Continued……. The 2011 US-led NATO invasion led NATO-backed ‘rebels’ to k*ll Gaddafi, transforming the once-most prosperous African state into a fractured territory riddled by conflict and slave markets.

Sources

https://www.temehu.com/brother-leader-Gaddafi.htm

https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/193003/Hicks,%20Shakeelah_CapstoneEssay.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7Agqf2N_I4&t=8s

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2008/3/29/gaddafi-condemns-arab-leaders

https://www.blackagendareport.com/killing-gaddafi-10-years-ago-has-resulted-death-nation-libya-and-destruction-its-people

https://www.counterpunch.org/2015/10/20/libya-from-africas-wealthiest-democracy-under-gaddafi-to-terrorist-haven-after-us-intervention/

We recently created a pan-African Mount Rushmore featuring three African icons. 

From the comments, it became clear that some of you had reservations about the choice of the mountain and the lack of women on our list. As a responsive, pan-African, people-centred media outlet, we have taken your feedback to develop another concept.

This time around, we are using Africa’s tallest mountain, the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro, as our canvas to discuss Pan-Africanists’ most influential and enlightening books.

Our first choice is ‘How Europe Underdeveloped Africa,’ by assassinated Guyanese Pan-Africanist revolutionary Walter Rodney (1942-80). Published in 1972 during Rodney’s time in Tanzania, the book delves into one of the topics that has for decades kept many Pan-Africanists awake at night: Why does Africa remain underdeveloped despite its immense resources?

Continued………Rodney explains how Africa’s underdevelopment is directly linked to centuries of the European slave trade, colonialism and the present-day neo-colonial stage that some of us relate to as just another form of colonialism.

Our second pick is ‘Neo-Colonialism: The Last Stage of Imperialism,’ written by Ghana’s founding father and African giant, Kwame Nkrumah (1909-72). The book, a staple in pan-Africanist circles, reveals how, despite gaining independence, African elites’ collaboration with imperial powers via the international financial system exploits ordinary Africans. The book’s message hit so hard that the US State Department summoned the Ghanaian ambassador to deliver an oral protest and cancelled $100 million in ‘aid.’

Our final book on the list, but just as important, is Black Liberation Army member Assata Shakur’s ‘Assata: An Autobiography.’ As the name suggests, the book traces Shakur’s life from early childhood to the political activism that led to her exile in Cuba. The book highlights the struggle of Black people in the US in the face of state oppression anchored on white supremacy.

What do you make of our book selection? Which ones would you add to the list?

Sources

https://www.lse.ac.uk/africa/hub-for-african-thought/thinkers/kwame-nkrumah

https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP75-00149R000600010011-6.pdf

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/After-Nkrumah-published-and-shared-this-book-among-leaders-the-US-suspended-aid-to-Ghana-1217215

https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1964-68v24/d256

AID? HOW ABOUT OUR STOLEN WEALTH?

Today marks what would have been the 83rd birthday of Muammar Gaddafi (1942-2011), the Libyan leader and Pan-African revolutionary. Nobody could articulate the truth to the UN quite like Gaddafi did. Here he is, reminding delegates at a UN hunger summit in Rome back in 2009 that the West owes more than mere ‘aid’ to its former colonies. Any aid is just a small part of the vast wealth that imperialists stole from Africa and other places. Return it, and be thankful you’re not being prosecuted for it!

Sources

https://www.namibian.com.na/gaddafi-asks-food-summit-to-stop-africa-land-grab

https://youtu.be/PBRqqa7ZpeQ?si=CHY8QxB3S1IKOvfx

https://www.africanews.com/2017/09/19/speech-muammar-gaddafi-at-the-64th-un-general-assembly-in-2009

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2009/9/24/gaddafi-attacks-major-powers?_gl=1*1qrn2hg*_ga*LXJVNmxHWnBSS1lEVEpnTkFpWmN4em5jWWJkWUtfRlRJN1FDS1c4OURRUXhUWXhacEV2dWhGaWVQRzRXOERLNw..*_ga_XN9JB9Q0M1*MTc0OTIxOTI1Mi4zLjAuMTc0OTIxOTI1Mi4wLjAuMA..

