The African Dream Through the Lens of African Youth

Young people are best placed to solve the challenges their communities face and often have first-hand experiences that help them to pursue innovative solutions. From designing solutions in response to COVID-19 and improving education, to addressing food security and climate change, Africa’s young people are shaping the continent’s future. They are ready to lead and transform the continent.  

Youth voices and perspectives are largely absent in decision-making processes and policies that affect them. The availability of more inclusive platforms for the voices of youth in Africa to be heard is an opportunity for good governance and development.  

Through the Mastercard Foundation partnership with IC Publications, six Mastercard Foundation Scholars  guest edited the New African Magazine in a special edition titled “Rethinking the African Dream”.  The editorial content highlights the vision of Africa’s youth for the continent and includes opinion pieces on issues affecting young people and special interviews conducted by the guest editors with three prominent Africans in leadership, activism, and entrepreneurship.

Engaging the Youth of Africa

In a special one-on-one interview with President Paul Kagame to understand how young Africans can be engaged to contribute and articulate their vision, he said, “much of government policy is concerned with the youth and their development and on enabling them to be where they want to be and where the country wants them to be. However, the youth must be the ones to determine what they want to be and where they want to be… They must understand their need to participate and to play their role as well. It’s not just policies and the government that make things happen.” 

Empowering African Youth

To understand how youth in Africa can be empowered, in an interview with Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, the world-renowned novelist and activist, she shared a concern about the low political will to empower youth in Africa. However, she stressed the need for the youth to prepare themselves and be educated enough to know the issues about their communities and countries. “The youth need to not only become more politically active but also more politically educated about the issues. When I talk to young people, I’m impressed by how much they want a change, but often, I am also struck by how little they know about the actual things happening in their country!”

Entrepreneurship and Youth in Africa

Africa’s economic growth is heavily anchored on the success of its young entrepreneurs. In an interview with Africa’s renowned entrepreneur, Tony Onyemaechi Elumelu, he shared insights into what makes a successful young entrepreneur in Africa. “My advice to budding young entrepreneurs when I interact with them is to be hardworking, don’t be scared to dream but know that dreaming is less than 1%; the 99% is about translating your dream into action, translating your dream to reality. That is what makes the difference.” 

The special edition highlights that young people have a deep understanding of current African issues and a willingness to seek solutions.