Live Show: Resisting the Old Guard

In recent elections across Africa, the continent’s young masses have been pitted against old, entrenched elites who continue to deny them their basic human rights while refusing to relinquish power. The ongoing struggle of Bobi Wine and the movement he represents in Uganda, for example, is representative of a much broader generational battle –not only over the attainment of real political power, but also economic opportunities and social status.

In Nigeria, young people were the engine behind the #EndSARS movement. In Zambia and Zimbabwe, the majority youth are at the forefront of campaigns against government corruption and abuse of power. Given the remarkable youthfulness of African societies – a demographic trend that has fast become cliche – it is often too easy to assume that the old guard has had its day. Yet the image of young masses vs. old elites, while attention-grabbing, can also be misleading. Youth movements have rarely proved to be united or durable enough to achieve their ultimate goals, and there is the constant risk of their activities being co-opted into existing patronage networks that undermine their long-term impact. 

In this show, our first of 2021, we investigate how young activists, artists and politicians are changing the face of the African continent, and also explore what needs to happen for these movements to unite, build power and influence, and avoid repeating mistakes of the past.