EVERY AFRICAN CAPITAL: THE A’S

Every African country has a capital city - but some have two, like Eswatini… or even three, like South Africa!

Africa’s capital cities typically hold the seat of power, but they’re not always a nation’s best known metropolis - as is the case with Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, South Africa and Tanzania.

While the UN recognises 54 countries in Africa, the African Union recognises 55.

In our latest series, we’re going to take you on an alphabetical tour of each of them - including also Western Sahara’s Laayoune and Tifariti cities (the latter being where the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic is planning to move its capital, as the former is in disputed, Morocco-occupied territory).

So fasten your seatbelts as we start with the A’s…

Which one is your favourite?

DIASPORA AFRICANS CRUCIAL IN
LIBERATION STRUGGLE

The African Union formally recognises Africa's diaspora as the continent’s “6th region.”

We share a history of oppression, a commitment to Pan-Africanism, and a collective desire for self-determination and dignity. In this clip, Claude Gatebuke, a Rwanda G*nocide survivor and activist, gives the recent solidarity marches for Ibrahim Traoré as an example of this dynamic.

Gatebuke argues that Africans in the diaspora play a crucial role as vital bridges between the continent and global struggles for liberation. Their intellectual contributions, political activism, financial support, and cultural solidarity form a critical bridge between Africans on the continent and a global network of allies. 

The diaspora actively counters dominant Western narratives that often misrepresent or ignore events and leaders in Africa.

Continued…….. In the case of Ibrahim Traoré, mainstream Western media usually paint him as a power-hungry ‘junta’ leader, burying the inconvenient truth that he is spearheading a people-led revolutionary movement. 

Diaspora activists utilise social media, independent news sources, and direct action to ensure that alternative views highlighting African sovereignty and the fight against neo-colonialism are heard worldwide. For example, in late April, Leo Muhammad, who was born in Jamaica, led a pro-Traoré solidarity protest outside the US embassy in London, where he heads the UK’s Nation of Islam movement.

Can you add your voice to Gatebuke’s by liking and sharing this important message?

Video credit: AfriDominion Media

Hear Us Roar: https://news.1rj.ru/str/AfricanStream

HOW GADDAFI CHANGED LIBYA

One of Africa’s finest sons, Pan-African icon and Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was born on this day in 1942. He is often mentioned along with the likes of Kwame Nkrumah, Julius Nyerere, Patrice Lumumba and Thomas Sankara who spared no effort realising the liberation of Africa from foreign domination.

In 2024, African Stream had the chance to interview Gaddafi’s last spokesperson and communications minister, Moussa Ibrahim. In this snippet, he sheds light on just how much Libya’s leader achieved in a short period of time after the revolution. He kicked out foreign military, ensured oil profits stayed in Libya, and used the wealth thereby acquired to fund vital infrastructure. It’s all very reminiscent of the events happening in the Sahel at the moment.

Have a watch and please let us know what you think.

Continued…….. Sources
https://allafrica.com/stories/201002080354.html

https://www.nytimes.com/1973/09/02/archives/libya-takes-over-all-oil-companies-operating-there-51-of-assets.html

https://www.ft.com/content/c677935b-ab2b-4cc4-914f-6b67f2c24183

https://investmentpolicy.unctad.org/investment-policy-monitor/measures/4352/mali-adopts-new-mining-code-increasing-the-state-and-local-participation-in-new-projects-

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czjd70mzge2o

IS ‘BLACK EXCELLENCE’ A SCAM?

Rapper and educator Vic Mensa (@vicmensa on instagram) reminds us in this video that a few Black people achieving certain social status, recognition, fame or wealth, is not - and should not be mistaken for - the progression of Black people as a collective. In his words, 'Black exceptionalism' is nothing more than a concept produced by the individualistic capitalist system, which props up individuals to create the illusion of collective advancement.

Mensa points out how despite making up the labor force of most of the entertainment industries, from sports to music, Black people do not have ownership of said industries.

Continued…….. For example, three of the largest record labels, which have a monopoly over music, namely Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Music Group, all lack any Black majority owners, yet remain heavily dominated by Black talent. According to the university of Southern Carolina, "systemic inequality in leadership positions extends to all aspects of the music industry."

