Idris Tofa
In ‘Africa: Vengeance of the Abandoned,’ Steve Okey Onwuka, a distinguished diplomat and Chief of Protocol at the ECOWAS Commission, delivers a profound and poetic meditation on Africa’s most urgent challenge: the marginalization of its youth. This is not merely a book̶ it is a strategic blueprint, a cultural reckoning, and a literary act of diplomacy.
The Premise: A Continent at a Crossroads
Africa’s demographic reality is staggering. Over 70 percent of its 1.4 billion people are under 30. This youth bulge, Onwuka argues, is either a demographic dividend or a ticking time bomb. The book’s title -Vengeance of the Abandoned, is not rhetorical flourish but a stark warning: societies that exclude their youth from meaningful participation will face consequences that transcend borders.
Structure and Flow
The book unfolds in three interconnected parts:
1. The Genesis of Abandonment ‒ A philosophical and historical excavation of Africa’s leadership traditions, colonial disruptions, and the erosion of indigenous governance systems.
2. The Manifestation of Crisis ‒ A case-based analysis of youth-led protests, generational shifts, and the failures of modern governance and absence of skill to engage Africa’s young.
3. The Architecture of Transformation ‒ A strategic framework rooted in Pan-African values, proposing a return to Ubuntu, Ibuanyidanda, and other indigenous philosophies as tools for solving “wicked problems.”
Intellectual Core: Wicked Problems and Indigenous Wisdom
Onwuka’s most compelling contribution is his framing of the African youth crisis as a “wicked problem” complex, multi-layered, and resistant to conventional solutions. Drawing on the work of theorists like Grint, Rittel & Webber, and Booker, he argues that such problems require messy, collaborative, and culturally grounded approaches. Western models, he contends, are insufficient. Africa must return to its communal philosophies, where leadership is shared, wisdom is inherited, and youth are integrated, not abandoned.
Literary and Cultural Depth
The book is rich in African idioms, proverbs, and storytelling traditions. Chapter One, Africa: A Timeless Phenomenon, reads like a hymn to the continent’s spiritual and cultural resilience. The metaphor of the “sacred tablet” a mythical repository of African wisdom, serves as a recurring symbol of what has been lost and what must be reclaimed. Onwuka’s prose is lyrical yet grounded.
Diplomatic Relevance
For diplomats and global leaders, this book offers more than cultural insight. It provides a strategic lens for engagement. It challenges international actors to rethink development paradigms, support youth-led innovation, and respect indigenous governance models. The book also critiques the neo-colonial grip on African leadership, calling out autocracy, resource wars, and the failure of external interventions. Yet, it does not surrender to despair. It offers hope rooted in Africa’s own traditions.
Conclusion: A Call to Leadership and Collective Action
The final chapters of Africa: Vengeance of the Abandoned are not just reflective, they are prescriptive. Onwuka proposes a continental framework for youth engagement, rooted in Ubuntu, Ibuanyidanda, and other indigenous philosophies. He calls for the creation of national substructures and a continental superstructure to unify efforts from governments, NGOs, international organizations, and philanthropists.
Six Strategic Recommendations
1. Reimagine educational systems to emphasize practical skills, entrepreneurship, and cultural grounding.
2. Develop financial systems that support indigenous economic activities and innovations.
3. Create governance structures with meaningful youth participation at all levels.
4. Establish mentorship networks connecting traditional wisdom with modern challenges.
5. Develop Pan-African frameworks for youth mobility, skills exchange, and collaboration.
6. Involve local and rural authorities who hold the genuine statistics of those to be targeted.
Recommendation
Africa: Vengeance of the Abandoned is essential reading for diplomats, policymakers, Pan-African advocates, youth leaders, and global thinkers. This is not just a book, it is a blueprint for Africa’s renewal, a literary act of diplomacy, and a visionary call to action.
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