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HOW AFRICAN YOUTHS ARE CARVING THEIR FUTURES THROUGH HASHTAGS, DEFIANCE AND SOLIDARITY.

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#ENDSARs
#ENDSWAT
THIS Is A
*ENDSARS
#ENDSWAT

In the passing year, and  in  the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, social and civil injustices,  prevalent on the African continent , w ere  viewed from a global lens. Living  under  oppressive conditions, while facing unending violence, young Africans took to the streets where they fought and demanded a better society. Together, banners held high, hashtags trending worldwide, they risked incarceration and death, as they created awareness, informing the world of the inhumanity, the crisis, and the organized brutality plaguing their homes. In light of these happenings, several African governments attempted to stifle these movements through imprisonments, mass shootings, and the regulation of social media. These attempts were met with defiance as young people doubled their efforts,  occupying  trend tables on an international scale, while consistently demanding change, justice, and accountability. These singular acts of resistance, have ushered in a new generation of activists out to drive Africa into a more progressive and inclusive future.

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In the end, it is our defiance that redeems us." ~ Mark Rowlands

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YOUTH-LED MOVEMENTS CHANGING THE  NARRATIVE

With young people at the hem, the following pivotal movements have demanded change while building conversations around the issues of discrimination, violence, unrest, and injustices prevalent on the continent.

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Inspired by the #EndSARS hashtag, which fast became a symbol of peaceful protest in Nigeria, young people demanded just and fair treatment from the Nigerian Police Force. On social media, Nigerians shared stories and video evidence of how officers of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) – a rogue unit of the police – engaged in theft, sexual assault, unlawful detention, extrajudicial killings and extortion.  With the military opening fire on protesters on the 20th of October, 2020, the movement reflected wider demands for structural change, constitutional reforms and  government  accountability .

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sroo•
CHILD
CARE.
KING ts
't FAIR
TRAFFICKING

Across West Africa, the crippling rise in child  labour  caught the attention of the international community. A study conducted by academics revealed that about 1.6 million children were working on cocoa farms in Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire. The #ChildTrafficking hashtag became a powerful and impactful device that rose worldwide awareness about the issue of child labour  and  abuse .

Côte d'Ivoire & Ghana- # ChildTrafficking

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After days of protesting by young women, demanding for the declaration of rape as a national emergency, President George  Weah  agreed to their demands. He announced new measures to address the issues of rising violence against women, which included appointing a dedicated prosecutor to sexual assault cases, establishing a national sex offender registry, and designating $2 million to combat the epidemic.

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G ender Based Violence  has become a recurring issue in South Africa. In 2019,  as numbers of sexual assault and femicide skyrocketed, young  women across the country decided to tell their stories ,  using  the  # AmINext  to draw attention to the crisis. Making   headlines, they marched to protest in front of parliament, demanding an end to the violence against women. In 2020, the # AmINext  hashtag along with the #StopGBV resurfaced globally as reports  of gender based violence  increased drastically during the lockdown.

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“Courage is contagious. When someone brave takes a stand, the spine of others are stiffened.” ~ Reverend Billy Graham.

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In  October  2020 ,  hundreds  of women marched in the capital city of Namibia to demand an end to gender-based violence.  The # ShutItAllDown  march called on the government to recognize the rising violence towards women as a state of emergency. The protest was shared online as young Namibian women called on the international community to aid them in their fight against the violent oppression they faced on a daily basis.

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As of 2020, at least 54 people have died in Ethiopia’s Western Region of  Wollega  due to civil unrest and ethnic discrimination. Word of this violence spread across several social media platforms, with Ethiopian citizens narrating their various lived experiences under such inhumane conditions.

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Following an attack on a school  on the 24 th  of  October 2 020 , the Anglophone Crisis in Cameroon caught the attention of the world. It was highlighted through the # EndAnglophoneCrisis  hashtag.  Due to the swift actions of the Cameroon diaspora, the world became aware of the country’s worsening crisis, which the Norwegian Refugee council considers the world’s most ignored humanitarian situation. The crisis, which started in 2016, stemmed from the marginalization of Anglophones in the country by the Francophone dominated government.

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For  many African nations, these movements have shown , in more ways than one,  what the future holds. With progressive and un relenting  young individuals taking up space  and  battling systemic oppression, tomorrow, would boast a  far  better society. Despite  being met with  violent opposition, driven by purpose and a thirst for justice, African youths have spearheaded reforms, sparked global conversations, and raised social awareness. The struggle is far from over and there are many more battles to be fought, more systems to be dismantled, regardless, these movements will inspire future generations to be bold in the face of cruelty and adversity. History will bear witness to the power enshrined in our voices.

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“We’re only fragile thread, but what a tapestry we make.”

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Image Credits:#EndSARS: Aljazeera.com#RapeNationalEmergency: 24newhdtv#AmINext: Aljazeera.com#ShutItAllDown: GlobalCitizen.org#EndAnglophoneCrisis: theowp.org

I mage Credits: #EndSARS:Aljazeera.com, unsplash  #RapeNationalEmergency:24newhdtv #AmINext: Aljazeera.com #ShutItAllDown: Aljazeera.coGlobalCitizen.org #EndAnglophoneCrisis: theowp.org

HOW AFRICAN YOUTHS ARE CARVING THEIR FUTURES THROUGH HASHTAGS, DEFIANCE AND SOLIDARITY.

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