Highly decorated and award-winning Nigerian author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, has set the world abuzz with anticipation as Pope Francis unveils his groundbreaking new book, “Hands Off Africa,” which condemns the continuing exploitation of Africa by Western powers.
This is coming weeks after she wrote a
controversial open letter to United States President, Joe Biden, about
Nigeria’s ‘Hollow Democracy.’
The Vatican yesterday announced that the
esteemed author had written the preface for the Pope’s extraordinary work,
adding her powerful voice to the Papal’s visionary message.
“Hands off Africa! Stop choking Africa: It is
not a mine to be exploited, or a land to be plundered. May Africa be the
protagonist of its own destiny!”
These were the words of Pope Francis on his
first day during his historic visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo earlier
this year.
The release of this transformative book on
Tuesday marks a momentous milestone in the quest for African empowerment and
global solidarity.
In the thought-provoking preface of “Hands off
Africa,” Chimamanda bestowed high praise on Pope Francis’ powerful message,
describing it as a beacon of hope for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
and the entire African continent.
She passionately denounced the long-standing
exploitation and conflict-induced exhaustion that have plagued the region,
asserting that the world’s silence on these matters represents a tragic
betrayal.
Adichie boldly underscored that this silence
symbolises the continued devaluation of African humanity, even as the global
community eagerly consumes the continent’s resources. She fervently described
the Pope’s messages as “potent” and “a necessary rebuke” to affluent nations.
Adichie’s resounding words echo with
unwavering strength: “His message is not merely that Congo – and, by extension,
Africa – matters, but that it matters for one reason only. Not for its
resources, which the global North depends on, not for fear that the continent
could become again the scene of Western proxy battles as happened during the
Cold War, but simply because of the people. Africa matters because Africans
matter.”
The Vatican Publishing House shared that
“Hands off Africa” is a compilation of Pope Francis’ speeches during his visits
to the conflict-ridden regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo and South
Sudan in January/February 2023. This book also incorporates the authentic
voices and stories of the individuals Pope Francis encountered throughout his
transformative journey, ensuring their narratives are heard and cherished.
As the revered leader of the global Catholic
Church and the esteemed Bishop of Rome, Pope Francis consistently advocates for
world peace and harmony.
Crucially, however, the book does not contain
only the Pope’s voice, but also those of those he met during his journey.
In both the DRC and South Sudan – two
countries torn by vicious conflict – Pope Francis listened to the testimonies
of war victims, and their stories, too, are included in the volume.
Chimamanda, the first woman to receive a
chieftaincy title in her hometown of Abba in Anambra State, continues to lend
her literary prowess and unwavering commitment to causes that guarantee world
peace and freedom. Her poignant preface in Pope Francis’ book further amplifies
the call for global unity and empowerment.
In her preface, Adichie focuses in particular
on the Pope’s trip to the DRC, “a country whose resources have long been
exploited, a country exhausted by pillage and conflict, a country desperate to
be made whole again.”
The greatest tragedy of the situation, she
says, is “not the internecine conflicts but the silence of the world”, which
“speaks to the continued devaluing of African humanity by a world that
nevertheless eagerly consumes African resources.”
In this context, she says, Pope Francis’
visit to the DRC, and his “potent” messages there, read as “a necessary rebuke”
to wealthy nations.
“His message”, she continues, “is not merely
that Congo – and, by extension, Africa – matters but that it matters for one
reason only. Not for its resources, which the global North depends on, not for
fear that the continent could become again the scene of Western proxy battles
as happened during the Cold War, but simply because of the people. Africa
matters because Africans matter.”
And that had an effect that went into the
second round.”
Williams outraised and outspent Mobolade in
both the general election and Tuesday’s runoff.
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