For a number of reasons – climate change, the war in Ukraine, and the COVID-19 pandemic to name a few – large parts of Africa are facing famine. This probably doesn’t seem surprising, as we often hear narratives of African nations struggling to eat. But when taking a step back, this shouldn’t make such sense. Some of the world’s most nutritious and abundant crops are native to African soil, crops that people in other parts of the world call ‘superfoods’ and ‘miracle grains.’ So, why don’t African nations have food sovereignty?
Formed by colonialism and capitalism and perpetuated by false narratives of dependency, the global markets that govern food systems undermine the rights of Africans to grow and distribute their own food. This leads to diets that are unhealthy, unsustainable and unaffordable. But the continent can still revitalize its food pyramids by adopting solutions like agroecology, family farmers, land rights and indigenous crops.
In this brand-new episode, we bring together Million Belay, head coordinator of the Alliance for Food Sovereignty for Africa, and Amanda Namayi, one of the leading young champions for zero hunger and a green revolution in Africa, to discuss the continent’s pathways to take back control over its food.
You Might Like
