Editor-in-Chief’s Note
By Ambassador Moleboheng Matli, MBL Editor-in-Chief | Southgerian Lifestyle Magazine
My Southgerian Nation!
As we celebrate another milestone of Southgerian Lifestyle Magazine, themed “African Renaissance – The Reawakening of a Continent,” I pause to reflect on Africa’s journey one of unity, progress, and the relentless pursuit of a brighter tomorrow. From the courage of our founding fathers and mothers to the resilience of our emerging leaders today, the heartbeat of our continent continues to echo through transformation, innovation, and hope.
In my own travels across 37 countries over two decades, I have witnessed the spirit of Africa in its purest form. I have walked through villages steeped in heritage, dined in cities pulsing with ambition, and stood in spaces where art, leadership, and culture intertwine. Every encounter has deepened my love for our continent and reaffirmed one truth: Africa is rising, not in silence, but in symphony.
“Decolonised. Detribalised. Free.”
My experiences have decolonised my mind and detribalised my spirit. I am no longer confined by artificial borders or restrained by inherited identities. I stand free embracing Africa in her entirety, with all her languages, her colours, and her contradictions.
As a proud Mosotho woman from South Africa’s Free State Province, I have worn many cultural hats and in each one, I have found home. When I don a Yoruba or Igbo attire from Nigeria, I do not feel foreign. I feel African. This, to me, is the beauty of our rebirth a freedom that transcends boundaries and tribes, inviting us to rediscover the wholeness of who we are. True African freedom lies not in where we descend from, but in how we rise together by:
- Letting go of colonial mentalities and tribal divisions.
- Celebrating diversity while embracing unity.
- Loving Africa without conditions, and embracing all her children.
“My Creed” Decolonised. Detribalised. Proudly African.
I stand before you unapologetically African a daughter of the soil, nurtured by the love of her people and strengthened by their resilience. The time for unity is now. Let us march together toward a future defined by shared purpose, mutual respect, and unwavering love for our continent. Let us reclaim our narrative, honour our foremothers and forefathers, and pave the way for generations who will call this Renaissance their inheritance.
As you turn these pages, may you travel with us across the vast landscapes of Africa through the power of stories, art, and dreams captured within every word and image. This edition is a celebration of our rebirth, a reminder of our greatness, and a call to awaken the African within us all.
Join the Southgerian movement: share, subscribe, and gift this edition to another Southgerian. Let our voices echo beyond borders and unite the continent in pride and purpose.
Proudly African,
Ambassador Moleboheng Matli, MBL
Editor-in-Chief
#Evolve #Empower #Emancipate
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