Queen Consort of Warri Kingdom, Olori Atuwatse III, has said the imperative for the African continent to continue propagating positive cultural and traditional values to reshape its identity is sacrosanct and cannot be overemphasised.
She said that since her husband, Ogiame Atuwatse III, the Olu of Warri, ascended the throne of his forebear, he has taken notable positive steps to change negative traditional connotations that portray others as inferior, adding that one’s identity must be maintained in dignity and pride.
Olori stated this when she delivered a keynote address on the theme “Africa’s Sustainable Future: Redefining its Global Identity” at the 14th African Achievers Awards (AAA) at Parliament House, United Kingdom (UK). She insisted that stories “we hear and tell about ourselves have a far-reaching effect.”
She noted that addressing some of these challenges, His Majesty Ogiame Atuwaste III and herself founded (Elevate Africa) in order to contribute their quota to channelling African ideas into solutions for the continent and the world just as she tasked other change-makers to come together and speak in one voice.
She said, “I’m here to share my thoughts with fellow lovers of our great continent. My husband and I share your passion, so it feels fitting that I should start by telling you something he did a few years ago.
“As the king of the Warri Kingdom, he had long been burdened by how certain traditional terms of identity had taken on negative connotations promoting segregation. So, he boldly changed those long-used terms to ensure everyone is seen and identified as freeborn. He also explained why redefining our communal identity mattered, and his words still echo in my mind. He said, ‘Some weeks ago, while speaking in London, I talked about how my heart sometimes skips when I hear an African country mentioned in a movie or show. I brace myself, wondering if it will be yet another negative portrayal. Unfortunately, time and time again, some Africans and the rest of the world have produced the outcomes of these seeming ‘prophetic’ narratives. But when someone mentions ‘the city of love,’ Paris immediately comes to mind.’
“These examples might seem small, but they’re a stark reminder of how powerful identity and narrative can be.
“We must come together, trade together, build solutions together, and speak with singularity on the global stage—we must stop saying what Africa does not want and we must begin to speak to who we are and what we want for ourselves and for our continent,” she added.