Africa Day: Beyond Our Dark Skin
Africa Day is set aside to re-echo the determination of Africans to free themselves from foreign domination and exploitation.
The theme for this year’s celebration is Stronger Together which is a reminder that Africa as a continent can rise above all forms of challenges through unity.
This year’s celebration is significant given the Coronavirus outbreak and the efforts made by some African countries to get the cure for the virus without relying on developed countries.
Madagascar put itself on the global map after a Doctor, Jerome Muyangi discovered a herbal remedy he tagged as Coronavirus herbal tonic, though the World Health Organization, WHO kicked against its usage.
According to the WHO, there is no cure yet for the virus as there is no scientific proof to back the claim by Madagascar that the herbal tonic is effective.
Malagasy Institute of Applied Research disclosed that the herbal remedy is produced from Artemisia, a plant with proven efficacy against malaria.
Also, as parts of its fight against COVID-19, Rwanda has introduced robots donated by the United Nations Development Program to the Kanyinya treatment centre.
According to the country’s Minister of Health, Dr Daniel Ngamije, the robots will be used for mass temperature screening, keeping of medical records of Covid-19 patients among other functionalities.
The robots can screen up to one hundred and fifty people every minute for symptoms of the virus such as high temperature and cough, it also can deliver medicine and food to Covid-19 patients in the country.
Many years before now, Africans have always proven themselves to be strong, courageous, hardworking creative and intelligent in different fields and places they find themselves.
Our Food: Many African countries have delicious and nutritious meals.
For instance, Pap en vleis, also known as Barbecued meat and maize porridge is a meal that is very popular among South Africans.
Also, Mozambique is known with Piri Piri chicken, which is generally known as grilled chicken while Nigerians are known for Jollof rice and Egusi soup.
Though it’s not easy to point to a particular food as a national favorite dish for Nigeria, because of its different tribes and ethnic groups.
Many other African countries also have their meals and way of showcasing their food for the World to have an idea of how rich the African continent is in terms of good delicacies.
Our Music/Entertainment and Sports: Like every other African country, Nigeria has produced talented singers, actors, comedians and athletes who are doing wonderfully well in their various fields.
The likes of David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, Ayodeji Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, Burnaboy, Tiwa Savage, D Banj, Yemi Alade, 2 Face Idibia, Simi, Olamide Adedeji and many other Nigerian singers are doing very well with their crafts.
Others are Femi and Seun Kuti, sons of late Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, King Sunny Ade, Ebenezer Obey, Shina peters among many other great and talented singers who have raised the Nigerian flags across the world.
In the African continent, Singers like Fally Ipupa, Gito Baloi, Zahara, Angelique Kidjo who won the Grammy Award for Best world music album at the 62nd 2020 Annual Grammy Awards.
No gainsaying the fact that these talented singers have on different occasions done Nigeria proud as we also have many comedians and actors carving the nitch for themselves around the world.
The likes of Ali Baba, Basketmouth, Bovi, AY, Seyi law have shown through their skills that Nigerians are talented.
In the movie industry, Nigeria has the likes of Genevieve Nnaji, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Richard Mofe Damijo, Funke Akindele among many others.
Also, Nigeria and different African countries can boast of great athletes who have put the African continent on the global map.
The African continent has produced great leaders, medical experts, educationists and professors who have contributed immensely towards ensuring that the world gets better.
All these are an attestation to the fact that Africans have something to offer in a bid to change the world if only they can look beyond the dark skin.