Afrilition: Ajadi outlines pathway to African excellence in new manifesto

Adewale Ajadi's "Afrilition: 21st Century African Manifesto," released on July 14, presents a vision for "African excellence" and a global African community. Ajadi defines Afrilition as a systemic realization of Africa's potential, emphasizing diversity and alignment rather than competition.

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It is not what you’re called, but what you answer to, that matters.

The book is for those who "avow Africanness across the world," viewing it not as a prison but a chosen identity. Ajadi dedicates the work to future generations who will live as Africans and calls for intentional action from those alive today to thrive beyond limitations. He highlights Africa's demographic future, predicting it will be home to half the world's youth and a third of its working population, potentially leading the 21st century's promise.

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Afrilition is an affirmation and dedication to those who are going to live for the next two centuries, choosing to live as Africans, as well as a call to action for those of us living right now, to thrive intentionally and beyond our limitations.

Ajadi stresses that Africa must shift its focus from the "deep pain of the recent history of enslavement, colonialism, social and economic injustices, racism, and rampant exploitation" to prioritizing its future. He urges a mental shift from seeing Africa as merely a landmass to recognizing it as a world, including the diaspora and all committed to elevating humanity. The wisdom of Afrilition, he states, lies not in orthodoxy but in dynamic practice for systemic change, embracing a future driven by vision and disciplined by prototypes with positive feedback loops.

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Africa is going to be home to the most young people in the world, up to 50 per cent of them, and about one-third of the world’s working population.

He believes tomorrow belongs to those unafraid to fail and capable of constant learning. Ajadi traces the origins of his Afrilition concept to his teenage years at the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University. The book aims to guide intentional development, harnessing Africa's unique strengths and diversity for a thriving future.

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Towards this direction, it must stop reacting to the deep pain of the recent history of enslavement, colonialism, social and economic injustices, racism, and rampant exploitation, prioritising the dream of our future, not the nightmares of the past.