on stage and around the conference at the weekend — there was a very notable absence of discussion about the war in Ukraine. I was taken aback. I have seen nothing but that conflict lead the news for the last year or so here in the UK.
People weren’t speaking Ukraine not because Africans don’t care about it. In fact Africa, even though it has the least to do with the conflict, still bears one of the greatest brunts of it all. Minds were focused elsewhere. Kenya is essentially leading on bringing peace to another neighbouring country.
Sudan, which was once the African continent’s largest country, is on the brink of civil war. Aside from extracting their diplomats and citizens, it feels like the international community at large is ignoring the chaos, just as it did with Ethiopia last year. Watching African business and institutional leaders, as well as presidents, gather over tables to see how they could end the fighting in Sudan showed me that things have changed on the world stage. A few years ago, as soon as trouble started in a major country like Sudan, the UN would have called a high-level meeting. Now those given the duty to keep peace are at war with each other things have changed. Africa is coming together and addressing its own issues — something which it had to do also when Covid hit and it was forgotten.
For years African leaders have been invited to attend summits as the people being talked at.
But now African leaders are owning their shortcomings and addressing them upfront.
As one speaker told the conference: “We are seeking to find the common thread to stitch back the torn but vibrant fabric of Africa”. That was a powerful line that stood out for me because as an African who had to leave her birthplace due to war there is nothing more I wish for the people of Africa than for us all to live in peace and connect together as the beautiful and powerful continent we are.
The conflict in Sudan is scary but for the first time, because Africa is being allowed to lead, it means peace might be found around a table of African leaders who are ready to meet the expectations, rights and aspirations of their people.
History has proved that Africans have what it takes and more to lead in our continent, because for centuries Africa was where peace prevailed.
I don’t buy the Karl Lagerfeld hype
Karl Lagerfeld’s cat, Choupette, is not just wealthier than most people I know, it seems she is also more successful. Choupette is worth millions of dollars and has plenty of modelling jobs and businesses behind her — she even inherited part of Lagerfeld’s fortune when he died in 2019, though legal wrangling means she hasn’t seen the money yet.
I speak of the man’s cat because I think that’s the most inoffensive thing about him. As the designer was honoured last night at the Met Gala several people took the theme of the cat, with Jared Leto dressing up as one.
There has been backlash at the Met Gala honouring Lagerfeld due to the fact that he had made several hateful comments during his career, but the truth is that many of those attending the Gala buy into this ridiculous hype of an event where women are dressed so uncomfortably that I am shocked no one passes out, let alone sits around and has dinner.
Are these ‘icons’ so incredible that we can’t demand they behave like civil human beings?
