Meles Zenawi Quotes

I am an African and I am very proud of that.

I am proud to be an African.

You know, we're missing so much as African-Americans and we should be concerned about what's going on in Africa.

My dad was very much a Pan-Africanist and instilled in me and my siblings a want for that knowledge.

There are some people who are happy to be African writers. They are pan-Africanists. I'm not a pan-Africanist. I think African countries have a lot in common. But we are also very different.

After Nigeria, we are the second biggest black African nation. We are the headquarters of the African Union. We are the only African country that has never been colonized. This is perhaps the last surviving African civilization.

So for everybody who allows themselves to be separated from me because I said 'African' instead of 'Nubian' or 'Black' or 'Kemet' or 'original' or 'Israelite,' don't be so foolish. I say 'African' because the continent of Africa is the land from which we all originate. It is the word that we are most familiar with right now.

People hear 'Africa' and they think about charitable commercials, or safari tours and animals. It's our responsibility to help change that perspective.

Wakanda, in short, is the Africa of black dreams.

I'm trying to have Wakanda represent all of Africa.

I talk about Africa and its meaning, being the birthplace of man and all that great history that's been erased and even hidden. I think it's my duty to be proud and to bring about the conversation that allows us to talk about the great history of my people.

I am very proud to be African. I want to defend African people, and I want to show to the world that African players can be as good as the Europeans and South Americans.

Wherever I've been, and I've been to over 20, maybe 25, countries in Africa, I've noticed how their backbone is broken. They don't have any confidence in themselves. They always think a white man will solve their problems from outside for them.

Africa is my continent. It is where I opened my eyes.

Our success educationally, industrially and politically is based upon the protection of a nation founded by ourselves. And the nation can be nowhere else but in Africa.

I changed my name when we became aware of the African revolution and the whole question of our African roots.

I'm not British. I'm not American. I'm not French. Whatever thing they practise, that is their business. I am an African. I am Rwandese.

Being African didn't mean anything to me until later in my life.

I try to represent Africa and Cameroon as well as I can.

I am part of the pan-African diaspora.

I've always said that even before Cameroon, I belong to Africa.

My message was 'Think African. Make schools read African history.'

I was raised with a father who really believed in the bridge between all Africans around the world.

We know nothing about Africa, although our roots are there in terms of our forbearers. But I mean as far as the average Negro today, he knows nothing about Africa. And I think he's got to face the fact that he is an American, his culture is basically American, and one becomes adjusted to this when he realizes what, what he is.

My biggest obsession is to show Africans and the world who the people of Africa really are.