Obviously, we pick up other traits, I have them as well, but it
doesn’t mean you cannot be African. The joke is when they
are in groups with non-Africans, they become the Africans
of the group. They’re like ‘Oh, I’m African’. All of a sudden
they got the identity. Besides that, when they are with Africans they’re like ‘I’m French’ or ‘Belgian.”
In her new future, Aimée sees herself working and living
somewhere in Africa. Her first choice is Dar es Salaam,
Tanzania.
“I want to contribute to Africa’s economy. I want to be there
when it changes,” she says. “Because at some point it’s going
to change and I just want to be with that change, be a part
of something great. By all means, I am an African before
I’m anything at all. Maybe if I were Belgian I would have
stayed in Belgium, but I’m not. My roots are Rwandan; I
think as an African, most of the time, and people say that
I always stay African whether I’m in an African group or a
Belgian group. I don’t change; I don’t shift.”
Let me take you five days back. I am walking in Palazzo Dei
Congressi when I come across a young lady, and we end up
having a good conversation. When I write African Leadership University as my institution in the registration form,
she’s surprised. She tells me how in love she is with what
B
ALU is doing to transform the continent. I’m amazed and
excited.
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