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One organization is looking to local HBCUs to increase Black Americans’ participation in the development of Africa.
Thursday, members of the Pan-African Council visited Johnson C. Smith University’s Lyceum Engagement Series to discuss the council’s mission of partnering with historically Black colleges and universities to continue to support and engage with Africa.
“There’s many developments happening in many African countries, and everyone [nationalities] is involved except for African-Americans,” Fabian Anthony, chairman of the council, told QCity Metro.
The Pan-African Council is an international leadership organization that works to advance the continent of Africa and unite the diaspora, a collection of communities across the world that descend from the continent.
Anthony was joined by the president of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) and founder of the SEED Project, an organization that develops young leaders through basketball, Amadou Gallo Fall, and Her Royal Highness Princess Tirelo Molotlegi of South Africa’s Royal Bafokeng Nation at the Lyceum luncheon.
Speakers focused on dispelling myths and fake information about Africa and informed the audience about how the continent is evolving.
“We want to show JCSU that there are opportunities,” Anthony said. “We want to discuss expanding global education, [student] exchange opportunities and get involved with the work that [Fall] and [the] princess are doing.”
Molotlegi spoke about building sustainable communities, and Fall spoke about opportunities for student-athletes.
An athletic approach
Fall said his mission is to continue growing the relationship between the Basketball Africa League and Black Americans.
“After launching the BAL in 2021, we had a few Americans play for us, including J.Cole. We have seen an increase every year after that,” Fall said.
The BAL’s partnership with the NBA has allowed the league to grow quickly in the three years of its existence. With basketball growing in global popularity, Fall said he wants to take advantage of the opportunity and engage players from HBCUs.
“We want to make the BAL an option for basketball players to continue their careers. A player from JCSU can look at us and see us as an option.”
According to a 2020 study by the National College Athletic Association, only 1.2% of college basketball players are selected in the NBA Draft every year. That percentage decreases every year with more international players being selected in the draft over college players.
More than 20% of college basketball players have pursued professional basketball careers by playing internationally or in the NBA’s G-League, the NBA’s development league. BAL’s rapidly growing league could provide another stable option for college basketball players to pursue professional careers.
Fall said he hopes his message will attract potential players from JCSU and other HBCUs.
Looking ahead
Anthony told QCity Metro the Pan-African Council will continue to look for ways to connect with HBCUs and Black Americans to continue its work, like a trade forum it hosts and youth engagement opportunities.
In 2022, The Pan-African Council facilitated the AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum to unite Africa and the Caribbean Islands by sharing information about investments, trades, climate change, health and more.
Outside of coordinating events, the Pan-African Council has established youth mentorship and development programs. The council also provides grants and programs for youth to increase access to education, developmental skills, mentorship and sustainability.
“There has been a lot of talk in the past [about organizations supporting Africa], but we are actually doing the work.”
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