This is a collection of notable statements extracted from various speeches of Dr Kwame Nkrumah. They are full of inspirations for African development.
AFRICA
AFRICA is marching forward to freedom and no power on earth can halt her now. Speech in National Assembly, Accra. 16 December, 1959.
What are the aspirations of Africa? Above all, they desire to regain their independence and to live in peace. They desire to raise standard of living of their peoples. They desires to use their freedom to create a union of African States of the continent, and thus, neutralise the evil effects of the artificial boundaries imposed by the imperial powers and promote unity of action in all fields. These are Africa's ideals. Speech at Symposium held by the English-Speaking Union in Central Hall, Westminster, May 1960.
Selected Speeches of Kwame Nkrumah
It has often been said that Africa is poor. What nonsense! It is not Africa that is poor. It is the Africans who are impoverished by centuries of exploitation and domination. Speech in National Assembly, Accra. August 8, 1960.
Only Africa can fight for its destiny. In this struggle we shall not reject the assistance and support of our friends, but we will yield to no enemy, however strong. Speech in National Assembly, Accra. August 1960.
Africa wants freedom, Africa must be free. It is a simple call, but it is also a signal lighting a red warning to those who would tend to ignore it. Speech in UN -General Assembly, New York. September 23, 1960.
Africa needs a few citizens, a dedicated, modest, honest, informed man. A man who submerges self in service to the nation and mankind. A man who abhors greed and detests vanity. A new type of man whose humility is his strength and whose integrity is his greatness. Africa Must Unite, Heineken, London, 1963, p.130
Africa is a paradox which illustrates and highlights neo-colonialism. Her earth is rich, yet the products that come from above and below the soil continue to enrich, not Africans predominantly, but groups and individuals who Operate to Africans impoverishment. Neo-Colonialism, Nelson, London, 1965, p. 1
The content of Africa is compact, self-sufficient and unique. Geo-politically, it forms a single unit with its own personality. Dark Days in Ghana, Panaf Books, London, 1968
African Personality
We feel that there is much the world can learn from those of us who belong to the pre-technological society. There are values which we must not sacrifice unheedingly in pursuit material progress. That why we that self-government is not an end in itself. We have to work had to evolve new patterns, new social customs, new attitude to life, so that while we seek the material, cultural and economic advancement of our people, while we raise their standard of life, we shall not sacrifice their fundamental happiness. Motion of Destiny Speech in National Assembly, Accra. July 10, 1953
The desire of the Africa people themselves to unite and to assert their personality in the context of African community has made itself felt everywhere. Speech of welcome to representatives of African Trade Union meeting in Accra to organise an All-African Trade Union Federation, November 5, 1959
Ghana’s independence is meaningless until it is linked up with the total liberation of Africa and with the projection of the African personality in the international community. Speech made in Accra. March 1960
When I speak of Africa genius, I mean something different from negritude, something not apologetical, but dynamic. Negritude consists in a mere literary affectation and style which piles up word upon word and image upon image with occasional reference to Africa and things African. I do not mean a vague brotherhood based on a criterion of colour, or on the idea that Africans have no reasoning but only sensitivity. By the African genius, I mean something positive, our socialist conception of society, the efficiency and validity of our traditional statecraft, our highly developed code of morals, our hospitality and our purposeful energy. Speech at opening of the Institute of African Studies, Accra. October 25, 1963
It is only in the conditions of total freedom and independence from foreign rule and interference that aspirations of our people will see real fulfilment and African genius find its best expression. Speech at opening of the Institute of African Studies, Accra. October 25, 1963
The African personality is itself defined by the cluster of humanist principles which underlie the traditional African society. Conciencism, Heinemann, London, 1964, p. 79
We are doing everything to revive our culture; but if this revival is to endure, it must be based on strong moral and spiritual foundations. Our moral and spiritual qualities should not lag behind the progress we are making in the economic field. Address to the National Assembly, Accra. June 12, 1965
African Revolution
WHEN we turn to the study of modern Africa we are again confronted with the necessity of thinking in continental terms. The liberation movements which have emerged in Africa have clearly all been aspects of a single African revolution. They have to be understood from the standpoint of the special kinds of colonial situation within which they have had to operate and the special problems which they have had to face. Speech at the opening of the Institute of African Studies. 25 October 1963 Revolution
Crises will occur as the African revolutionary struggle continues to gain momentum. We must be prepared to deal with them. Now is the time to make a concerted and sustained effort to achieve an All-African Union Government, without which final victory of the African Revolution will be incomplete. Challenge of the Congo, Nelson, London, 1967, Preface, p. xi
Because attempts to achieve political and economic independence and to advance on the road towards continental unity have been consistently and insidiously sabotaged by neo-colonialist manoeuvres, it is no longer possible, indeed it would be suicidal to combat such dangerous and ruthless forces by the old methods of peaceful persuasion and compromise. For years, a virtual state of war has existed in Africa between the developing independent states, and the foreign interests determined to maintain and even strengthen their stranglehold on the economic life of our continent. This "war" must now come into the open and be fought and won in the military sense if hold this view. If Africa is ever to achieve her full development. Challenge of the Congo, Nelson, London, 1967, Preface, p. xi
As a continental nation we are young, strong and resilient. The cohesion planning of our struggle and combined strength of our will to win will do the rest. Africa is one and this battle must be fought and won continentally. Handbook of Revolution Warfare, Panaf Books, London, 1968, Preface
.............To be continued