In contrast, Mensa argues, the Black Panther era of Black Power, which was replaced by 'Black excellence', was a period that focused on better communal outcomes for the collective in the US. The Black Panthers, did not just seek political solutions to the issues of discrimination in the US, but also implemented over 60 social programs that served the immediate needs of their communities. These programs ranged widely from service based, such as ambulances, to skills based, such as consumer education classes and drama classes.

Do you agree with his take? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Video credit: @vicmensa (on instagram)

Sources

https://www.brookings.edu/articles/tackling-the-legacy-of-persistent-urban-inequality-and-concentrated-poverty/

https://www.theguardian.com/inequality/2017/sep/13/median-wealth-of-black-americans-will-fall-to-zero-by-2053-warns-new-report

https://annenberg.usc.edu/news/research-and-impact/annenberg-inclusion-initiative-extends-agreement-universal-music-research

https://bppaln.org/programs

https://www.google.co.ke/books/edition/The_New_Jim_Crow/reDzBZ3pXqsC?hl=en&gbpv=1

https://www.bet.com/article/d0q8r4/opinion-the-power-of-the-black-dollar-can-we-boycott-like-our-ancestors-did

https://hhsepitaph.com/12802/arts-culture/end-exploitation-of-musicians-by-streaming-services/#

https://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/the-music-industry-has-exploited-black-artists-since-its-inception-and-the-call-for-reparations-is-growing-1.7321235

https://blackprelaw.studentgroups.columbia.edu/news/ubeyond-beat-fight-fair-compensation-black-musicians#:~:text=Historically%2C%20record%20labels%20have%20engaged,from%20his%20recordings%20%5B1%5D.

https://www2.law.temple.edu/10q/denying-black-musicians-their-royalties-has-a-history-emerging-out-of-slavery/

FACT CHECKING: ' AFRICANS SOLD THEIR OWN INTO SLAVERY'

One common lie about the slavery of African people is that our people sold their own to white enslavers. Jared Van, a behavioural scientist and PhD student in special education, tears down the myth that Africans are to blame for their own enslavement. While some African individuals in positions of authority participated in the trade, the narrative that Africans simply "sold their own" fundamentally misrepresents the complex history and the brutal realities of this horrific system.

Continued……. Van reminds us that selling people as chattel property was often alien to African social structures. In some African societies, forms of servitude existed. Still, these were generally different from the dehumanising and permanent chattel slavery practised by Europeans. Captives taken in war or due to debt might be integrated into the community over time. In contrast, European traders often employed tactics of coercion, violence, and manipulation. They instigated conflicts between different African groups, provided weapons in exchange for captives, and raided communities to seize people by force, a power dynamic that was overwhelmingly in their favour.

The Caribbean was where chattel slavery reached its harshest legal form through the Slave Code, first introduced by the British in Barbados. Established in 1661, this extensive law labelled Africans as 'heathens' and 'brutes,' deeming them unworthy of the same legal protections as Christians. The lawmakers went as far as to classify Africans as non-human, treating them as property that could be owned indefinitely by buyers and their descendants. The Slave Code spread rapidly throughout the Caribbean. Eventually, it served as the blueprint for slavery in the North American English colonies that would later form the United States.

Our ancestors did not passively accept their fate. They resisted slavery through rebellions and uprisings. Following their steps, we today call out for reparations to be paid for the crime of slavery.

Video credit: @jaredvaneducation on IG

Sources

https://www.edoworld.net/Islam_Colourism.html

https://www.annualreviews.org/docserver/fulltext/polisci/26/1/annurev-polisci-062321-041446.pdf?expires=1747636383&id=id&accname=guest&checksum=C37BDC615D83F8B8CA82EA48AB0698EB

https://www.un.org/en/un-chronicle/legacy-slavery-caribbean-and-journey-towards-justice

https://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/ideological-origins-of-chattel-slavery-british-world

https://library.fiveable.me/key-terms/apush/racialized-perpetual-hereditary-slavery

https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/wages-slavery-and-chattel-slavery/

https://caribbeannewsglobal.com/unfinished-business-from-chattel-slavery-to-reparatory-justice-in-the-bahamas-part-1/#:~:text=Slavery%20in%20The%20Bahamas,-The%20first%20group&text=%E2%80%9CI%20was%20generally%20introduced%20as,commodities%20to%20prospective%20slave%2Dbuyers.


