“We must, we can, we will” have peace in Africa

The only way that peace can happen in Africa is, according Stevie Wonder, for Africa and the diaspora to love each other, to respect each other, t have the kind of dialogue as convened by the Second Conference of Intellectuals from Africa and the Diaspora (CIAD II).

Stevie Wonder made an impressive address at the CIAD II. Special guest, he succedded in touching the hearts and the minds of the public as he pledged the reunification of the African and African diapora histories.

“Our history has been writen by others. In Africa, [there] exist those who don’t know the history of slavery and in the diaspora,[there] exist those who don’t know the story of great African kingdoms. We must know our history through and through”. The best way to reconnect these two people is, according to Stevie Wonder, to use “technology as a tool for linkages between Africa and the diaspora”.

Reading the lyrics of one of his most famous songs ‘If your love cannot be moved’, he received a standing ovation especially as the song stated: “you can’t free the slaves to enslave them differently”.

Arguing along similar lines, the Brazilian President, Lula, condemned unfair rules of World politics dictated exclusively by superpowers who impose to weak countries unfair trade, rules of the market, exagerated oil prices, dictatorship of multinationals and international financial organisations, and so on and so forth. Thus, he warned that:

“We should not expect charity, we ought to have a sustained policy and that policy cannot come from above to below, but should come right from the masses of Africa and it’s diaspora”. For that reason, we should have the courage to discuss in multinatioanal forums and engage in true politics of solidarity.

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