Young Zambian Allan-Lloyd Hamusokwe Emphasises Cultural Pride With ‘I Am An African’
Over the last couple of months, I have been fortunate enough to interview some exceptional young people. With each interview that I do, I learn more and more about the talents that come out of Africa, about the desires and dreams of these young people. I think what motivates me the most is when these young talents do what makes them happy and still are able to make a difference one way or another.
With this interview, I was blown away by the knowledge and wisdom coming from someone so young; I learned several things from him. I came across this particular gentleman, while scrolling on Facebook he was posting t-shirts and different philosophical ideas behind them. So I stopped … being the nosey person that I am, I checked out the page and what I saw was just pure raw talent at its finest. The designs on the shirts were very nice and well-drawn out. Then I thought to myself, “I want a shirt”, “these are nice.” So I contacted Allan and he assured me that a shirt would be sent out to me. But then, I wanted more than just the shirt, I wanted to know the meaning behind it. In this interview, Allan explains it all to me.
Read what he had to say.
Name: Allan-Lloyd Junior Hamusokwe
Age: 22
Occupation: Problem Solver
Educational background: Completing Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Engineering at Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU), in North Cyprus.
Origin: Lusaka, Zambia but did most of his upbringing Swaziland
1) What is your story?
I was born in Lusaka, Zambia but my parents and I moved to Swaziland. Swaziland is a very peaceful and cultural country. People from Swaziland hold their culture to such a high standard. At home I was brought up with Zambian culture within the four walls of our humble home, but the moment I stepped out the door, I was exposed to the Swazi culture which made me, not favor a particular culture over the other, they have the same principles as other African cultures. I am a very ambitious person and do not believe in failure, but in lack of knowledge and ignorance. I believe your life is what you make it, and time is the only resource you cannot afford to waste or lose.
2) 3 words to describe yourself.
Ambitious. Hard Working. Visionary
3) If you had to pick anyone in history, who inspires you the most?
Marcus Garvey. He showed what a self-educated man is capable of doing, he was able to achieve things unthought-of in his time. He did things that no one had thought of which inspired the likes of Kwame Nkrumah who became the first president of Ghana, Jomo Kenyatta the first president of Kenya and Nnamdi Azikiwe who became the first president of Nigeria, as well as Patrice Lumumba the first legally elected Prime Minister of the Republic of the Congo after he helped win its independence, Nelson Mandela – Mandela has stated publicly that he admires Marcus Garvey, Malcolm X and Bob Marley, to name a few people he inspired. He also proved the point that anything can be done, you just have to find the right way to do it. Most importantly as stated by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in a speech, Marcus Garvey “was the first man of color to lead and develop a mass movement. He was the first man on a mass scale and level to give millions of Negroes a sense of dignity and destiny, and make the Negro feel he was somebody.”
4) What is your favorite thing about being Zambian?
Zambians are super friendly people. We will talk to everyone and just include everyone in things we are doing.
5) I am an African. How did it begin?
I noticed a division amongst Africans and wanted to do something about it. At the end of the day we are all African regardless of where we are located or where we were born. I wanted people to remember that those borders that are dividing us are only artificial borders, nothing concrete as they were created at The Berlin Conference of 1884-85.
I started I am an African to reduce the tension and promote unity amongst us. As well as to educate other citizens from other countries about Africa and let them understand, we do not all come from the same place, country or all speak the same languages.
6) What is I am an African exactly?
It is actually a clothing company. We all have to wear clothes, right? The reason we decided to use clothing as the platform to carry our concept is because we wanted something that would stand out, and something that everyone would be able to participate in, both elderly Africans as well as the African youth, I’m An African essentially seeks to stand as the spark to the new African Generation, to bring back the pride that came with being an African and also to unite Africans as one body.
We also believe that the preservation of one’s own culture does not require contempt or disrespect for other cultures, so with that said, we decided that with part of the profits we get from the sales of the clothing we will donate to charities. I want the clothes to make a statement. I want to bring tradition back to modern day clothing, as we move forward we should also remember where we came from. A lot of people today use phrase “I’m An African” but do not understand the symbolism behind being an African, our ancestors have done a lot for us to be where we are, they have sacrificed and dedicated their lives for creating a better future for us Africans, it’s time we show our appreciation by finishing the jobs that Nelson Mandela fought for, Kwame Nkrumah, Marcus Garvey and Thomas Sankara, it’s time we unite and show the pride we have for our heritage, by declaring that I’m An African and proud.
7) What are some of the challenges you face?
We have been in business for only 7 months. The biggest challenge we face is that of getting people’s attention and getting them to understand our concept and trust our vision. As well as connecting with people who can fully understand our goals of creating the first steps towards African unity becoming a reality, where we see each other more as a brother than a neighbor, that we come from the same house just different rooms, instead of same neighborhood just different houses, We are All Africans.
8) What do the next 5 years look like for I am an African and for yourself?
For I am an African, currently it is based in Cyprus because that is where I am located for school but I want I am an African to spread not only around the world but also for it to go back home with me. I want it go back home to help out.
For me personally, I plan to go back to potentially Swaziland. I will keep gaining knowledge and plan to understand the world, so that I can create the change that is needed, to improve if not a lot then a few people’s lives.
9) What advice do you have for our readers and our young people?
Things aren’t what they always seem. Life is not about the material things but life is about helping out. There is more to life and once you educate yourself, you will fully comprehend what is really meant by things aren’t what they always seem. There is always a story, something to learn from everything. Do not be trapped by prejudices or dogma in acquiring information. Learn what you must in order to improve not only your life but the people around you as well.
We are still working on the website so we can make it possible for people out of Cyprus to get the shirts, this will be achieved in 2 months. For more updates on the African Movement, follow us on our social networks so you can find out how you can participate in our journey forward as one unit, as one fist, in our journey forward as Africans.
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Twitter: Twitter.com/ImAnAfrican1
Facebook: Facebook.com/Imanafrican1
Youtube: I Am African TV
E-mail: [email protected]
Samandu Tshimanga, who goes by Samy, is a college graduate from Indiana University South Bend with a Bachelors of Arts in Political Science and a minor in Sociology. She loves the study of people. She is a freelance analyst and talks about politics, human rights and whatever else floats her boat. Her column Young Africans On The Move with Samy showcases exceptional young people making a difference in the community and in their countries back in Africa. Originally from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Samy currently resides in Indianapolis. Twitter: @chic_cocobelle
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