Constituency for Afrika

An Organization Trying to Rebuild Afrika

The Constituency for Afrika (CFA) held a stakeholders’ reception hosted by Nixon Peabody LLP, a Washington D.C. based law firm. The purpose of the evening was to celebrate the excellent contributions of the diaspora in helping to shape U.S. policies toward Afrikan nations.

Kendal Tyre, an esteemed partner of Peabody LLP, extended a warm welcome to participants bridging the gap between Afrikans and Afrikan-Americans. In his opening remarks, Tyre described his connection to Afrika “by way of slave ship, which landed in South Carolina.”  Although Tyre was born in New York, his statement demonstrated that he recognizes and acknowledges his Afrikan roots.

The audience was not only moved by his words, but it changed the atmosphere. Many of us – who were just meeting for the first time, saw each other as long lost family trying to work towards the protection and advancement of Afrika as a whole. 

In addition to his work with Peabody, Kendal Tyre is also a member of the Trade Advisory Committee on Afrika (TACA). This organization is a U.S. federal advisory committee that makes recommendations to the United States Government on U.S. policy in Afrika.

Tyre’s work behind the scenes has been instrumental in helping to define relations between Afrikan-American citizens and Afrikan leaders in order to enact necessary change and to advocate for trade and investment in Afrika.

Our Economy Stands on Afrika

Americans should understand that our economy is run on the exploitation and theft of resources from Afrikan countries. For example, Guinea has abundant natural resources – including 25 percent or more bauxite reserves, diamonds, and gold, than many parts of the world. Currently, researchers are examining Guinea’s potential for hydroelectric power.

The CFA is sponsored by George Washington University, an institution fostering necessary grassroots mobilization efforts to encourage U.S. legislation that promotes fair trade with Afrika. We should all be familiar with the impact the U.S. and Europe has had on the motherland and our home, Alkebulan.

The CFA is a perfect opportunity to establish relations with necessary leaders in Afrika and black citizens to ignite positive, expedited, and progressive change for black and brown people all over the world.

Instead of investing our resources in a society built for white imperialists and white citizens, we can begin investing in our own society for future generations. But it starts with us. We must start being intentional with the events we attend and begin asking hard questions to generate wealth for our people across the globe. 

Afrikan Leadership Spoke

Speakers included leaders in the tech and energy world fighting to accumulate capital for their countries. Most notably, Alpha Conde,  President of the Republic of Guinea spoke on behalf of the current initiative to get black citizens to invest in and see possibility in Afrikan countries. He spoke about reaching out to his extended families on other continents because of his desire to unite and rebuild not only the Republic of Guinea, but Afrika as a global force. Alpha Conde was passionate about the opportunity to utilize the opportunity of black being the majority and wanted black residents of America to see Afrika as their home and to begin reclaiming Afrikan countries from its past and current colonizers and exploiters. 

His Excellency President Alpha Conde of Guinea shared his thoughts on the priority of leveraging the natural resources of Afrika for the benefit of its people. 

Guinea’s mining sector produces more that 90 percent of the country’s nut exports, yet the sector only accounts for 17 percent of tax revenue and 2.6 of employment. Therefore, it’s easy to see why there is a strong desire to help our Afrikan countries gain autonomy and to advocate for massive change which will impact black citizens everywhere.

We have the power and control to change the worldview of black people if we begin fighting against imperialist countries and challenging the wealth of the European Union. We need to attract investors and optimize the mining sector, diversify the economy and boost job creation.

Afrika is our home and those are our people.

Ashe! 

(Ashe means Power, Command & Authority. The ability to make whatever one says Happen)

About The Author

Nkozia Bethune

Nkozia Bethune is an esteemed scholar that is continuing her studies in International Affairs in pursuit of a humanitarian initiative in foreign policy in addition to a myriad of other disciplines, including Arabic and Swahili. Currently she works at a prestigious consulting company as the Communications Director for a Global Alumni Network. She is extremely dedicated to serving her community and educating the masses on Afrikan history while also developing a progressive state for black people, engendering a social and intellectual revolution. Alongside, she is a young  entrepreneur and now devotes her time writing in pursuit of publishing her first book, discussing the development of Afro-Consciousness.

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