#AfricaMonth: "To be African means to claim what is rightfully yours"
It's Africa Month and in the spirit of celebrating the continent and its people Jacaranda FM News reporter Slindelo Masikane spoke to African expats living and working in Gauteng on what it means to be African.
Esaie-Prince Mpinda is a political activist originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Based in Pretoria, Mpinda has been in South Africa for the past 10 years.
He is also the spokesperson for the National Council of Congolese for Development (NCCD). The NCCD is a non-profit organization which caters for the development of Congolese citizens in the country. Mpinda says he wants to see a South Africa free of racism, afrophobia and xenophobia.
"We need to continue to honour the memories of the founding fathers of Africa. These freedom fighters represent the vision of a united Africa," he says.
Isaac Onowe is a 25-year-old digital marketer who's roots are Malawian, although he was born in Zimbabwe. He came to South Africa three years ago to look for better opportunities. Onowe started out as journalist, but finds himself working in digital marketing. For Onowe, being African is to be resilient and to fight for what you believe.
"Being African means to take what is yours.If there was one thing I could change about Africa is the mentality that we are still enslaved," he says.