*The Paradox of Africa: The Unfinished Liberation Struggle and the Imperative of Ideological Reclamation* From scars of imperialist subjugation to neocolonial betrayal remain a key to the foundation of Africa. Meaning, Africa day is a continent’s call for systemic reckoning against spiritual and material exploitation which is not time for celebration. A birthday is not time for celebration—but cherishing and reflecting. Looking at the scars as well as how you have healed. It is time for introspection, a true reflection of oneself. Africa has undergone more humiliation than any other continent, from the transatlantic slave trade’s dehumanization to colonial plunder and neocolonial extraction. This is our plight. We have been robbed—from our dignity to our resources to our identity and ideologies. Africa fought for its recognition—from the abolition of chattel slavery to anti-colonial liberation struggles and the ongoing resistance against neocolonial hegemony. However, we must pose a question to ourselves: Was justice served? Did our slave masters and colonizers pay reparations? We all know the answer, and it is painful—yet no one is willing to talk about it. We say, “Let bygones be bygones,” but historical amnesia perpetuates systemic oppression. Raised among us, from Marcus Garvey to Haile Selassie to Pan-Africanist vanguards—Julius Nyerere, Kwame Nkrumah, Robert Mugabe, Muammar Gaddafi (who was brutally murdered by neocolonial actors under the pretext of democratic imperialism). These men, among others, ushered in the Africa we have today. One of our crimes as Africans is our tolerance. We are humane, from prehistoric times; we offered strangers refuge on our continent—one notable being Jesus the Jew, whom Herod sought to murder. We demonize ourselves. There is an urgent need for systematic ideologization—embracing ourselves and reclaiming our Africanness. Of course, we have committed sins against ourselves and our identity, but it is our generation’s duty to reconfigure our ideological trajectory and correct where we have derailed. This call does not need career politicians—it requires archbishops of truth who challenge the neocolonial narratives peddled for centuries and remind us of who we are as Africans. When everything goes wrong, we must return to the drawing board—in this case, our cultural and ideological foundations: self-identity, spirituality, and the Ubuntu philosophy of communal humanity. Our fathers fulfilled their duty. If Robert Mugabe were to rise and see Western-backed LGBTQ+ normalization, would he be pleased? If Walter Sisulu witnessed Cyril Ramaphosa’s humiliation by Donald Trump, would he celebrate? If Patrice Lumumba saw Rwanda’s M23 proxies destabilizing Congo, would he applaud? They weep from their graves, questioning why God allowed them to depart before realizing the Pan-African utopia they fought for. Yet, there is hope. The Sahel’s anti-imperialist resurgence—led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso, Abdourahamane Tchiani of Niger, and Assimi Goïta of Mali—embodies a rejection of neocolonial clientelism. These leaders came through coups. Thomas Sangara must be smiling from his grave seeing what Traore is doing. That being said, coups have given us more ideologically grounded leaders than democratic electoral process. This pose a question to the writer in terms of selection of African leader. Though electoral coups seems fine but shall they answer the African problem? Electoral coups alone will not erase colonial borders, but these are revolutionary strides toward unity. The goal remains: One Africa, free from Berlin Conference borders. Strength lies in numbers; we must forge a continental consensus to silence imperialist-sponsored conflicts and unite for progress. If we fail to dream of One Africa today, we risk ideological capitulation. Africa is our home—now and forever. General Luverty is a men's rights activist, father, traditionalist, essayist, journalist and a correctional officer based in Murewa. He can be contacted on WhatsApp 0771243682 and email me at [email protected]