One hundred years later the same conference will include a much broader spectrum of African voices, with Uganda-born John Sentamu, the Archbishop of York, even delivering a sermon.
Last week was Africa Week, and events were organised all over the world to celebrate what it means to be African. A carnival in Johannesburg at the weekend saw hundreds of people from different parts of the continent join together in a procession. They were dressed in their countrys colours and were proud to represent their nation to the world.
Elsewhere in South Africas vibrant city, the African Union (AU) gathered to debate, How free are we? They coined a new phrase: Afrophobia to condemn the shameful way that Africans fight Africans on their streets. A speaker from the Democratic Republic of Congo castigated African leaders for not allowing their people to think independently. He gave that as the reason that there was no unity among the people and labelled that type of governance, puppetry.
This week the paper is full of reports from across the country that Zanu (PF) is stepping up its terror campaign ahead of the constitution making process. Teams of thugs have been deployed into areas where MDC support is high in a bid to intimidate people from speaking out. This is a perfect example of a dictator who will stop at nothing to prevent the people from thinking independently.
In answer to the question at the AU meeting, Zimbabweans are not encouraged to be free; they are threatened and faced with violent consequences for expressing their opinions.
Not only is our freedom of expression compromised under the current political dispensation, but our freedom of sexual orientation. Last week saw the arrest of two members of Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ) arrested on spurious charges, some of which were later dropped. The police muscled their way into the organisations offices, confiscating equipment, arresting members and then raiding some of their private homes. This is all in response to calls that the rights of homosexuals be protected under the new constitution.
As African spiritual leaders meet in Edinburgh this week to discuss mission, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu responds to the mistreatment of homosexuals by saying that it is time to stand up for this type of wrong, we, as Zimbabweans should all work out what it means to be African in todays Zimbabwe. Our independent thought is vital in order to pave the way for a new constitution for our nation. Let us unite and refuse to live under the yoke of presidential puppetry any longer.
Post published in: Editor: Wilf Mbanga