The Africa that pushes back

I have been asked many times a variation of the same question: "Why do Africans wait until it is too late?" For most Westerners, Africa is hunger, war, despotism, AIDS and poverty - full of Africans who are either helpless victims, or who choose to sit on their hands, only lifting them up to accept Western handouts.

But there's another side of Africa, the one that pushes back. This side is comprised of political and social organizations and activists, school teacher organizations, journalists, and health professionals, as well as women, worker and youth organizations that patiently chip away at Africa's problems, usually with no funding, media coverage, or national and international recognition to speak of.

Read more from Mukoma wa Ngugi here.