Hon Speaker and hon members, self-knowledge, as proposed by Alexander Pope when he said: "Know then yourself, presume not God to scan," is the first and most important thing that any living person has to pride themselves in. Self-knowledge awakens one to make peace with oneself in order to be content with what one has.
In 1787, when Richard Allen, Absalom Jones and others were humiliated while praying, they came to know that even in bondage they have a place they can be proud of, Africa. It is for that reason that, unlike many churches, the African Methodist Episcopal AME, Church was formed more out of sociological circumstances than theological ones. They came to know themselves, put renaissance into practice and set Pan-Africanism in motion by forming a Pan- Africanist church for Africans while in the diaspora.
Black Americans always yearn to be in Africa, just for a visit - even for a worship excursion. It is hoped that President Barack Obama and his entourage will have the same feeling when he touches down on African soil later this month.
Renowned advocates of Pan-Africanism include leaders such as Kwame Nkurumah, Muammar Gaddafi, Malcolm X and the academician Professor du Bois. In solidarity, Africans will know themselves, be self-reliant and productive, and refrain from being consumers of products from elsewhere. An all-African alliance will empower African peoples globally and rid them of dependency. Pan-Africanism will lead to power consolidation on the mother continent.
United, African nations will have the economic, political and social clout to act and compete on the world stage, as do other entities such as the European Union and the United States of America. The Pan-African Parliament, PAP, should be a precursor to a bigger and more progressive institution. It should not be a talk shop where men and women go out to talk and end up at the Boulders Shopping Centre. The African Union should have teeth and not end up as a place where leaders on the continent meet to cut deals on how they can assist one another to put away wealth obtained in invidious ways. Africa is not for sale. The fact that he who knows others is wise and he who knows himself is enlightened cannot be faulted in any way. It is high time we rid ourselves of xenophobic tendencies and refrained from calling nationals from other parts of Africa derogatory names. In our search for African renewal, let us desist from thinking that being South Africans or being in South Africa means we are in a second heaven. Let us accept that all people are human beings created in the image of God. We should do unto others as we would like others to do unto us. We should refrain from putting on airs but be ready to love, respect, serve, consult and be tolerant of all mankind. I thank you. [Applause.]