BLACK HISTORY MONTH: In tribute to Nnamdi Azikiwe, the Great Zik of Africa Monday, October 02, 2006 4052 Reads Discuss Feedback Print Send

Godwin Nnanna

Zik expounded Pan African ideals and inspired Kwame Nkrumah He believed every bit in the unity of Africa and the black race and believed that black is not synonymous with lack and that being black is not an eternal confinement to backwardness. When the history of makers of modern Africa is written, one name that is sure to feature prominently is Nnamdi Azikiwe, popularly referred to as “The great Zik of Africa” . French writer and Nobel laureate, Anatole France, once noted that ‘to accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe’. Zik’s uniqueness lies in the fact that he did not only dreamt and believed in his dreams; he inspired others to do likewise. One of those he inspired is the popular Ghanaian freedom fighter and Pan-Africanist Kwame Nkruma. Zik is a typical study in how powerful and contagious ideological influences can be. Reputed for his exploits in journalism, Pan-African ideals, forthrightness in confronting colonialism and vision of a new Africa, “Zik’s philosophy of life was largely influenced by the teachings of Marcus Garvey whose life and work he closely studied as a student in Lincoln University, USA.” The influence Garvey had on him, he carried back to Africa: first to Accra, Ghana where in no time he ‘infected’ people like Kwame Nkruma, who many would say, eventually expounded it better than him. Speaking to a gathering of politicians in Accra, Ghana on January 12, 1937, Nnamdi Azikiwe stated: “I am becoming convinced day by day that the New Africa is destined to become a reality. No force under the heavens can stem it. Even my death cannot postpone its crystallization. “If because I am an instrument of destiny through which imperialism in West Africa is to be challenged and liquidated, and if in this mission I am compelled to pay the supreme penalty, then there is no need for me to quake or to quiver.” Even those who don’t like his brand of politics, admire the ideals for which Zik, the first indigenous president of Nigeria stood for. “He believed every bit in the unity of Africa and the black race and believed that black is not synonymous with lack and that being black is not an eternal confinement to backwardness.” In this era when most African leaders depend entirely on foreign aid for survival, it might be wise to call their attention to Zik’s economic philosophy which he tagged ‘economic determinism’. By economic determinism, Zik essentially meant that it would take Africans and nobody else to determine what Africa’s future becomes. That does not foreclose the importance of aid from abroad but aid is essentially what it is called ‘aid’. Because of a lack of ideological depth many African leaders have over the years come to see that as their real source of livelihood.

Zik was perecived as being sent by God to free Nigeria from colonial rule As Africans across the world mark Black History Month, it might be worthwhile to pay a special tribute to this great man who dreamt of a new Africa... The result, of course, is the gross devastation we see in many African economies today, where aid is no longer aid but AIDS. Born 1904 in Zungeru, Northern Nigeria to parents from Christian dominated Eastern NIgeria, Zik grew up living at different times in different parts of Nigeria” ; one reason he speaks fluently the three Nigerian major languages. Many of those who live in colonial Nigeria perceived Zik as a superman sent by God to free them the country from colonial rule. Unable to understand Zik's persona, fables were woven around him in attempt to explain his legendary wisdom and power. Legend has it that as a child, Zik saw an old woman carrying a heavy load. Moved with pity, he offered to help her. On reaching her home in the forest, the old woman who was in fact a spirit, asked Zik what she could do for him. Zik requested for wisdom and power. The woman obliged. She cut Zik into bits and boiled the flesh in a big pot. Later, she magically brought him back to life. On her request, Zik killed the woman to prevent her from performing the same feat for others. Trained in Lincoln University, USA, Zik worked as a lecturer before returning to Africa to practice journalism, starting as the pioneer editor-in-chief of Accra based West African Pilot. Through the newspaper, he expounded his ideas of a free Africa. Despite a regular speaking engagement which he maintained during his days in Accra, Zik continued to write quite regularly on issues affecting the continent. He maintained a column ‘Inside Stuff’. His articles were a must-read for most of the freedom fighters that eventually emerged after him in that part of Africa. In the field of journalism, Zik remains the only journalist till date who own and operated a vibrant chain of newspapers across the various cities across Nigeria which each having its own independent editor and publishing crew. Before becoming the first president of independent Nigeria, Zik was the premier of Eastern Nigeria and the leader of National Council of Nigeria and the Camerouns (NCNC), a leading political party in pre-independent Nigeria which had as its tag ‘pragmatic socialism.’ A detribalized African, Zik spent the better part of his life working to preserve Africa first, and then Nigeria. As Africans across the world mark Black History Month, it might be worthwhile to pay a special tribute to this great man who dreamt of a new Africa, expounded it in ‘Renascent Africa’ – a book he authored shortly after graduation and exemplified it through his journalism and political career. Godwin Nnanna is Assistant Editor at Business Day Nigeria and winner of the Kalaam Award for Consumer Journalism 2005.

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