19/10/2025
Community? That’s African Infrastructure
Like a canvas with imperfect strokes, this week presented its challenges and opportunities in a beautiful mural that fills my heart with gratitude.
And those words...
Control? That’s Western Luxury
Community? That’s African Infrastructure
My highlight of the week!
Thanks Eche Emole for that exceptional insight. It got me thinking deeply about the things that makes us unique as a people. It gives credence to our authentic behavior as Africans. The village square approach of solving problems and non-judgmental support that recognize us as humans who are infallible.
Why do we want to embrace the western individualistic approach that alienate us from the blessings of the community?
Our essence as Africans is building together.
When we cook, we cook in large pots so everyone has food on their plate.
When we build our houses, we build large compounds, with group of houses where families live in communal fashion.
When we dress, age groups, friends and clans wear same colour, same fabric; an identity that breaks the ranks of social status and foster oneness.
When we tell our stories, we sit in groups across the fire under the moonlight to share the joy of generational history with our young ones, not in whispers, but under the influence of songs, dances and drumbeats too loud to ignore.
And like many others things we do, parenting is not an exception. With our philosophy of “ It takes a village to raise a child”, it becomes imperative that we thrive on joint responsibility where we view the failure of one as the failure of all.
With us, it has always been communal.
Have we not lost all of these?
Have I enjoyed community? Yes, absolutely! I remember year 2024 when we were having WBA online classes with students across 8 countries in live session and the internet in Nigeria decided to have a mind of its own. Facilitators resident in other countries stepped in facilitating the classes which had initially been scheduled for facilitators in Nigeria. These are senior leaders and executives who volunteer to power the destinies of others.
Preparation don’t happen in isolation. They are powered by the community