Oxford, United Kingdom – Speaking on the eve of Africa Day at the Oxford Africa Conference 2025, Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio delivered an impassioned keynote address, urging Africans to seize control of the narrative surrounding their continent and firmly assert “African Agency” in shaping their own destinies. Under the theme “Changing Narrative: Vision, Action and Transformation of Africa,” President Bio sharply critiqued the persistent global portrayal of Africa, often crafted by outsiders, which he argued reduces the continent to a simplistic story of “dependency, conflict, and underdevelopment.” He called upon African scholars, leaders, and citizens to actively redefine how Africa is perceived and presented on the global stage. “For centuries, the narrative of Africa has been shaped by outsiders,” President Bio stated, emphasizing that these external narratives have not only swayed global perceptions but, more dangerously, have influenced Africans’ self-perception.
President Bio introduced the concept of “Quotidian African Agency,” highlighting the daily, often unsung efforts of ordinary Africans—farmers, artists, entrepreneurs, and students—who are actively transforming their societies. He presented Sierra Leone’s own model of African-led development, anchored by its five “Game Changers”: Feed Salone (food security), human capital development, youth employment, technology and infrastructure, and public service reforms. A cornerstone of his argument was the imperative for epistemic agency, advocating for the decolonization of knowledge and the elevation of African perspectives across global academic, economic, and governance spheres. “Africans must lead knowledge production about Africa,” he stressed, asserting that reclaiming intellectual sovereignty forms the bedrock for all other forms of agency.
Throughout his address, President Bio reiterated a central message: the necessity for Africa to speak with a unified voice, particularly on critical issues such as climate change, international trade, global governance, and economic justice. He underscored the historical significance of African unity and strategic vision, recalling the formation of the Organisation of African Unity in 1963 as a testament to the continent’s long-standing commitment to dignity and sovereignty. “Africa is watching. The World is listening. History is waiting,” President Bio powerfully concluded. His remarks were met with a standing ovation from a distinguished audience that included WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, alongside a diverse group of scholars and students from the Oxford Africa Society, a group President Bio lauded as “a powerful community of change agents.” As Africa continues to navigate global inequalities and internal challenges, President Bio’s keynote served as a resonant and urgent call for Africans to be the primary architects of the future they envision for their continent.