EUROPE/ITALY – “Changing Africa and changing the way we perceive it”: presentation of “The Metamorphosis of West Africa – Not only migration”

Rome “What is Africa?” This question was the focus of the presentation of the book “The Metamorphosis of West Africa – Not only migration” , edited by Archbishop Samuele Sangalli, Founder and President of the “Fondazione Sinderesi – Practicare l’etica” as well as Adjunct Secretary of the Section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches of the Dicastery for Evangelization, and by Antonella Piccinin, lecturer at the Pontifical Gregorian University.
The book was presented yesterday in Rome with contributions from Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu, Secretary of the Section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches of the Dicastery for Evangelization; Abdellah Redouane, Secretary General of the Islamic Cultural Center of Italy; Lucio Caracciolo, Director of the Italian geopolitical journal “Limes”; and Archbishop Sangalli.
“A question posed from the perspective of the Western viewpoint, which often sees only one side of things,” Archbishop Sangalli stated in his contribution. “It is utopian to believe that we have no preconceptions, but it is important that these do not become prejudices,” continued the President of the Fondazione Sinderesi. As Caracciolo says, “The problem we Europeans have with Africa is that we look down on it. We view it with a sense of superiority stemming from a history we believe is unique to us. The very fact that we speak of Africa as a singular entity leads us astray,” emphasized the director of Limes, pointing out that there are “multiple Africas.”
“In reality, Africans know far more about us Europeans than we Europeans. This asymmetrical perspective is a huge problem because you can’t begin a dialogue from just one point of view,” says Caracciolo.
This problem becomes clear when you consider how Europeans view African democracies in comparison to the Western model of democracy , without understanding that there can be models other than their own. And this, he says, is yet another obstacle to mutual understanding.
The director of Limes concluded by stating that the crisis in the US and the decline of European influence on the continent have created space for African subjectivities, which, however, could clash, and that non-Western actors with their respective interests can gain a foothold in Africa.
The theme of the influence of old and new powers on the continent was also taken up and expanded upon by Abdellah Redouane, who recalled the evils of colonialism but also did not conceal the dangers inherent in the diverse policies of non-Western powers that have established themselves in different regions of Africa.
“Africa is being treated today like a battlefield and a mine, where everyone is behaving like hyenas to secure a piece of its wealth,” Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu emphasized. “As Africans, we must be careful not to reinforce this negative image of our continent.” Referring to the book’s title, Archbishop Nwachukwu affirms that Africa should take on a new form, but that at the same time, the perspective of those who look at the continent should also change. “The metamorphosis of Africa has two dimensions: the changes that should take place in African countries and the change in our way of looking at Africa.” Such a shift in perspective is all the more necessary to address the issue of ethnicity : We should no longer view others based on their origin, but rather on the way God looks at us. All are his children and should therefore consider one another as brothers and sisters, without distinction of race or ethnicity.
True identity, Archbishop Sangalli concludes, is thus “the identity of one who is constantly engaged in dialogue.” A challenge that concerns not only Africa, but all of humanity.

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