True or False: Great African Leaders Get Assassinated

On Idolizing Martyrdom

Patrice Lumumba (left) and Thomas Sankara (right) have been hailed as modern-day African martyrs. Photo via ThomasSankara.net 

Here’s the die-hard theory about Africa that’s been making the rounds once again: 

Every African leader who tried to free Africa ended up getting killed. 

People constantly point to individuals like Patrice Lumumba and Thomas Sankara, claiming that they were assassinated because they tried to create better lives for their fellow Africans.. 

Of course, there are no mentions of the leaders of Mauritius, Botswana, Zambia, and Rwanda. None of them were assassinated, and yet they made their countries more prosperous. Hmm. So, I guess that disproves that theory.

But there’s something deeper that really bothers me about this argument:

It implies we should STOP TRYING.

That we Africans shouldn’t upset the status quo, lest one of our leaders gets assassinated. Instead, we must toe the line and accept our fate. We must embrace poverty and neo-colonialism as our sentence on Earth. God forbid, we try to improve our lot. Someone might get killed.  

Look, I acknowledge that these individuals had noble intentions, but I refuse to see them as the only heroes who have stood up for African people. 

And when we get right down to it, I don’t believe that their Marxist-Socialist ideologies liberated  Africans at all. Those ideas have been harmful to African prosperity, leaving death, poverty, and misery in their wake. 

And before you say it, I’ve heard the counterargument a thousand times: 

“Yes, but Marxist Socialism was never executed correctly. We just need to do it right!” 

How many millions more people are going to die before we acknowledge the utter failure of this ideology? 

Violent revolutions and the allure of a centralized power system appeal to socialists, but they're not my cup of tea. And the "One Africa" concept—the idea of a single entity speaking for all African nations—is absurd. A centralized power system is a breeding ground for corruption, and history is my witness. 

While I'm a staunch advocate for the unhindered movement of people, goods, services, and ideas across the continent, that doesn't mean that I support a monstrous centralized entity that lends itself to corruption.

Let’s stop repeating this nonsense. It does nothing to improve the lives of African people. 

We need a paradigm shift. The Marxists-Socialists need to understand that their prescription for Africa has been dreadful, and it’s time to adopt a new set of tools—and a new set of heroes.

The road to prosperity in Africa isn't paved with the blood of martyrs but with the sweat and hard work of entrepreneurs who create jobs and wealth. 

The individuals we should be celebrating aren't the idealistic revolutionaries who died for their ideals, but the business-savvy pragmatists who are building a better future for themselves, their communities, and the whole of Africa.
—Magatte Wade

If we're searching for a winning formula within the African context, it is the countries that nurture entrepreneurial spirit that are the ones paving the road to prosperity. 

Entrepreneurship doesn't exist in a vacuum. It thrives on community, supply, demand, ingenuity, and a purpose. It's the backbone of a prosperous society, the fuel that powers the economic engine.

To the die-hard Marxist-Socialist ideologues, I say: Take a step back, examine the evidence, and realize that your approach isn't working. Look at the countries that are blossoming. They're embracing a totally different approach – one that values free markets, open economies, and the entrepreneurial spirit.

Africa's future lies not in the hands of martyrs and ideologues, but in the hands of entrepreneurs and innovators who, despite the odds, choose to build, create, and innovate. 

While we pay respect to those who've laid down their lives for our freedom, we must not idolize martyrdom. Instead, we should focus on entrepreneurial success stories and create a nurturing environment for business growth. 

Stand up, Africa, and shine. The world is ready to see you in a new light.