The Observer
By: Don Pax
Bishops: Custodians of Wisdom and Expertise
Bishops move diagonally, maintaining their original color. They represent our specialists, traditional leaders, and keepers of ancestral knowledge.
Example: In Mali, the Dogon people’s spiritual leaders continue to preserve ancestral knowledge that has been passed down for centuries, paralleling the bishop’s consistent path.
Contemporary challenge: As modernization spreads, there’s a growing need to balance traditional wisdom with contemporary education. Programs like the African Digital Heritage Initiative are working to digitize and preserve traditional knowledge for future generations.
Rooks: Pillars of Infrastructure and Institutions
Rooks move in straight lines and symbolize our foundational structures such as governments, educational systems, and healthcare facilities.
Example: The African Union, headquartered in Addis Ababa, stands as a continental rook, working to promote unity and development across Africa.
Current focus: The African Development Bank’s “High 5s” strategy, aimed at lighting up Africa, feeding Africa, industrializing Africa, integrating Africa, and improving the quality of life for Africans, demonstrates the rook’s role in building robust continental infrastructure.
Queen: Dynamic and Influential Leaders
The queen, the most versatile piece, represents our complex leaders who steer complicated challenges across various domains.
Example: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former President of Liberia and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, demonstrates this role. Her efforts in maintaining peace, promoting economic and social development, and championing women’s rights showcase the queen’s versatility.
Expert comment: According to Mo Ibrahim, founder of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, “Effective leadership in Africa requires adaptability and a commitment to good governance, much like the queen’s ability to move in any direction on the chessboard.”
King: Our Core Values and Cultural Identity
The king in chess must be protected at all costs. In our African context, this represents our shared values, cultural heritage, and the essence of our identity as Africans.
Example: The concept of Ubuntu, originating from Southern Africa but resonating across the continent, embodies this king-like essence. It represents our interconnectedness and shared humanity.
Contemporary relevance: As globalization intensifies, preserving and adapting our core values becomes crucial. Initiatives like the African Union’s Agenda 2063 aim to ensure that Africa’s development is rooted in its unique and value systems
Collaboration in Action: Ubuntu on the Chessboard
Just as chess pieces must work in harmony to win, our African communities thrive on cooperation. This combined effort is beautifully encapsulated in the philosophy of Ubuntu which says “I am because we are.”
Real-life application: the success of M-Pesa, a mobile money transfer service originating in Kenya, demonstrates this combined effort. It began with recognizing the needs of unbanked populations (pawns), was developed by innovative thinkers (knights), supported by financial institutions (rooks), championed by influential leaders (queens), and ultimately transformed financial inclusion across Africa, aligning with core values of community support (kings).
