He says too many believe they have been victims of slavery, colonialism and apartheid with no control of their own destiny.

Former President Thabo Mbeki says  Africa’s  youth must be empowered to take responsibility for the transformation of Africa.

He tells an Africa Day celebration at the Ditsong Museum of South Africa in Pretoria that young Africans must be taught how first generation African slaves  defeated three Western empires in  Haiti 200 years ago….

….and how Ethiopian Emperor Menelik surprised the world by defeating an Italian army sent to conquer his empire.

Mbeki says these victories and South Africa’s defeat of apartheid at the end of the 20th century are positive lessons that should give heart and courage to the continent’s youth.

The post African youth must transform the continent, says Mbeki appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

He tells an Africa Day celebration in Pretoria that as South Africa’s leader he was approached by young people disheartened by the perceptions they had been given of history.

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His speech at the Ditsong Museum of South Africa in the capital was devoted to lessons Africans could learn from the victory of Ethiopian troops over the Italians at Adwa in 1896.

That was where Emperor Menelik surprised the world by defeating an Italian army sent to conquer his empire.

Mbeki says Ethiopia’s  victory at the end of nineteenth century and South Africa’s defeat of apartheid at the end of the 20th century were positive lessons that should give heart and courage to the continent’s youth.

The post African youth must be victors not victims: Mbeki appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.