How sad it is to acknowledge that often, the death of one individual on this continent so frequently ignites a spark of hope for the future in the heart of a community, a people, or a nation, and not only among the closely affected peoples themselves but far and wide, triggering off a palpable sigh of relief and optimism that is echoed in the observation caucuses of other nations, sometimes of the most conflicting, incompatible ideologies. One such sigh was heard in recent times after the death of one of the most incalcitrant warlords that the condition of colonialism ever brought to be on this continent. Even while recognising that such moments of hope may be illusory, there is nonetheless an instinctual response that the worst is over, that the route is now open to social recovery, healing, and rebirth. It speaks a lot to the formative character and ongoing dilemma of a continent that the simple demise of one individual or a handful of individuals becomes necessary in order to commence the process of regeneration, or rebirth of a dying community of people. In this case, the individual - Jonas Savimbi - was not even a possessor of the national mantle of leadership.