Apr 9, 2024

Development

Development

9 min

9 min

Sankofa: A Lens to Sustainable Development

written by

Lola Popoola

Africa's colonial-era conservation model risks continued environmental degradation by excluding indigenous knowledge and community participation.

Africa's colonial-era conservation model risks continued environmental degradation by excluding indigenous knowledge and community participation.

Africa's colonial-era conservation model risks continued environmental degradation by excluding indigenous knowledge and community participation.

article transcript

article transcript

article transcript

article transcript

article transcript

Summary

This piece reflects on the concept of Sankofa, an Akan term meaning “go back and get it,” highlighting the importance of learning from Africa’s past to shape its future. It explores pre-colonial Africa’s advanced trade systems and the disruptions caused by European colonization and the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. The article suggests that reconnecting with ancestral knowledge can inspire innovative, self-determined solutions for Africa’s present development challenges, fostering progress rooted in historical wisdom while acknowledging the need for forward-thinking strategies.

Sankofa