CEO BLOG #26 MARCH 2026: WALKING IN DIGNITY, PROGRESSING WITH PRIDE

Featured Artist: Oluwaseyi M Omotoso, 'Olu Alake' Mixed Media, 2025. Omotoso has built a reputation for 'The World & People Collection, a series of mixed-media works that serve as a bridge between his Yoruba heritage and the global diaspora. His latest outputs reflect a sophisticated dialogue between West African identity and international intellectualism.

“Today is not like tomorrow, hence the priest (Babalawo) consulting the oracle daily” – Yoruba proverb.

Recently, we have witnessed a quiet but unmistakable shift across our continent: a shift in posture, tone, and most importantly, in self‑confidence. It is a shift that has been decades in the making, born of economic progress, cultural reawakening and a deeper understanding of Africa’s leverage in an increasingly interconnected world. Recent headlines have underscored this reality. From Botswana’s President choosing not to attend a meeting with the USA President to discuss access to their minerals, to Zambia and Zimbabwe declining major health initiatives due to concerns over data sovereignty and resource security, the message is clear:
Africa is now negotiating from a place of increasing confidence, clarity and self‑determination.

This moment reflects a broader continental movement towards economic empowerment, sovereign decision‑making, stronger protection of strategic national assets and a more assertive, dignified global presence.

This rising confidence is not only political or economic; it is cultural. Every day at The Africa Centre, we see how Africans across the continent and the diaspora are embracing their identity with renewed pride. They are reclaiming their stories, reshaping global narratives, and contributing to international discourse from a position of strength. This cultural self‑assurance matters, as it fuels creativity, expands ambition and anchors our imagination in possibility rather than limitation.

As the continent steps forward with this clearer voice, Africans in the diaspora also have an essential role to play. More than ever, centring African identity in our personal and professional life is not simply an act of heritage but an essential act of empowerment and maybe even survival. A decade ago, we still had many Africans anglicising their names, deflecting questions of their hyphenated heritage and not feeling safe enough to reflect their culture in their expressive choices.

Fuelled by popular culture phenomena of film, music and fashion, the days when African identity was something to soften or sideline are firmly behind us. We now know that our identity is a source of resilience, a foundation for global leadership, a differentiator in innovation and a wellspring of intergenerational knowledge and pride.

My message for the month for us all is simple: Be an Africa that understands its value, and unapologetically acts accordingly.

Here at The Africa Centre, we strongly believe that to know Africa’s past is to walk confidently into Africa’s future. Understanding our history is a powerful grounding force reminding us that despite the ruptures of colonialism, extraction and global inequality, Africa has always been a cradle of innovation, civilisation, and cultural brilliance.

Few things demonstrate this more powerfully than The Africa Centre’s 60th Anniversary Exhibition, now open to the public.

The exhibition is more than a look backward at the last 6 decades of The Africa Centre’s existence, but locates those years of artistic, political and cultural activism that has shaped Black British and Pan‑African identity firmly in a broader historical context. Curated by Leon Robinson of Positive Steps Associates, the exhibition depicts the presence of Africa in the British Isles going back almost 2,000 years. It is a reminder of what happens when Africans create spaces for themselves, tell their own stories, and assert their cultural agency.

Visitors leave not only informed, but transformed.

Some of the comments left by people who have viewed this so far:

Our special thanks to Her Excellency Mrs Macenje Florence Mazoka, High Commissioner for the Republic of Zambia, who followed in the iconic footsteps by cutting the tape to open the exhibition. Zambia’s first President Kenneth Kaunda opened the Africa Centre in 1964. HE Mrs Mazoka commented: “A proud full-circle moment for Zambia – from Dr Kaunda 60+ years ago to the hour I have had today. Long live The Africa Centre!”

 

The exhibition will be open till the 22nd April 2026 at The Africa Centre’s Mandela Space at 66-68 Great Suffolk Street, SE1 0BL. (A supplementary display of featured pieces from our archives is also on at The London Archives from February to July 2026.)

Cultural entrepreneur and Ambassador Dr King SMADE (Adesegun Adeosun) is running the 2026 London Marathon in support of The Africa Centre! SMADE will be putting himself through the delightful agony of running 26.2 Miles at the world’s most famous road race to help The Africa Centre’s fundraising appeal, and to celebrate global African culture, unity and excellence.

For more information and to support the effort, see here!

Please forward this to your friends, colleagues and well-wishers. As we approach the end of the financial year, please do us a favour and nudge your organisation’s corporate social responsibility budget holder that they can put any unutilised funds to excellent use by supporting this effort or being a sponsor of our 60th anniversary exhibition.

Please ask anyone interested to contact me at [email protected].

 

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MY CULTURAL EVENT OF THE MONTH: Deep Azure at Shakespeare Globe Theatre. A powerful, poignant reflection on grief and justice written by the late, great Chadwick Boseman.  On till May 2026.