Pan-Africanist and South African opposition leader, Julius Malema, has called on Africans to free themselves from the illusion that the continent’s future lies in the hands of foreign powers.
According to him, Africa’s true salvation depends on unity, homegrown leadership, and the collective determination of its people.
Malema made this remark on Sunday, August 24, while addressing participants at the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference in Enugu.
His words carried the familiar firebrand tone that has made him a controversial yet admired figure across the continent.
“We must reject the illusion that our salvation will come from Washington, London, Brussels, or Beijing,” Malema declared.
“Our salvation lies here, in Lagos and Johannesburg, in Abuja and Pretoria, in the hands of Africans who refuse to be divided.”
The South African leader’s message struck a chord in the audience, many of whom applauded his emphasis on self-reliance and unity.
Malema has long criticized Africa’s over-dependence on Western nations and international lenders such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank, describing them as “debt traps” designed to keep the continent perpetually dependent.
At the NBA gathering, he went further, stressing that true liberation will never be handed to Africans by external powers but must be seized through collective effort.
“Our liberation is not going to be given to us as charity. We must fight for it. We must unite beyond borders, beyond language and colonial divisions. Only then can Africa take its rightful place in the world,” he added.
Malema’s remarks come at a time when many African nations are grappling with crushing debt burdens, rising unemployment, and political instability.
Critics argue that foreign loans have only deepened the economic crisis in several countries, while advocates insist that such support is necessary for growth. But Malema dismissed this narrative, urging Africans to look inward.
He insisted that Africa’s youth, resources, and cultural strength are more than enough to transform the continent if leaders choose accountability over dependency.
“Every time we look to others for salvation, we lose another generation. We cannot build an African future with borrowed dreams.
Africa’s destiny is in African hands,” Malema concluded, leaving the audience with a standing ovation.
His fiery address has already sparked conversations across social media, with many praising his boldness, while others criticized him for offering rhetoric without practical solutions.
Regardless, Malema’s call for African unity and self-reliance has once again ignited debate about the continent’s direction in an increasingly globalized world.