In pursuit of our ongoing mission to define time, space and circumstance in our own interests, we have renamed the ninth month of the year Osagyefo, in recognition of the massive legacy of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah (1909-1972), first president of Ghana, leading light of the continental independence movement and Afrika’s man of the millennium. (1) In addition to this he was a revolutionary theorist of some renown will an impressive catalogue of written works including: Ghana: The Autobiography of Kwame Nkrumah (1957); Africa Must Unite (1963); African Personality (1963); Neo-Colonialism, the Last Stage of Imperialism (1965); Axioms of Kwame Nkrumah (1967); African Socialism Revisited (1967); Challenge of the Congo (1967); Voice From Conakry (1967); Dark Days in Ghana (1968); Handbook of Revolutionary Warfare (1968); Consciencism: Philosophy and Ideology for De-Colonisation (1970); Class Struggle in Africa (1970); The Struggle Continues (1973); I Speak of Freedom (1973); Revolutionary Path (1973); Rhodesia File (1974).
As such, an Nkrumahist analysis of the contemporary Political landscape in the Motherland is timely. Arguably, the most pressing issue currently is the spate of coups d’etats in west Afrika in recent years which continue to divide opinion. While some have characterised these as an “unwavering pursuit of African sovereignty and prosperity,” others assert that it is “just a few military elites [foreign trained at that] taking advantage of the genuine suffering and frustration of their people to further their interests. “ (2)
Although the recent coups have proved popular with the masses, history suggests they have tended to increase instability across the continent. (3) A notable exception is Thomas Sankara of Burkina Faso (some might even suggest Nigeria’s Murtala Muhammed). (4) But Sankara himself highlighted some of the potential pitfalls of military takovers is the protagonists are not suitably grounded:
“Armed with political and ideologocal training, our soldiers, noncommissioned officers, and others engaged in the revolutionary process will no longer be potential criminals but will instead become conscious revolutionaries, at home among the people like a fish in water.” (5)
One of the reasons coups in Afrika have been inimical to the continent’s interests is their instigation by external forces. Indeed, in Handbook of Revolutionary Warfare (1968) the Osgayefo warned:
“Coup d’état or ‘palace revolution’ which will permit political power to fall into the lap of the rival but pro-imperialist group.” (6)
Thus, the Nkrumahist proscription for a successful revolution declares:
“The machinations of the colonial power will fail wherever the leaders of the struggle for independence maintain a clear spirit of vigilance, and cultivate genuinely revolutionary qualities.” (7)
The political landscape surveyed by Nkrumah in the 1960s is prophetically similar to the current one. Necessitating the same solution:
“Revolutionary warfare is the logical, inevitable answer to the political, economic and social situation in Africa today. We do not have the luxury of an alternative. We are faced with a necessity.” (8)
Therefore, any assessment of the current dynamics must identify the extent to the current are, or can develop “genuinely revolutionary qualities.”
(1) Meserette Kentake, (21/09/15) The Right Honorable Kwame Nkrumah: Man of the Millennium. https://kentakepage.com/the-right-honorable-kwame-nkrumah-man-of-the-millennium/
(2) Richard Atimniraye (07/08/23) Africa reimagined: Burkina Faso’s Ibrahim Traoré advocates for resilience, recognition, and resistance. https://globalvoices.org/2023/08/07/africa-reimagined-burkina-fasos-ibrahim-traore-advocates-for-resilience-recognition-and-resistance/; Tafi Mhaka (05/09/23) What we are witnessing in Africa is not an anti-colonial revolution. https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2023/9/5/what-we-are-witnessing-in-africa-is-not-an-anti-colonial-revolution
(3) Dr. Jihan Abdel Salam (21/10/21) Cost of Instability: The economic impact of Africa’s military coups. https://futureuae.com/en-US/Mainpage/Item/6826/cost-of-instability-the-economic-impact-of-africas-military-coups
(4) Femi Olugbile (15/12/22) Murtala Mohammed and the speech in Addis Ababa. https://businessday.ng/columnist/article/murtala-mohammed-and-the-speech-in-addis-ababa/
(5) Thomas Sankara (1988) Thomas Sankara Speaks: The Burkina Faso Revolution 1983-1987. Pathfinder. p. 101.
(6) Kwame Nkrumah (1968) Handbook of Revolutionary Warfare. Panaf Books Limited. p. 12
(7) Op. cit. p. 11
(8) Op. cit. p. 42
we ask the question:
The Month of Osagyefo: How would Nkrumah view contemporary Afrikan politics?
1) How does an Nkrumahist analysis help us decipher geopolitics?
2) Do the recent coups in west Afrika follow the Nkrumahist proscription of anti-imperialism?
3) If not can they develop one?
4) Or are they the work of “military elites” furthering their interests?
Our Special Guests:
Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka: Resident guest who is Spiritual Leader of the Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement and an Afrikan-Centred Education Consultant. Bro. Ldr is a veteran activist of over 40 years standing, a featured columnist in The Whirlwind newspaper and author of Mosiah Daily Affirmations and Education: An African-Centred Approach To Excellence.
Dr. Kwame Osei: is a Ghanaian born Historian, writer, broadcaster and entrepreneur. who has been studying World history particularly Afrikan history for over 25 years and has been on study tours to Kemet, Australia and India. As a freelance writer for Modern Ghana.com Kwame has written over 100 articles in publications like Ghanaian Times, Daily Graphic, New African, Black Britain and The World Bank Group. Kwame’s business interests including real estate, land, financial services and farming and is an ardent and unapologetic Pan-Africanist
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