DOWN SOUTH

From the great and quasi-feudal kingdom of Kongo (circa 1390 CE – 1914 CE), which stretched across modern-day Congo and Angola under the leadership of a Kikongo warrior, Luken Lua Nimi, whose military and political prowess dominated central Africa for centuries, to the Benin Empire, which is considered one of the oldest and most developed states in West Africa; it is hard to deny the fact that Africa has a long and extensive political history.

However, after the Scramble for Africa and the continent's subsequent adoption of the Westphalian (or modern) state system and democracy - much of Africa's political systems had been set up to mirror and benefit colonial powers and thus ushered in a myriad of systemic fallacies. Moreover, it did not help that prominent political discourse surrounding Africa was being steered by foreign stakeholders (until today) , who benefited from painting the continent in a certain light. Today, the use of convoluted arguments and dense academic language; make the ability to discuss the socio-political reality inaccessible to the general public and makes many citizens feel out of touch in their own spaces.

Encouraged by the Pan-African agenda's call for us to take control of our own narratives and create solutions catered towards the African reality, I write this blog for any and every African to have access to an easy to understand, yet still comprehensive pseudo-academic platform. This is because those best suited to respond to, critique and reconstruct any system are those who live in it, experience all its niches, wonders and problems.

The loosely translated age old Oshiwambo saying goes, "Only the mother knows what is happening in her own kitchen."

Why blog?

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"All we have is the internet

Living this on our fingertips

Don't sweat it, just get it"

American violinist and singer, Sudan Archives sings in her 2019 track, "Limitless".

The digital age has allowed us to reinvent, re-imagine reality and share information with the push of a button. Why not utilize its power to further the African Agenda?

The power lies not in those who have knowledge, but those who use and share it. Down South is a simple manifestation of my commitment to decolonial studies, Pan-African values and greater access to alternative sources of education.

Thank you for finding your way here. I hope you stay and subscribe to be notified of new blog posts.