Is Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem gone? By Said Adejumobi
June 2nd, 2009Monday, June 01, 2009
Is Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem gone?
By Said Adejumobi
THE venue was Addis Ababa, and the issue on hand was convening an African Governance Roundtable on, “Towards the United States of Africa: Issues, Problems and Challenges”. I could not think of a better person to lead the discussion than Tajudeen Abdul Raheem, the irrepressible pan-Africanist and an incurable optimist on the African project. I sent an email to Taju, but mistakenly attached Prof. L. Adele Jinadu’s invitation letter with it. Taju replied, “Said, you never intended to invite me, you wanted to make me a substitute for Jinadu who probably had declined your invitation”. I responded apologising to Taju that it was an oversight and indeed, he was on the slot and to lead the discussion. Taju could not make it down to Addis Ababa for the roundtable on May 7, 2009 but sent another passionate comrade, Thomas Deve from Zimbabwe to represent him. That was the last conversation I had with Taju before the chilly but wicked hands of death snatched him away from mother earth! Africa has lost a gem, an illustrious son and someone ahead of his time!
Taju lived and died for Africa. Tajudeen was the Secretary General of the Pan-African Movement, and before his death the Deputy Director of the UNDP Millennium Development Goals office based in Nairobi, Kenya. What made Taju thick and different were his abiding faith, commitment, struggle and complete dedication to the pan-African project. Taju believed that another Africa is possible, and it is something that can be achieved through intense, even if rebellious struggles. Articulate, convincing and bright, Taju always puts on a colorful side of life. When friends are depressed and despondent about the course of events in Africa, Taju would counsel, “we will get there, we must not agonise but organise”. He courted friendship among the leaders, the rich, poor and vulnerable in society, but always weighed in on the side of the weak and the vulnerable.
He speaks with absolute confidence, carries his message with the tone and vigour of a missionary and never had any regrets for whatever he says. He chided leaders in their presence; speaks truth to power in the most direct way, aligns with progressive forces across the continent and foresaw a future that works for Africa. In one of the meetings of the African leaders, Taju was granted the floor to speak. Directing his attention to the leaders present, Taju enquired, “Why do we have to restrict our people from moving around? If it is difficult for us to enter the capitals of Europe, why is it that it is also difficult for us to enter our continental capital – Addis Ababa? Addis Ababa is Africa’s political capital, and we should be free to come here”. Turning his attention to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Taju beckoned for a response. Meles Zenawi, the Prime Minister of Ethiopia responded in a swift policy move few weeks after, making it possible for Africans to obtain visa on arrival at the airport in Addis Ababa.
Taju was an unrepentant advocate of a borderless Africa. Echoing Kwame Nkrumah, Taju would argue, “what unites us is far greater than what divides us, let our people move and move freely”. For Taju, the borders have become barriers to our lives; borders which in the first instance we did not create. From the Kikuyus in Kenya, to the Yorubas in Nigeria and the Ndebele’s in Zimbabwe, we all share a common past, heritage, problems, challenges and the same future. Why should Africa therefore not be united? Taju always insists. Taju was not a rabble rouser; he was a well educated and intellectually grounded mind. With a Ph.D. from Oxford University, Taju had the best academic background any sound mind could possess. But he deployed his mind in the service of the people. For Taju, Africa cannot be free, until its people were free.
An untold story about the formation of the African Union (AU) relates to Taju. Taju was a key personality in the process of the formation of the AU, though undocumented. Taju in canvassing support for the idea toured several African countries and met with many political leaders and public opinion moulders in those countries to convince them on it. Working closely with President Mummar Ghaddafi, who was a leader on board the idea, Taju was upbeat that it would be possible for Africa to move on the integration path. Taju in his life never saw problems, he always sees challenges. When asked whether forming the African Union was not a mere dream, or wishful thinking as the OAU itself was not very successful, and filled with rancour and conflicts, Taju would cheerfully reply, “let us dream dreams, the World is built on dreams, we shall move on”.
Taju was a core anti-imperialist and very unequivocal about it. Taju cherished his voice and used very platform to make a case for Africa against imperialist attacks. Even when it had become unfashionable to use the term, “imperialist’, Taju would use it freely in public platforms and fora no matter how high profile, it may be. Taju did not restrict himself to countries and multinational corporations; he did not spare the ‘merchants of Africa’s misfortune’ – the humanitarian NGOs and aid agencies, whose business thrives on the misfortune and poverty of the people. On one of such occasions, Taju was approached by an international NGO working on humanitarian intervention and poverty issues to help review its 10-year strategic plan for Africa. Taju returned it back to them with a response that, “would you like my plain advice to you?” The organisation insisted on having his view. Taju told them bluntly, “I look forward to the day when you will no longer have a strategic plan in or for Africa; when you will no longer work in Africa, when my people will be out of poverty and misery, when you will have no place or business in Africa”. Taju never reviewed any strategic plan!
Taju was much an internationalist as well as a localist. Taju never left the struggle at home – Nigeria. Taju was part of the pro-democracy movement in Nigeria in the dark days of the Abacha junta. He played a key role in the formation and running of Radio Kudirat – that guerrilla underground radio station which Wole Soyinka and Kayode Fayemi were part of, and was also central in the establishment of the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) in London. CDD was formed as the intellectual civil society resistance movement against autocracy and dictatorship in Nigeria and West Africa. Taju chaired the board of CDD till he passed away. Taju also never left his kith and kin and his local community in Funtua. Since the return to civil rule in 1999, Taju comes home regularly, visits families and friends, undertakes projects in his local community, and enjoys life the way he understands it. While in Abuja, Taju hangs out with friends at the “isiawu’ and “fish” joints, takes his cool beer and talks away the problems of the country. He is hardly angry, always reflective and sober, but ever determined that we must continue the struggle, no matter how hard or difficult it may be. For our generation and the younger ones, Taju was an inspiration. Defiant, strong willed, but always ready and willing to hear alternative views.
Taju was the greatest living pan-Africanist before he passed away a few days ago. As I received the news of Taju’s death in far away Stockholm, I was filled with complete shock, disbelief and sadness, the kind of which I have never experienced since my father died some 31 years ago. Could it be true? Can Taju be dead? Let someone tell me it was a joke! In contact with Addis, there was grief over Taju’s demise. Even heads of multilateral and regional institutions could not hold back their tears on it. Taju touched all who knew him in one way or the other! Taju stood for decency, integrity and African dignity. Taju cannot and must not die. The ideas and ideals, for which Taju lived, must live on, and ultimately give birth to a new Africa.
Goodnight, and goodbye, Taju! Africa would miss you, friends would miss you, families would miss you, and we will all miss you. Find sleep and rest in the Lord, sleep well, and may ALLAH grant you peace!
* Dr. Adejumobi lives in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
June 6th, 2009 at 7:30 pm
Dear Dr. Adejumobi,
Thank you for this commentary on Taju. It could not be written any better. Taju had an infectious relationship with all people he crossed paths with and he was groundedin pan africanism and had an incredible faith in Africa’s ability to stand on its own.
I closely worked with Taju as his assistant at Pan African Movement offices in Kampala. During that time, 1994-2000, there were lows and highs,and again Dr. Tajudeen was always an inspiration to those around him. He saw away out, light at the end of the tunnel, when no body else did.
He comforted us when we lost other Pan African Comrades such as Serwanga Lwanga, Ondoga ori Amaza, Jimmy Dean, Wilson Rutayisire, Noble Mayombo and many others. Now that he himself is gone, it would be doing him a disservice if we dispare. Taju expects us to reorganise and continue with the struggle.