By Sékou Touré: Leader Of Guinea’s Liberation & Pan-Africanism
One hundred and three years ago today, one of Africa’s most influential figures, Sékou Touré, was born. A dedicated activist, Touré was instrumental in freeing Africans from France’s colonial rule and provided refuge to champions of Pan-Africanism.
In 1958, thanks to his unwavering efforts, Guinea became the first French-speaking African country to achieve independence. Touré became the founding president of the Republic of Guinea and, two years later, steered the nation towards financial sovereignty by replacing the French-controlled CFA franc with its own currency, the Guinean franc.
A staunch Pan-Africanist, Touré extended his influence across the continent. He offered diplomatic passports to exiled South Africans, including the legendary singer Miriam Makeba, whose citizenship had been revoked for opposing apartheid. Furthermore, he demonstrated his solidarity with Kwame Nkrumah, the father of Pan-Africanism, by naming him honorary co-president of Guinea after Nkrumah was ousted in a coup in Ghana.
While some have condemned Touré for his authoritarian leadership, his resolute approach was arguably vital to achieving Guinea’s independence. His defiance of colonial powers was epitomized in 1958 when he famously told France’s President Charles de Gaulle, “We prefer freedom in poverty to wealth in slavery.”
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