Honest questions from someone who fears that this developement is simply yet another exercise in enthusiasm.

1. Why wasn't it held in an African capital? If the Senegalese President doesn't mind being a Governor ( an indication that he, like the whole lot of politicians, is for a United States of Africa only if there is a cushy role for him in it)surely he would have been thrilled to host it in Dakar, at his own expense? In this single gesture, he has shown that the knife in his hand is not to fight the enemy, but to carve out a juicy chunk of what other people are going to labour for.

2. Why was it under the banner of socialists? Most of us Africans have had enough of socialist regimes, your Mengistus, Mugabes etc. Big on talk, parades that sort of thing, and on plush living while the masses starve. They also have no appreciation of the arts except when they consist of gushing praise.

3. As if the socialists are not creepy enough, you had to have Molefi Asante there as well. People like him make me cross myself- and I am not even Catholic.

It would appear to me that this is a wonderful idea, but let us have mainstream Africans. And let's have these things done in Africa.