Senegal calls for reclamation of African history

DAKAR (CONVERSEER) – Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has called for the urgent need for Africans to reclaim and preserve their historical narrative, describing the continent’s inability to maintain its selective and collective memory as one of its greatest challenges.

Speaking at the closing of the Thomas Sankara Mausoleum inauguration in Ouagadougou, Sonko underscored the importance of celebrating Africa’s revolutionary icons and intellectual pioneers, referencing the works of Cheikh Anta Diop and Joseph Ki Zerbo in retracing Africa’s contributions to global civilisation, beginning from ancient Egypt.

Sonko stressed that reconnecting with the continent’s past is vital for restoring African identity and building collective pride.

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He called on Africans to embrace the duty of remembrance, acknowledging both triumphs and trials in history, and passing this legacy to future generations.

Highlighting figures like Thomas Sankara, Patrice Lumumba, Mamadou Dia, and Kwame Nkrumah, he said their visionary leadership continues to shape Africa’s modern trajectory.

The newly unveiled Sankara Mausoleum, designed in the shape of an eye and surrounded by the graves of his 12 fallen companions, stands as a lasting symbol of this historical duty.