Word Up: 10 Iconic Speeches by African Leaders You Should Memorise
Words have power and throughout history, many great African leaders have delivered iconic speeches that have fortunately been captured on camera. Let's check out 10 of them.
Words have power. Immense power!
Whether they contain mystical powers or not, words, when spoken with a spice of masterful oratory are not only inspiring, but can also serve as instrumental change weapons.
Throughout history, many great African leaders and icons have given iconic speeches that have either made their way into history books or luckily been captured on camera. But at the end of the day, every great speech is just a string of words and ideas, right? Some call it lip-service.
But is it?
A lot of speeches can warm the hearts of people and inspire them to become better, then there are iconic speeches that can inspire entire nations to take action on their collective destiny and turn the cause of history for good.
So, we set out to research the 10 most iconic speeches by African leaders (dead or alive) captured on camera that we think you should memorise.
This list will mostly contain speeches during Africa’s anti-colonial era and a more distant past in the continent’s history.
This is also not a hierarchical rank of the best speeches or a listicle of the best African leaders. Individuals come and go, attitudes change very regularly, but the significance of an iconic speech will always remain.
So, without further ado, let’s dive into it.
1. Nelson Mandela’s “I Am Prepared to Die”Rivonia Trial Speech
“I Am Prepared to Die” is the name of the nearly three-hour-long speech delivered by former South African leader and freedom fighter, Nelson Mandela while presenting his defence during the famous Rivonia Trial on April 20, 1964.
In 1948, the all-white National Party came into power in South Africa and began implementing Apartheid (“apartness” in Afrikaans), a discriminatory and oppressive system of legislation that enforced segregationist policies against black citizens of South Africa.
Nelson Mandela, a lawyer by profession, joined the African National Congress (ANC) and quickly rose to become one of its prominent leaders. The ANC devoted its policies and actions towards opposing the ruling segregationist government through protests, boycotts and sometimes, through its military wing, uMkhonto we Sizwe (abbreviated as “MK“), it also carried out violent acts which the ruling government deemed as terrorism.
So, in 1964, the government charged Nelson Mandela and 10 other ANC comrades with sabotage and furthering Communism. Facing a possible death penalty, Mandela, with help from author, Nadine Gordimer and journalist, Anthony Sampson, spent weeks preparing what is now called the “I Am Prepared to Die” speech, which was inspired by former Cuban leader, Fidel Castro’s famous “History Will Absolve Me” defence speech.
On trial day, Mandela stood before the South African Supreme Court and instead of testifying for himself and pleading not guilty, he delivered the 14,259 words-long speech for nearly four hours, using the opportunity to express his passion for the freedom and equality of all races living in South Africa, the struggle for the emancipation of the African people and his hatred for apartheid.
The “I Am Prepared to Die” speech takes its name from the closing sentences when Mandela stunned the world with these words:
“During my lifetime, I have dedicated my life to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons will live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal for which I hope to live for and to see realised. But, My Lord, if it needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”
Although these words did not save Mandela from being convicted and later spending 27 years in prison, the speech struck a chord in the hearts of his black and white audience, stirred up the emancipation spirit in the South African people, which was later achieved in 1994 and has been dubbed one of the great speeches of the 20th century.
WATCH: Nelson Mandela’s “I Am Prepared to Die”
2. Kwame Nkrumah’s “Ghana is Free Forever” Independence Day Speech
On March 6, 1957, Ghana (formerly Gold Coast) became the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to gain independence, a feat which emboldened the struggle for liberation across the African continent. On the day of her independence, one of the most iconic speeches by an African leader was delivered by Ghana’s first Prime Minister and later President, Kwame Nkrumah.
Kwame Nkrumah was a vehement and very outspoken advocate of pan-Africanism, a movement which he co-pioneered to chart the course of liberation and unity for Africa and by Africans. But apart from being one of Africa’s greatest heroes, back at home, Nkrumah was and still is greatly revered and adored for his pioneering and frontline role in Ghana’s march to independence in 1957. So, on independence day, it was no surprise that he not only became Ghana’s first indigenous leader, but also delivered the iconic “Ghana is Free Forever” speech.
