In these past six days, we have seen the African spirit at its finest. Together, we have navigated a path of cultural rediscovery, embracing our roots, and affirming our food sovereignty through the “My Food is African” campaign. We, the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA), are immensely grateful to every participant who walked this journey with us, shining a light on our collective Pan-African goal of defending food sovereignty and transitioning to agroecology.
Our campaign was born out of a growing need to reconnect Africans with their culinary heritage. In a world where industrialized food systems dictate what we eat and how we understand nutrition, we championed an alternative narrative. We made a resolute stand against the false solutions of these dominant systems, advocating for a renaissance of diverse, rich, and healthy traditional African diets. We attempted to inspire our African youth and communities to recognize the value of our food heritage and to demand food systems that serve us, not work against us. This was not just a campaign but a movement towards a healthier, more sustainable, and culturally grounded future.
Your active participation in the campaign echoed loudly across our continent and beyond. Your reflections, quotes, and inspiring stories have infused the campaign with a richness that is a testament to the deep wisdom of our heritage. The powerful messages from our leaders and participants have touched many, underlining the urgency to resist corporate control, to protect our ecosystems and farmers’ rights, to fight against food insecurity, and to foster self-sufficiency.
Our General Coordinator, Dr. Million Belay, underscored the importance of pivoting from systems that prioritize productivity over nutrition, highlighting the promise of agroecological farming, a synergy of tradition and science. Others have emphasized the importance of agroecology in nurturing our soil, preserving seed diversity, promoting biodiversity, and safeguarding our cultural heritage and health.
We deeply thank you for your commitment and active participation in this movement, one that has been a resounding statement of our resilience and unity. This campaign has been a collective affirmation of our African culinary heritage, agroecology, and food sovereignty. Your unwavering support has been a beacon of hope, demonstrating that together, we can retake control of our food systems, invigorate our economies, and safeguard our environments.
However, the campaign may be ending tomorrow, but the movement continues. The spirit of the “My Food is African” campaign must not fade. We urge you to keep the momentum going, to keep advocating for agroecology and food sovereignty, to pledge to stay true to this cause. The path to food sovereignty is a long journey, but together, we can shape the narrative around food in Africa and achieve a resilient future for African agriculture.
Let us keep spreading the word, nurturing the seeds we have sown, and inviting others to join us. Because our food is African, and it always will be.
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