Money on a hand./ PHOTO; Pexel
In a continent known for its rich cultural heritage and tightly knit communities, the question arises: can Africa’s centuries-old practices of generosity and collective problem-solving survive the rapid pace of urbanization and modern economic pressures?
On December 2, 2025, the GivingTuesday webinar “Sankofa” brought together leaders, creatives, philanthropists, and community builders to explore this very challenge.
Drawing on the Akan concept of “go back and get it,” the session examined how African traditions of solidarity and mutual aid can be adapted to today’s cities, startups, and global diaspora networks.
The panel featured Miriam Hassan, UN Global Peace Advocate and spoken word artist; Shaun Samuel, Managing Director of SGS Consulting and co-leader of GivingTuesday South Africa; and Tendai Murisa, CEO of SIVIO Institute
Urbanization and the Changing Face of Solidarity
A central theme of the discussion was the tension between Africa’s communal traditions and the realities of rapid urbanization. Murisa highlighted the challenge:
“Africa is the fastest urbanizing continent. Our people are moving into urban areas very fast, and that movement is not organized around traditional community structures. Strangers are coming together, and it’s difficult to replicate the practices that have guided us for centuries.”
He noted that while some urban adaptations exist—such as neighbors supporting one another during funerals in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe these practices remain weaker than in rural areas.
“Urbanization and capitalism have disrupted our solidarity economy,” Murisa said. “Our challenge is to see how the things that inform African society from its roots can be adapted for urban areas.”
Samuel agreed, emphasizing that African communities possess immense, yet often overlooked, resources. “Colonization taught us to believe we had very little,” he said.
“But African communities hold enormous assets. Shifting from being beneficiaries to co-investors allows communities to reclaim agency and drive development.”
Reimagining Tradition in Modern Contexts
The panel explored how African cultural practices are evolving to meet contemporary needs.
Murisa pointed to cooperative housing projects in Kenya, where groups pool resources to build homes, a modern reflection of older communal labor systems.
In Nigeria, artisanal programs train young entrepreneurs over several years before helping them establish businesses.
These models demonstrate how traditional approaches to collective value creation can guide modern development.
Diaspora communities also play a critical role.
“Remittances are now among the largest sources of foreign currency in countries like Zimbabwe,” Murisa explained.
“Diasporans may not physically return home, but they can fund hospitals, support local businesses, and strengthen institutions. We need to channel this generosity effectively, leveraging technology and networks.”
Culture as an Economic Force
A key insight of the webinar was that African traditions were not only social but also deeply economic. Festivals, songs, and dances often celebrated collective decision-making around resources.
“Half the time, people misunderstand our cultures to think they’re only about celebration, without seeing the economic and social deliberations that precede them,” Murisa said.
Recognizing these practices as frameworks for economic action is crucial for sustainable development models rooted in local knowledge.
Samuel stressed that philanthropy could leverage these economic principles.
“We need to link the social and solidarity economy to capital markets, pension funds, and blended finance instruments,” he said.
“Africa doesn’t need aid to navigate prosperity; we need relationships with capital, enterprise development, and solutions grounded in evidence.”
Embedding Generosity into Leadership and Business
Beyond cultural preservation, panelists emphasized the potential to embed generosity into leadership and commerce.
Murisa urged leaders to move beyond token corporate social responsibility initiatives and integrate giving into organizational DNA.
“The new way of competition is collaboration. We must leverage our businesses, networks, and ecosystems to scale solutions across borders,” he said.
Samuel highlighted the importance of storytelling in elevating African giving.
“We tell the stories of our work, but we often fail to connect them to investment, collaboration, or social enterprise opportunities,” he noted.
“We must be intentional, pragmatic, and evidence-informed in translating our traditions into modern solutions.”
Rethinking NGOs and Donor Dependence
Panelists also critiqued traditional NGOs, many of which rely heavily on foreign funding and replicate donor-driven models that do not align with African realities.
“We have tried to copy other regions, and it hasn’t worked,” Murisa said.
“NGOs need to co-create solutions with communities, rather than depend solely on external donors.”
Samuel added that outsourcing problem-solving to donors has weakened local agency.
Citing gender-based violence initiatives, he noted that 60–65% of funding comes from foreign sources.
“We spend so much time analyzing problems but fail to fashion solutions,” he said. “Now is the time to reinvest in fixing social problems ourselves, using the resources and expertise we already possess.”
Imagining a Generous Africa
As the webinar concluded, the panel urged participants to envision an Africa where generosity drives both social and economic development.
Murisa called for aligning cultural traditions with modern economic tools, encouraging collaboration among businesses, civil society, and diaspora networks.
Samuel emphasized pragmatic, solutions-focused engagement:
“Engage with corporates, leverage diaspora networks, invest in community-driven enterprises, and tell our stories in ways that resonate. Africa has always solved big problems together. The question now is how we innovate and scale these solutions in our modern context.”
The Sankofa webinar underscored that Africa’s culture of generosity is far from a relic.
By reconnecting with traditional practices, adapting them for urban environments, and integrating them into leadership, commerce, and creative sectors, African communities can strengthen resilience, drive sustainable development, and reclaim agency over their social and economic futures.
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