The 497-word long speech delivered at the famous Independence Square in the country’s capital, Accra and captured on camera was Nkrumah’s message to not only independent Ghana, but to the rest of Africa. According to him:
“Our independence [Ghana] is meaningless unless it is linked up with the total liberation of Africa.”
WATCH: Kwame Nkrumah’s “Ghana is Free Forever” Speech
3. Jomo Kenyatta’s Jamhuri Day Speech
On December 12, 1964, Kenya, a former British colony marked Jamhuri Day (Republic Day), one year after it had gained independence from the British colony. It also happens to be one of the country’s most important national holidays.
To mark this important day in 1964, Kenya looked up to Jomo Kenyatta, the one person who could deliver what would become an iconic speech.
Jomo Kenyatta (born Kamau wa Moigoi) is regarded as the founding father of Kenya. He was once the leader of Mau Mau, an anti-colonial political movement in Kenya, as well as Kenya’s Prime Minister from independence in 1963 to 1964 and then as its first President from 1964 to his death in 1978.
His iconic Jamhuri Day speech was delivered first in English and also in his native Swahili because according to him “it is not my wish to be speaking to you in a foreign language.”
Some of the things that make Kenyatta’s 1964 Jamhuri Day speech iconic were his impressive oratory, the significance and timeliness of the event and some of the themes like freedom, prosperity, and nation-building, the collective memory of Kenyan history, and significant Swahili terms (such as Uhuru and Harambee) to command collective action.
WATCH: Jomo Kenyatta’s Jamhuri Day Speech (1964)
4. Patrice Lumumba’s Independence Speech for Congo
Patrice Émery Lumumba was a Congolese politician, pan-African nationalist, first Prime Minister of the independent Democratic Republic of the Congo (then Republic of the Congo), as well as one of the country’s founding fathers and anti-Belgian colonial leaders.
His rule was one of the shortest in African history, lasting from June, 1960 until September of the same year after his gruesome assassination. But although his rule was shortlived, Lumumba’s iconic independence day speech, originally delivered in French, was thunderously applauded by Congolese delegates in the audience at the Palais de la Nation, broadcast by radio across the country, as well as in Belgium by the state broadcaster, RTBF.
The speech, which could be considered the birth certificate of modern Congo, began with Lumumba addressing the Congolese people and praising independence as the result of anti-colonial struggles, rather than the result of Belgian concessions.
“Although this independence of the Congo is being proclaimed today by agreement with Belgium, an amicable country, with which we are on equal terms, no Congolese will ever forget that independence was won in struggle, a persevering and inspired struggle carried on from day to day, a struggle, in which we were undaunted by privation or suffering and stinted neither strength nor blood.” – Patrice Lumumba
Lumumba ended his speech by reiterating Kwame Nkrumah’s pro-African stance, thus; “the Congo’s independence is a decisive step towards the liberation of the whole African continent” and the exclamations “Long live independence and African unity! Long live the independent and sovereign Congo!”
WATCH: Patrice Lumumba’s Independence Speech for Congo
5. Robert Mugabe’s “Keep your England and Let Me Keep My Zimbabwe” Speech
When news of the death of former Zimbabwean President, founding father and pan-Africanist, Robert Gabriel Mugabe filtered into the public space on September 6, 2019, there was a general feeling of indifference in the air.
While many wept and mourned his death, others cheered in jubilation of what they believed was freedom from the grips of a man who had led Zimbabwe to independence, from it and only relinquished power after a pro-democracy coup in 2017.
Controversial as he and his rule may have been, Robert Mugabe has been touted as one of the most outspoken and articulate African leaders of the last two centuries.
Among his numerous memorable speeches, perhaps, what would go down in history as Mugabe’s most iconic speech would be his September 3, 2002 “Earth Summit” address to the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, Sout Africa.
