Paranoia Against Apathy: A Call to Action for the Young African Diaspora

Apathy - a psychological state characterised by a lack of interest, motivation, or emotion towards various aspects of life, including personal relationships, work, or social activities.

This isn’t the type of article I usually write. I’m typically upbeat, hyper-optimistic, and enthusiastic. I like to see life through bright lenses. Always a cup-half-full kind of guy. I don’t believe in an afterlife, so I’ve been intentional about living my fullest life since I turned 25. Those who know me rarely see me lacking energy when I’m out and about. That said, it doesn’t mean I don’t have bad days. When I do, you’ll find me curled up on the couch with a random book or binge-watching a TV show.

Lately, though, it feels like many of our people, especially the boomer generation, have reached a state of apathy. Maybe I’m generalising, but my encounters with most Africans in their 50s and 60s give me the sense that they’ve simply given up.

Many were born post-independence and have watched things deteriorate since. They tell stories of how great things were “back in the day,” often laced with pessimism, convinced that things won’t get better. Many have emigrated and don’t consider returning because every time they visit, life seems worse. Some have attempted to move back, but few have stayed. They’ve spent fortunes sending their children to the best schools, sacrificing much to ensure our generation has a solid foundation to build on. This is my generation.

Our parents have done their best for us. While the continent may not work for most people, I believe we’re in a fortunate position to bring about meaningful, lasting change. We can’t afford to drift towards apathy. We must remain serious about our energy and optimism for the future of Africa. I must be honest, though - it feels like we’re regressing.

Yet, I still want to look on the bright side. We are the luckiest generation. We live in an era of unlimited internet, where information is no longer gated, and we’ve had access to the best education. With AI, we can now be smarter than ever, and that gives me hope. I’ve long believed that education is, and will remain, the way out for many of us, and our parents ensured we had that chance.

In recent years, African youth are leaving the continent in waves, just like the previous generation, but this time, I think it’s different. The world needs us now.

The first part of this Victor Asemota tweet sums it up nicely.

Many countries in the West are experiencing labour shortage and are coming to Africa to recruit. The most recent one is Germany’s migration deal with Kenya, where it’s rumored to be for a total of 250,000 Kenyans. The UK launched various visa schemes and it was rumored that over 500,000 Africans migrated to the Kingdom in 2023.

I truly believe things are different this time. Even while we’re abroad, we remain deeply connected to the continent, thanks to our unlimited access to the internet. This connection is our lifeline, a reminder that we belong to something bigger. We have a unique opportunity to build incredible lives for ourselves, but we must never forget where we come from.

Apathy is the enemy, and we must be paranoid about letting it creep into our mindset when it comes to Africa. A stint abroad should never mean we’re giving up. The continent still needs us—our ideas, our energy, our drive.

We’re the generation with access to technology that can bring about meaningful change to Africa in ways previous generations only dreamed of. Yes, it will be difficult—change always is. But since when has our generation ever shied away from doing the hard things? This is our time. We’re capable of bringing the change our ancestors hoped for. The future of Africa isn’t written yet, and we’re the ones holding the pen.