AFRICAN LEADERSHIP (Mind Liberation #9)

African leaders have all too often betrayed the people they lead, because they see leadership as an opportunity to exercise unchecked or autocratic power and amass wealth for themselves, their families, and cronies. Also many leaders in Africa do a lot of talking, with little action. They tell others to do what they themselves would not do. But true leaders lead by actions, not by directions. Finally, a majority of our leaders want to be leaders for life. They stay in power till they become senile or are shot dead by someone. They make sure that until they die, no one else will ever come up to positions of prominence.—S.K. Pipim, The Transformed Mind, p. 231.

A NEWBORN YEAR

If we’re willing, this newborn year can be better than its predecessor. For the new year challenges us to dream, to dare, to do, and to attain. Whatever hasn’t been tried beckons with allure, and past accomplishments demand more advancements. Our frontiers extend beyond imposed limitations, and our task is broader than self-glorification. Such a new year begins with being a new person: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). No matter the scars that disfigure, or the bruises that disable, God can bring beauty and strength out of ugly situations. Not just once a year, but every single day. Happy New Year!—Samuel Koranteng-Pipim

AFRICAN BLACK BEANS (Mind Liberation #8)

“African PHDs” (i.e., leaders with the “Pull Him Down"/"Pull Her Down” mind-set) have stifled the cultivation, development, & fruition of mature & responsible African leadership. These dysfunctional leaders are “African Black Beans”—black on the outside, but white on the inside. Pigmentally & geographically, these African leaders may be classified as black; but they have the same mind-set of their former— & present—colonial masters. When we challenge their incompetency & lack of vision, they whip up tribalism—which is the most comfortable shelter under which they rest from their hard work of incompetence and selfishness.—S.K. Pipim, The Transformed Mind, pp. 230-231.

THE AFRICAN MINDSET (Mind Liberation #7)

The African mind-set is the result of mental chains that still bind us, despite our liberation from the metal chains of colonization and slavery. We may legitimately talk about other chains that shackle Africans—chains of poverty, chains of neocolonialism, chains of slavery, chains of racism, chains of exploitation, chains of dependence, chains of ignorance and superstition, and all kinds of other chains. These other specific chains exist. But we need to realize that these are only symptoms of a deeper problem; they are not the root cause. The root of our woes is mental. It is not our minds, but our mind-set.—S.K. Pipim, The Transformed Mind, p. 198-199.

THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT (Mind Liberation #6)

Africans are like the elephant in the zoo. The elephant may have the power to knock down a building, but because it believes it can’t break the chain or string, even if the chain or string exists only in its mind, it doesn't even try. … Such, too, is the condition of the African mind. Somehow we have come to believe that we’re incapable of doing anything for ourselves. This kind of [elephant in the zoo] thinking prevents us from achieving our full God-given potential. And it prevents us from seeing circumstances as opportunities & setbacks as stepping-stones. It is these mental chains that need to be broken. —S.K. Pipim, The Transformed Mind, pp. 222-223.

THE AFRICAN HEART (Mind Liberation #5)

THE AFRICAN DISEASE (Mind Liberation #4)

The most malignant disease facing the continent of Africa is not AIDS or malaria, but one called “the blindness of the heart.” A heart problem. To put it differently, this simply means our minds are in chains [i.e., “futility of the mind” and “darkened understanding”; Ephesians 4:17, 18]. Mental slavery. … If you want to know why there is widespread corruption, why a lack of transparency and accountability in government, why senseless tribalism and wars, why mediocre leadership, why the whining and victim mentality, why we’ve developed a culture of begging for everything, etc., my answer is: “Our minds are in chains.” —S.K. Pipim, The Transformed Mind, p. 202.

WHEN DOORS ARE CLOSED

Despite our best intentions and efforts, doors of opportunity sometimes shut in our faces: Prospects are blocked, relationships are terminated, & scholarships, school admissions, job offers, and visa requests are denied.  It’s Divine Providence & timing that close certain doors in order to re-direct us to new & welcoming ones. Thus, Paul and his team “were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. … They tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them.So passing by Mysia they came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him saying, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us’...” (Acts 16:6-10). Don’t despair, but catch the vision: With every closed door, another beckons us to enter!—Samuel Koranteng-Pipim

THIS IS AFRICA (Mind Liberation #3)

Instead of raising millionaires & billionaires, we’ve succeeded in producing nillionaires (people with a lot of nothing or people with next to nil). The richest continent in the world is inhabited by the poorest people on the globe. Mediocrity is the new standard of excellence. PHD means “Pull Him Down” or “Pull Her Down.” We excel at hammering those who stand out. And we clip the wings of our soaring eagles so they can become chickens like us. This is Africa. It is not the Africa that ought to be. Somebody must ask “Why?” By asking this question, we can begin to address the “what” & “how” solution to our African problem.—S.K. Pipim, “The Transformed Mind,” p. 198.

WHO IS A TRUE AFRICAN? (Mind Liberation #2)

The mark of a real African is not the geographical location, the color of the skin, ability to wear some kente cloths or some other piece of traditional clothing. Being a true African is not about an ability to cook and eat a particular dish, having a particular braid of hair, dance to a musical rhythm, have a funny-sounding name, or perform some athletic feats. Rather, the hallmark of true Africans is (or ought to be) their ability to think—the ability to think differently and act differently. This ability to think and act differently is the hallmark of a transformed mind, and must define what it means to be an African.—Samuel Koranteng-Pipim, The Transformed Mind, p. 205.