A Ghanaian content creator, Kofi Anku, has shared a deeply personal account of his father’s contribution to the anti-apartheid struggle, amid rising Xenophobic attacks.
A bank cheque shared by Kofi shows that his father Vincent D. Anku donated $10,000 to support Nelson Mandela during South Africa’s fight for liberation.
Kofi recounted the story to highlight the spirit of unity that once defined African nations, contrasting it with the recent wave of xenophobic attacks in South Africa. Noting that many African countries, including Ghana, played vital roles in supporting the country’s struggle against apartheid.
“That memory is heavy on my mind today. Because right now, Ghanaian migrants in South Africa are being attacked and intimidated. In the very country my father believed in enough to help fund its liberation. The same South Africa whose freedom many across the continent wept, prayed and sacrificed for.” He wrote.
The revelation has since gained traction online, with many describing the gesture as a powerful symbol of African solidarity especially in light of renewed tensions targeting foreign nationals.
Kofi further described the ongoing xenophobic violence as a test of the unity once built across the continent.
“The xenophobia tearing through South Africa today isn’t just a South African problem. It’s a test of whether that vision of solidarity our parents and grandparents built still means anything. My father is no longer here. But this cheque exists. And it asks a question that I think our generation needs to answer: What are we willing to do for each other?” He emphasized.
Notably, the revelation comes amid rising xenophobic attacks perpetrated by South Africans against other African migrants in their country. The actions which started with protests have already reportedly spiraled into attacks on African-owned businesses in South Africa.
Many social media users have commended Kofi for preserving and sharing such an important piece of history.
One user wrote:
“Thanks for sharing and speaking up. I read a post where someone questioned what other Africans contributed during apartheid. This is an important historical record.”
Another added:
“That was—and still is—a significant amount of money. It’s heartbreaking to see these xenophobic incidents today, considering how much support South Africa received from across Africa during apartheid. What short memory. Shame.”
By Musekir Faisat Omolara
