One of the songs by Bob Marley, the reggae
star and freedom fighter, that I’ve always loved is “Slogan”, where he
boldly declares: “Can’t take your slogans no more.” That line has stayed
with me over the years—not just because of its poetic resonance, but because of
how deeply it speaks to our political reality in Africa.
As young Cameroonians during the outbreak
of multipartism, many of us found ourselves swept into the tide of opposition.
We were given one slogan to chant, over and over again: “Paul Biya must go.”
That phrase became the anthem of hope, resistance, and imagined change. But as
time went on, we began to realize that those words were hollow. They echoed in
the streets but failed to translate into concrete visions or transformative
agendas.
Those who initiated the slogan failed to understand something fundamental: political change is not built on slogans, but on solid political projects—projects rooted in values, strategy, vision, and the wellbeing of the people.
Slogans are easy. They’re catchy. They
rally crowds. But without substance, they’re nothing more than repetitive
noise. Many of those who championed "Paul Biya must go" were not
driven by a sincere desire to see Cameroon rise. They were looking for
platforms to advance their personal interests. Their movement lacked clarity,
direction, and a concrete roadmap. And so, it dissolved into the very system it
claimed to resist.
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| The three leaders of the Sahel Alliance |
Today, we are witnessing the same trend
unfold across Africa, particularly in the Sahel. Military leaders like Captain
Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso, General Abdourahamane Tiani of Niger,
and Colonel Assimi Goïta of Mali have risen to power, riding on waves of
anti-imperialism. They use slogans like “France dégage” or “Africa for
Africans” to galvanize support and fuel nationalist fervor.
But here’s the bitter truth: many of
these slogans are not about the people—they’re about power.
While social media is filled with videos of
young people dancing in the streets and cheering their new “liberators,” few
are asking the tough questions:
What concrete policies have these leaders
implemented?
How are they improving education,
healthcare, infrastructure, or human rights?
Are these leaders building institutions
that will outlive their reign, or are they simply consolidating power under the
guise of revolution?
Slogans can mask tyranny. They can serve as
camouflage for personal ambition. They can lull people into believing that
change has arrived, when in reality, nothing has changed but the faces in
power.
We Africans must stop being enchanted by catchy words and charismatic posturing. We must start evaluating leadership based on accountability, integrity, policy, and results. Freedom is not a performance. Liberation is not a brand. And revolution is not a hashtag.
As Bob Marley said, “Can’t take your
slogans no more.” Not because we don’t want change—but because we’ve seen
too many false dawns dressed in the costume of revolution.
Africa will not rise on slogans. Africa
will rise on vision, on planning, on sacrifice, on education, and on leaders
who serve rather than rule. The time has come to
move beyond empty rhetoric and demand the leadership our people truly deserve.
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