Africa must break free from Western grip – son of anti-apartheid leader
Africa must liberate itself from Western-dominated structures and assert its position as a strong power bloc, Nkosinathi Biko, the son of late South African anti-apartheid leader Steve Biko, has told RT.
In an exclusive interview, Biko noted that there are emerging signs of political independence across the continent, mentioning Niger, where French troops were expelled, and other nations as examples.
“I do think that Africa has to dislodge itself from entrapment in Western countries trappings and arrangements,” Biko said.
He noted that despite being rich in natural resources, Africa has long struggled to organize itself effectively on the global stage. “The continent has not been always able to organize itself and create itself as a competent power bloc,” Biko stated. “There is a lot that remains to be done in terms of ensuring that the continent is able to punch at the weight that it is capable of.”
“But things are moving, I guess in the right direction,” he added.
“There is no reason any longer why African resources should be benefiting Western countries such as France,” Biko said, pointing to ongoing Western leverage in some of its former colonies.
Reflecting on his father’s legacy, he pointed out that Steve Biko had “helped us to reimagine ourselves as a people, founded in the principles of black consciousness.” The late activist was the Black Consciousness Movement founder in South Africa and died from a brain injury aged 30 in 1977, following alleged torture at the hands of police.
South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) reopened the inquest into Steve Biko’s death on 12 September. When asked about the case, Nkosinathi Biko referred to the report of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission. “In 1999, the Truth Commission made a recommendation of some 300 cases that ought to have been prosecuted,” he said, implying that justice for many apartheid-era crimes remains unfinished.