The speech opened with congratulating South Africa for hosting the world summit and continued with reflecting on the failure of the world to meet the commitments made ten years earlier at Earth Summit hosted by Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. But suddenly, Mugabe hijacked the event to defend his land reclamation policies in Zimbabwe, as well as denounce UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair’s and neo-colonial tendencies, saying:
“We are not Europeans. We have not asked for any inch of Europe, any square inch of that territory. So [Tony] Blair, keep your England and let me keep my Zimbabwe.”
Whether his speech was a masked attempt to defend his land reclamation agenda as many have argued or to genuinely denounce neo-colonial tendencies by the West, what is, however, undeniable is the passion, significance and oration with which Mugabe delivered his speech, which has made it one of the most iconic speeches ever made by an African leader. This is evident in his closing sentence:
“And let Africans come first in the development of Africa. Not as puppets, not as beggars but as a sovereign people.”
WATCH: Robert Mugabe’s Earth Summit Speech
6. Tafawa Balewa’s “Giant of Africa“ UN Speech
Sir. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was a Nigerian politician, deputy leader of the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC), and Nigeria’s first Prime Minister from independence in 1960, until his overthrow and assassination in 1966.
Balewa, a teacher by profession, was elected to the House of Assembly of the Northern Region, in 1947, he was one of its five representatives to the Central Legislative Council in Lagos and in 1952, he became colonial Nigeria’s Minister of Works and later served as Minister of Transport when the country was marching towards independence.
On independence day on October 1, 1960, Balewa delivered the speech which declared Nigeria an independent and self-governing state after he had been elected as its first Prime Minister.
However, what would be Balewa’s greatest and most iconic speech came 6 days after when he delivered Nigeria’s inaugural address at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, USA on October 7, 1960. Balewa used the 3,550-word long speech to introduce the newly independent and sovereign Nigerian state to the world which had just been admitted as the 99th member of the UN.
Because of the significance of the year 1960 in African history as the “Year of Africa” when 17 sub-Saharan territories gained independence, Balewa dedicated more than half of his address to celebrate the wave of freedom across Africa, highlight ongoing struggles for independence and other peculiar challenges on the continent and also commit Nigeria in support of these liberation movements.
“I wish to make our position plain beyond any measure of doubt with regard to the African Continent. We in Nigeria appreciate the advantages which the size of our country and its population give us, but we have absolutely no aggressive intentions. We shall never impose ourselves on any other country and shall treat every African Territory, big or small, as our equal because we honestly feel that it is only on that basis of equality that peace can be maintained in our continent.”
What his speech really did was position Nigeria as the Giant of Africa and also set the pace for what would later become Nigeria’s Afro-centrist foreign affairs policy which sought to make Africa the Centre-Piece of Nigeria’s Foreign Policy.
WATCH: Tafawa Balewa’s Giant of Africa UN Speech
7. Thabo Mbeki’s “I Am an African” Speech
Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki, former President of South Africa is revered as one of the most articulate African leaders of the 20th century.
On 20 September 2008, with about nine months left in his second term as President of South Africa, Mbeki announced his resignation after being recalled by the National Executive Committee of the ruling African National Congress (ANC).
Before becoming president, Thabo Mbeki delivered the famous “I Am an African” Speech on behalf of the ANC on 8 May 1996 during the passing of South Africa’s new constitution.
At the time of the speech, Mbeki was the Vice President of South Africa under the presidency of the late Nelson Mandela, who stared passionately and proudly at Mbeki during the speech.
Although he was supposed to deliver a speech to announce the adoption of the new constitution, Mbeki first explored the depth, rhythm and values of being an Africa by saying:
“On an occasion such as this, we should, perhaps, start from the beginning. So, let me begin. I am an African…”
His 2,017-word long speech defined the political and judicial mood in post-Apartheid South Africa and earned him the reputation as a political orator and reference with Martin Luther King Jr.
