On 31st October 2023, city leaders and senior figures at the University of Bristol joined forces to make Bristol a city that models the principles of the Africa Charter. The event was co-hosted with Research Culture, Inclusive Research Collective, Centre for Black Humanities, Forever Africa, Anti-Racism Steering Committee, Transforming Education for Sustainable Futures and the African Voices Forum. It included the performance of a poem by Dr Lawrence Hoo.
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A Journey of Discovery: The Africa Charter in verse
Leading figures from the city of Bristol and the University of Bristol came together last Tuesday for an event designed to propel the University forward as a model for the Africa Charter and its principles of fair and transformative research collaborations between African and Global North universities.
Central to the event was the performance of an original and specially commissioned poem by Dr Lawrence Hoo, a Bristol-based versifier, activist and educator, who said:
“The challenges and issues aren’t new, but this feels truly collaborative and a real opportunity for change to happen. We need this now more than ever, and everybody should want to be on board because it will create a fairer, better place for us all to live and work.”
The poem, called A Journey Of Discovery, explores how countries of the Global North have exploited and undervalued Africa’s key contributions and introduces the Africa Charter as a vital and long overdue movement to redress these entrenched power imbalances.
A Journey of Discovery
Through a generous donation given to PARC from the Perivoli Foundation
The Africa Charter has been launched to address systemic discrimination
Now for a £1 million donation to be given with no strings attached
Is a rare opportunity to do work where people often feel attacked
Attacked through a system that has been set up to guarantee and secure funding
As long as they don’t rock the boat is an undercurrent many find themselves confronting
Africa is the cradle of civilisation the birthplace of humanity
That continues to deliver so much yet there is this disparity
Which treats Africa like a second class citizen
Who should be thankful, stay quiet, sit up and listen
Before the invaders and colonisers took hold
Alkebulan’s riches were a joy to behold
Kemet, Kush, Ethiopia and Mali, are to name just a few
Of the great African empires that expanded and grew
Their knowledge and wisdom was coveted and sought
And once it was acquired many other nations it taught
This intellectual exchange is still in place and going strong today
Yet Africa’s contributions are marginalised and it shouldn’t be this way
It is long overdue for African academics to be given the recognition for their work they deserve
Instead of being treated like indentured servants whose role is to obey, prepare and serve
The Global North cannot continue on this path of reaping all the rewards
From collaborative works which Africa has delivered on and contributed towards
This is a great opportunity to put effective practices and policies in place
That can help to reverse the prejudices caused through the creation of race
The concept of the human race is a social construct that has benefited a few while marginalising the many
Who are constantly pitted against one another while having their worth divided down to the last penny
This is not the world we dream of or wish to live in and share
So let’s work towards one of fairness, respect and prove we truly care
The relationships and world view being forged by the Africa Charter are breaking new ground
That is enabling a wealth of skill sets and expertise to be explored, shared and found
The global community is finally coming on board to work as one
Combining all their strengths from every continent under one sun
The role of all intellectuals and contributors are being recognised as second to none
Leading us into a new era where all can learn from the exceptional work being done
The coalition of Higher Education Institutions are in agreement that the Africa Charter will deliver something new
Through bringing African scholarship and knowledge to the foreground, which is long overdue
We are well and truly ready to embark, cast off and enjoy this journey of discovery
That has so much to offer for all from the Global North, Global South, to you and to me
So without further ado let’s let this journey begin
Delivering the Africa Charter to the world allows us all to win
Dr Lawrence Hoo
The event was co-hosted with colleagues from Research Culture, Inclusive Research Collective, Centre for Black Humanities, Forever Africa, Anti-Racism Steering Committee, Transforming Education for Sustainable Futures and University of Bristol decolonisation initiatives, alongside the African Voices Forum.
The event forms part of the University’s restorative futures global civic ambition to advance change and make Bristol both a model of and a champion for the Africa Charter’s principles and aspirations. The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Evelyn Welch, who also spoke at the event, said:
“We are very grateful to Dr Hoo for writing such a thought-provoking and inspirational poem. Its call to action captures the bold spirit of the Africa Charter, which is an essential movement to advance social justice and reset the entire research ecosystem, acknowledging Africa as a central leader. This is very much a global endeavour, but the voices of local people and organisations, as well as researchers from all fields, are absolutely vital.”
