The year started with a pandemic that threatened our very existence. Africa, with its below standard health care facilities faced an uncertain future. A pandemic was moving at great speed through out the world and all we could do was pray and hope that the few and brilliant health professionals on the continent would save up.
Most people on the continent never expected what 2020 had in store for us. Many countries on the continent were locked down whether partially or totally. Luckily, the African population was not as hard-hit as the rest of the world. The different lockdowns were gradually eased and things seemed to return to normal, albeit for a short time.
At the end of the lockdown, inflation had reached the highest rate ever in many countries including Nigeria. Cost of food rose astronomically, youth unemployment were at the highest level ever as thousands of people were laid off during the pandemic. The volatility of currency of many African countries was so alarming. All these factors together looked like the "recipe" for an unrest that will grip the continent. Many political commentators warned of the consequences of these, but African leader, selfish as always, ignored these warnings.
Fast forward to October, 2020 just few days after the Nigerian Independence, a protest broke out to speak against police brutality. The Nigerian youths have been at loggerheads with a unit of the Police Force called Special Anti-Robbery Unit. The unit is famous for criminal profiling of young Nigerians and the officers are quick to tag them criminals just because some use an iPhone or carry Draeadlocks on their head. The unit has also been notorious for extrajudicial killings.
October 2020 will be remembered as the month that the Nigerian youths stood up and spoke against these injustices. The youths mobilized through Twitter while also ensuring that there was no single leader for the movement. "We are all leaders" could be heard at different protest venues across the country.
After about 5 days, the Nigerian government disbanded the dreaded SARS unit. However, the Nigerian youths have never enjoyed the dividends of Democracy hence, they weren't satisfied by this. They accused the government of being untrustworthy and demanded a reform of the entire police system.
As the revolution is Nigeria was ongoing, it spread to other African countries. Youths all over the continent are standing up. From Cameroun, to South Africa, to Uganda, a new breed of pan Africanist are emerging. The youths have declared they've had enough. It is better they are listened to before the continent is engulfed in flames.