WATCH: Thabo Mbeki’s “I Am an African” Speech
8. Leopold Sedar Senghor’s Speech on Democratic Socialism
Léopold Sédar Senghor was a Senegalese poet, politician and cultural theorist who, for two decades, served as the first President of Senegal and the founder of the famous Négritude movement, a literary movement that advocated the preservation of the black culture and race, in protest against the French colonial policy of assimilation.
Léopold is considered one of the most intellectual Africans ever, which is why it came as no surprise that he delivered one of the most iconic speeches by an African leader in 1969 while he was speaking at the Seventh Congress of the Senegalese Progressive Union, today known aws the Socialist Party of Senegal.
The speech, originally delivered in French, was instrumental in proposing his thoughts on Democratic Socialism and also rejecting the division between the West and Eastern Bloc along the parallels of socialism and democracy.
WATCH: Leopold Sedar Senghor’s Speech on Democratic Socialism
9. Nnamdi Azikwe’s Anti-Imperialism Speech
Popularly known as “Zik” or “Zik of Africa”, Nigeria’s first president, Nnamdi Azikiwe will remain one of the most respected founding fathers of the independent Nigerian state. His nationalist journey towards independence for Nigeria began in the 1930s after his return to Nigeria from the United States, where he had gone to study.
During Nigeria’s independence struggle, Zik appeared before the Plenary Session of the British Peace Congress held at Lime Grove Baths in London on October 23, 1949, where he delivered what would become an iconic speech for the freedom of Nigeria and the whole of Africa.
Zik, a born orator, used that occasion to educate his audience about Nigeria and Africa and also remind the peace advocates that trying to prevent post-WW2 conflict between the Western bloc and the Soviet Eastern bloc should be only half of their agenda, the other half being a total dismantling of all forms of colonial rule in Africa.
“If I may be allowed to be frank, I must say that it is not enough for us to congregate here and adopt manifestoes for peace…One half of the world cannot enjoy peace, while the other half lives in the throes of war. You may succeed in averting war between the two great blocs, but yours will be a hollow victory so long as any part of the world remains a colonial territory. It is clear that imperialism is a perennial source of war.”
10. Nelson Mandela’s 1994 Inauguration Speech
After spending a total of 27 years in prison, Nelson Mandela gained his freedom and went on to run for office as President of South Africa. In 1994, he won the election and was voted the first black president of the rainbow nation.
On May 10, 1994, Nelson Mandela was sworn in as the first black democratic President of South Africa. The iconic event, which took place at the Union Buildings in Pretoria was attended by thousands of guests from far and wide and was broadcasted to millions globally.
At the time, South Africa was undergoing a transition from the apartheid regime to democratic rule, one that came with integration and reconciliation difficulties. As such, Mandela’s first task as president was to unite the black majority with other minority groups in the country.
Mandela used the 880-word long concise and rhetorical speech to advocate for peace, unity and reconciliation among all racial groups living in South Africa, rather than retribution, a move which gained him global recognition.
These words by Mandela will always remain infamous:
“We have triumphed in the effort to implant hope in the breasts of the millions of our people. We enter into a covenant that we shall build the society in which all South Africans, both black and white, will be able to walk tall, without any fear in their hearts, assured of their inalienable right to human dignity – a rainbow nation at peace with itself and the world.”
WATCH: Nelson Mandela’s Inauguration Speech
Dropping the mic…
It’s no doubt that these eras and some of the leaders have come and gone, but the memories and impact of their speeches and oration will always live on.
From Nkrumah to Mandela, Balewa to Kenyatta and Mbeki to Mugabe, people change very regularly, but the significance of an iconic speech will always remain.
What’s your favourite speech on the list? Did we leave out any speech? You can reply with the unmentioned speech below and if it’s good enough, we’ll publish a second part of this article.
Let us know which speech you will be memorising, too.
Remember, if it’s rankable, you’ll always find your rank here on RnakPaedia.