Seminar on African agency and modernisation
On Tuesday 3 March 2026, CACS hosted a seminar titled ‘Decolonization, African Agency and African Modernization: The Legacy of Thomas Sankara’ at the UJ School of Tourism and Hospitality.
Speakers
The speakers were Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Former South African Minister and former Chair of the AU Commission; and Mr. Luc Youlouka Damiba, General Secretary, International Committee of the Thomas Sankara Memorial.
The seminar was moderated by Mr Koffi Kouakou, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Africa-China Studies. Among those who attended were Ms. Lindiwe Zulu, former Minister of Small Business Development and former Minister of Social Development.
The seminar resulted in a powerful discussion on Africa’s path toward self-determination and sustainable modernization. Thank you to all who joined this important conversation on African agency and Pan-African futures.
Preceding comment by Dr David Monyae:
The seminar will feature two distinguished keynote speakers whose contributions will frame the discussion within both a contemporary and historical Pan-African perspective.
Dr Nkosazana Dlamini‑Zuma will speak on ‘Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want’, offering critical insights into Africa’s long-term development blueprint, its strategic priorities, and the continent’s aspirations for inclusive growth, peace, and self-reliance. Her address will contextualize how continental frameworks can influence national policy choices and guide Africa’s trajectory in an increasingly complex global environment.
Mr Luc Youlouka Damiba will deliver a reflection on the legacy of Thomas Sankara, examining how Sankara’s political philosophy, revolutionary governance model, and people-centred development agenda continue to shape contemporary debates on African leadership, sovereignty, accountability, and transformative statecraft. His intervention will draw parallels between Sankara’s historical vision and present-day challenges facing African states.
Together, these two interventions will connect Africa’s strategic future (Agenda 2063) with its revolutionary past (Sankara) — offering participants a powerful intellectual anchor for engaging with Africa’s development, governance, and modernization agenda.
