Sarah Serem, Kenya's Ambassador to China, speaks in support of African youth (COURTESY PHOTO)

Africa is a continent with many development challenges. Poverty, inadequate healthcare and educational deficits are all obstacles to its development. However, Africa is also a continent that has confidence in its ability to realize its full development potential, be it economic, cultural or political.

Recognizing that the continent is likely to possess the greatest development potential in the world, the China-based social enterprise DUAPA Africa and its partners organized the second edition of the Africa Dialogues, held at Haidian Pioneer Park in Beijing (HPP), one of the largest business incubators in China, on October 26.

This year's theme, Africa: A Thriving Hub of Global Talent and Innovation, reflects the quest for emancipation of an entire continent through the efforts of its budding entrepreneurs.

The members of the team of DUAPA Africa are inspired by the African proverb "as long as the lions do not have their own historians, the hunting stories will only be able to sing the glory of the hunter" in conducting these Africa Dialogues. According to the founder and CEO of DUAPA Africa, Musa Frimpong, the main objective of the event is to tell the true, African story of Africans. It aims to counter and dispel misunderstandings and stereotypes existing about the continent, in addition to raising awareness in Beijing among the locals and expatriates. The event also aims to serve as a platform to bridge the existing cultural gap and improve interactions between African and Chinese communities, as well as African communities and other foreign communities in China. "In this sense, the theme of this year's edition provides a good framework for going beyond the biased and stereotyped portrayals of the continent often presented by some, as well as unrealistic and sometimes idealistic representations by others," he said.

Africa according to Africans

The Africa Dialogues have made it possible, through speakers from different fields, to reveal an ambitious, innovative and inclusive continent. These African speakers, using their experiences, eloquence, and sometimes even ardor, have presented to the hundreds of participants of the event an Africa way different from the distorted portrait of the collective imagination.

Among the prejudices on the African continent, Maha Jouini, Tunisian author and blogger, spoke about the expression of astonishment when she presents herself as African, to which she responds with amusement: "I can look different, I can have a different language or a different way of dancing, but I'm still part of the continent, and that's the power of Africa."

Speaking in Chinese, Jesus P. G. Imendji, from Equatorial Guinea, founder and CEO of JP Shanghai International Service Agency, narrated the great African history from past to present: from the Egyptian Civilization and Emperor Mansa Moussa to the recent Nobel Prize for Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali and the athletic feat of Kenyan Eliud Kipchodge. Jesus thus tried to portray to the audience an Africa that is endowed with knowledge and rich culture, and is able to set itself up, because, far from being content to remain the protectorate of the great world powers, the continent wants to become a leading global player with clear and consistent goals.

Jesus P.G. Imendji and Maha Jouini, two speakers, share with the audience their vision of the African continent (COURTESY PHOTO)

Cultural path

Youth and education figured prominently in the speeches. Tina T. M. Makaya, a Zimbabwean entrepreneur and kindergarten teacher, introduced the concept of building Africa brick by brick. In her intervention, she encouraged participants to make contributions of any size or to any location. "Africans also have the ability to change Africa and give back to their native cities," she claimed. Tina's achievements include the establishment of her own Non-Profit Organization, People at Heart, and an early childhood education center in her hometown. Tina also quoted her compatriot, Thelma Musanhu, who launched the Period Pride Campaign initiative, which aims to fight against poverty by limiting the drop-out of girls. In her speech, Opeyemi Awe, a Nigerian-American who is pursuing a Master's degree at Tsinghua University as a Schwarzman scholar, stressed that Africa must "use the impending growth of the African population to invest in labor-intensive projects, recreate social systems and encourage entrepreneurship."

Edward Boateng, Ghana's Ambassador to China, urged young people to continue moving forward, even if they started from scratch, to change Africa and, more generally, the world.

Innovation and cooperation

Kenya's Edwin Mwenda, founder and CEO of AHAVAH GROUP, an agricultural technology and trading company, detailed in his address the uniqueness of African social innovation. It calls for more innovative models that go beyond government and strengthen private sector participation. He also proposed the creation of a pan-African center here in China to strengthen the synergy between Africa and China. His ideas were supported by Opeyemi, who urged collaboration with Chinese companies to efficiently build infrastructure, share knowledge and develop sustainable socio-economic relations.

It is especially through cooperation, particularly with China, which has been Africa's top partner since 2009, that the continent intends to develop. "In recent years, China has progressed rapidly and all countries hope to have win-win cooperation with it. We hope that through the Belt and Road Initiative, Sino-African entrepreneurs will be more closely linked and that there will be more opportunities for cooperation in the future," Boateng said.

Jesus, meanwhile, thinks that the continent must learn from China. "The diligence, unity and commitment of its citizens have allowed Chinese science and technology to grow rapidly. In Africa, many young talents need more support."

Seeing so much enthusiasm, Kenya's Ambassador to China Sarah Serem, a special guest at the event, said she had confidence in African youth. She offered to pass the torch to this young generation, which she believes is ready to continue and build on the achievements of the present generation.

(Comments to christophe.alexandre@chinafrica.cn)