The two-day Aluta Continua: Samora Machel, Liberation Movements and the Unfinished Decolonial Project symposium marks 40 years since Machel’s death and has brought together participants from across Southern Africa to discuss democracy, decolonisation and Pan-Africanism.
Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at Rhodes University Professor Siphokazi Magadla, on Tuesday, said discussions had moved beyond historical reflection and focused on practical ways to address current social and economic challenges facing African countries. “It’s been an absolutely thrilling two days,” Magadla said.
Magadla said one of the key messages emerging from the symposium was that Africa’s liberation struggle remains incomplete because economic and social inequalities continue to affect millions across the continent.
Speaking about contributions from Graça Machel, Magadla said participants were reminded that political liberation was only one stage of a broader struggle. “What we are facing now is an economic struggle and a social struggle,” Magadla said.
The symposium also explored how African histories are remembered and taught, with participants calling for greater recognition of historical events such as the Namibian genocide.
Magadla argued that understanding African history remains critical because historical injustices continue to influence present-day realities.
Young people from SA, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Tanzania participated in discussions throughout the symposium.
According to Magadla, many participants highlighted frustration over unemployment, inequality and limited opportunities but also stressed the need for action.
A recurring theme during the discussions was the phrase “push the boat”, which participants used as a call for young people to drive change within their communities. “We need to push the boat in very realistic, but also very small, tangible ways,” Magadla said.
One of the key outcomes of the gathering is expected to be a youth declaration outlining commitments and priorities for future action.
Magadla said the declaration is intended to ensure that discussions lead to concrete outcomes and accountability. “The future is not tomorrow, the future is now,” Magadla said.
According to Magadla, the declaration will allow young people to define the future they want while creating a framework to hold one another accountable for achieving it.
Magadla also defended the importance of democracy, saying young participants recognised that political freedoms gained through liberation struggles remain essential even as countries confront economic challenges. “The political struggle was not in vain, and democracy is not something that we can say we don’t need anymore,” Magadla said.
Magadla said the symposium demonstrated the value of bringing together different generations to share experiences, tell stories and develop collective responses to Africa’s contemporary challenges.
–ChannelAfrica–
