Former AU Commission chair Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma has challenged Africans to belief in their progressive cultures whilst discarding the elements that are no longer relevant and reclaim the indigenous African culture which colonization made it look inferior to Africans.

According to her, Culture is dynamic therefore it must grow with Africans whilst preserving the indigenous African knowledge systems.

“Culture represents the soul and the identity of a people, and without our soul, we cannot prosper” she cautioned.

Delivering the 2017 BlackGold lecture series on the theme “The key role of good governance towards Africa’s renaissance”, the former chairperson of the continent said Africans need the right mindset and believe in their progressive culture while discarding elements that are not important.

“As we build this Africa, we need the right mindset, purposeful institutions and leadership at all levels that act in the interest of the people and the continent” she stated.

She reiterated that a number of things have gone wrong in Africa. She cited the paradox of a rich continent with poor people; the poverty and underdevelopment that seem endemic; conflicts in places that have gone on for too long and claim too many lives; new challenges that we face such as terrorism and climate change.

“We must never for a moment think that this is the natural condition for Africa” she advised.

The African Lifetime Achievement Award receiver said Africa must adopt a mindset that will not be defined by the past or present, but reach for the future and build that future today.

“We need to instill in ourselves and future generations the right mindset that will make them understand that talent is spread evenly across the young people of the world. The difference lies in the development of that talent and the opportunities for young people” she stressed.