African youth “were misled by the white monopoly"

African youth “were misled by the white monopoly

” – It’s time to reclaim their future: King of the Bwile. The Bwile are a people who primarily live in the Luapula Province of present-day Zambia and the neighboring Haut-Katanga Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC, formerly Zaire/Congo-Léopoldville/Belgian Congo). The Bwile territories are mainly located on the shores of and around Lake Mweru, which forms the border between Zambia and the DRC. The Puta dynasty extended across both sides of this colonial border. The title “Puta” is a historical chieftain title of the Bwile, comparable to a kingship in this cultural context. For Chief Puta VIII, King of the Bwile in Congo and Zambia, the moment for Africa’s awakening has arrived. At the Forum of African Traditional Leaders, he called on traditional leaders and young Africans alike to unite around a shared vision of independence and self-determination. This is a very powerful and inspiring statement from Chief Puta VIII – one that combines traditional authority with the modern demand for African self-determination. “Now is the time for Africans to wake up. Africans, wake up! Together we are strong. Divided we are weak,” he said. Chief Puta VIII’s emphasis on the shared vision of independence and self-determination demonstrates the continued relevance of traditional leaders in the Pan-African debate. The king, a committed Pan-Africanist, spoke of his long-held dream of a “United States of Africa” – one currency, one passport, one people. He urged heads of state and government to carry this message back to their home countries, engage their presidents and ministers, and ensure that Africa’s future is shaped by Africans themselves. “We have everything we need in Africa. We don’t need anyone telling us what to do or setting the price of our copper and gold,” he said. “We have awakened. We want to be independent.” Chief Puta VIII’s statement is a powerful plea that African self-determination can only be achieved through an alliance of wisdom (traditional leaders) and energy (youth).