At the end of May, two powerful African leaders spoke out in The Guardian. The occasion was different, but we think what they had to say is essential reading. In an extremely unusual move, Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama wrote in a commentary what should have been the initial reaction to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s visit to the White House: “Trump’s unfounded attack on Cyril Ramaphosa was an insult to all Africans.” Instead, the global media explored how calm Ramaphosa and his delegation remained in the face of blatant untruths about an alleged “white genocide” with which they were confronted by President Trump. There is more at stake, writes Mahama, referring to the recently deceased Kenyan literary giant Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o: “These statements are a clear example of how language can be leveraged to extend the effects of previous injustices.”

The fact that the African continent is no longer in a position to accept such treatment is demonstrated by an interview with the outgoing president of the African Development Bank, Akinwumi Adesina, which is marked by a sense of optimism that is rare these days. Sooner or later, Africa will be the workshop of the world, he says: “What Africa does with agriculture will determine the future of food in the world. So why shouldn’t I be optimistic? That's the place to be. The question to ask is why are you not in Africa? If you are not in Africa, I wonder where you are.”