https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/sep/08/european-racism-africa-slavery

GOOD NEWS SUNDAY

This week’s ‘Good News Sunday’ is back! We start by looking at wrestling in Uganda, with no fancy ring - just passion, power and pure East African swagger. Then, we feature a Somali student in Denmark whose invention may transform heart valve surgery. 

Two stories. One continent. From the soil to the scalpel, Africa is innovating and entertaining the world. This is the Africa they rarely show you. And that’s exactly why we do.

WHY AFRICA'S WORKERS CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE

Across Africa, essential public workers are facing a deepening crisis, caught between shrinking incomes and rising living costs. African Stream spoke exclusively with Ashina Mtsumi, Coordinator for Tax and Education Alliance at ActionAid, uncovering how IMF-driven austerity policies are pushing millions of Africans into poverty.

ActionAid's recent report reveals the staggering reality: 84% of teachers and 97% of healthcare workers across Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Ghana, and Liberia can no longer meet basic living needs due to massive public spending cuts. Families face impossible choices - children are forced out of school because their parents can’t afford fees, while teachers manage classrooms with up to 200 students, lacking basic teaching materials and adequate income.

The fallout disproportionately burdens women and girls, adding an additional 20 to 28 hours per week of unpaid care duties.

Continued……. Critical maternal healthcare programs, like Kenya's Linda Mama, are facing devastating reductions, endangering the lives of mothers and newborns.

Ashina emphasizes that these hardships aren't accidental - they result from policies imposed by institutions like the IMF, which prioritize debt repayments over the well-being of ordinary Africans. Africa’s economic struggles are compounded by Western-based credit rating agencies that label African countries as risky, perpetuating a cycle of debt and crisis.

There's an urgent call for reform. Despite being home to 54 countries, Africa collectively holds only three seats on the IMF board, leaving the continent with little voice in the very decisions that shape its economic future. This imbalance reinforces a global financial system that serves the interests of wealthy nations and international bankers over the basic rights of ordinary Africans.

What’s needed is a new financial architecture that puts people before profits, empowers nations to fund public services, and restores African control over its own economic destiny. It's time for Africa to reclaim economic sovereignty and dignity.

Sources

https://eastleighvoice.co.ke/maternal%20health%20care%20kenya/43762/linda-mama-budget-cut-sparks-worry-over-rising-risks-for-pregnant-women

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/20/public-workers-in-africa-see-wages-fall-by-up-to-50-in-five-years-survey

https://nayakenya.org/2023/10/25/linda-mama-the-shattered-promise-of-kenyan-mothers/

https://actionaid.org/publications/2025/human-cost-public-cuts-africa

https://www.actionaidusa.org/news/crippling-budget-cuts-have-left-africas-public-sector-workers-underpaid-overworked-and-struggling-to-make-ends-meet-study-finds/

https://actionaid.org/news/2025/africa-owed-us36-trillion-climate-debt-rich-polluting-countries-new-report-actionaid

HOW THE U.S. STOLE HAWAII

Anti-imperialism begins with telling the truth, starting with that Hawaii was never the US government’s to take, as author @marcojwilliams (IG) articulates in this video. 

Hawaii wasn’t ‘granted statehood’ in a fairytale handshake of mutual agreement. White business people forcefully and unapologetically seized the Hawaiian islands in 1893 in a textbook act of imperialist aggression to further corporate and geopolitical interests.

Before US boots touched the islands, Hawaii was a sovereign nation with a monarchy, constitution, thriving society, and diverse flora and fauna. A coup against Queen Liliʻuokalani allowed the businessmen to develop large-scale mono-culture plantations, featuring mainly pineapples and sugar cane to sell abroad.

This takeover fits the long pattern of US imperialism, where they engineer coups, and Washington sanitises it all as ‘strategic interest.’