NATION IN VIEW: CHAD

The Power of Faithfulness

When will Africa have true leaders who care about Africans? When will Africans enjoy the fruit of their land? When will Africans rise to their true potential without ever having to prove to anyone that they have one? When will Africans create their own realities, wealth, and nations without the interference of those strangers who think they own the continent? These and many other questions have been on my mind since the very inception of this magazine. And I know there are lots of other Africans asking the same questions.

But the question remains. What exactly is wrong with Africa, and why are Africans considered third world? There are lots of answers to these questions, but one answer remains true and stares us largely in our faces. I speak of the lack of faithfulness to the overall purpose and vision of Africa. And this lack of faithfulness to purpose manifests in various ways and in various dimensions in all parts of the African continent and the global African community. It, however, largely manifests as corruption, poverty, ethnic conflicts, terrorism, and the many other vile things that take their cue from a heart that is not faithful to purpose and calling.

Faithfulness speaks of consistency, and consistency is the ability and discipline to show up and make the vision work, irrespective of what tries to stop it. Faithfulness takes its foundation from the concept of faith. And even though some Africans now think that faithfulness is some concept that emanates from faith and that faith itself is just some assumption that Christians have been brainwashed to use, especially as an excuse for rational thinking, this is a very faulty notion. Faith is not an assumption to do things based on ignorance or the lack of rational thinking, but an action based on knowledge or instruction. Faith is that which is done in response to knowledge. And it’s not blind. It blinds you to that which is superficial and opens you up to that which is real. Which is the same reason why, even though ancient prophecies from ancient African seers and Shamans foretold the coming of the White man to the African continent and the havoc they would bring with them, Africans did not pay much attention to those prophecies and thus did not prepare for what was to come.

So, imagine if Africans had understood that faith is actually what happens when you intentionally and faithfully work to prepare for that which you have been shown or told, they would have been better prepared for the coming of the White invaders and would not have been caught unaware.

No country or nation, or society can be built by miracle or magic, or even prayers. If it were so, Nigeria, with all its massive mega churches, should be the greatest nation on earth. But we can see that while the people pray their eyes out in their state of poverty, their pastors go on holiday in Dubai. But Dubai was not built by praying Christians. In other words, it must take the faithfulness and consistency of willing souls to show up and make nation-building work.

We hear of corruption in our African societies, and as a matter of speaking directly, Africa is where it is right now due to systemic and individual corruption that has created rotten institutions with no ability to steer change. But what is corruption? Corruption is simply the lack of faithfulness to that which is true, honorable, and community-building.

The politician who plunged his nation into darkness because he stole the budget meant for development did not do so because he was ignorant of the potential darkness his corruption would create in the nation, but because he lacks the heart that is faithful to that which is true and beneficial to the well-being of his people.

Various Africans like to say that the problem with Africa is a lack of unity. I agree that unity will play a big role in the true emancipation of Africa from the various challenges it has, but unity will be meaningless if there is no vision to unite for. Unity does not start with conformity or saying or thinking the same thing; it starts with seeing the same thing. It starts with seeing one vision. There can never be unity if there is nothing to be united about.

I like the way Yaw Kissi puts it in one of his LinkedIn posts. He wrote:

“People ask me:

“Yaw, how can Africa unite with so many tribes, religions, and beliefs?”

“If we unite, what language will we even speak?”

And the classic: “Religion will always divide Africa.”

Let me be clear:

UNITY IS NOT UNIFORMITY.

Europeans have over 24 official languages, multiple religions, and centuries of war between them yet they built the EU.

So what’s really stopping us?

Tribe? Religion? Language? No.

The real issue is this: We do not know who we are.

We’ve allowed outsiders to define our identities. We fight over boundaries drawn in Berlin in 1884. We wear colonial names like honor badges. We debate imported religions like they define us meanwhile, we own nothing, control nothing, and export our futures like raw materials.

I don’t care if you face Mecca, Jerusalem, or your ancestors. If your beliefs can’t see that Africa needs economic liberation, they are distractions.

Because listen:

We are trapped in a monetary system not built for us. A trade structure that extracts from us. A political class that answers to others, not us.

This is why I say:

Economic liberation is non-negotiable. We need African monetary policy. African trade systems. African ownership.

AFRICAN SOLUTIONS. THE AFRICAN WAY.

And all of this begins with one thing:

Reclaiming the Transcendent African Identity.

That identity is older than tribe, deeper than religion, and wiser than colonizers.

It is not limited to one language, region, or ritual. It is the shared memory of a people who survived ships, chains, and the theft of history and are still standing.

When we redefine ourselves by us, not by them, everything changes.

Because when identity is clear, purpose becomes unstoppable.

So no, Africa doesn’t need uniformity.

We need vision.

We need will.

We need a shared direction grounded in truth not imported ideologies.”

We need faithful men and women, boys and girls, families that understand what it means to be Africans and where Africa should be, stand by their convictions, and get the work done.

Facts About Chad

Chad is the fifth-largest country in Africa by land area, spanning approximately 1.26 million square kilometers. To put that in perspective, it’s about the combined size of Spain, France, and the State of Kansas in the US.

Located in north-central Africa, Chad is named after Lake Chad—a vital freshwater body that once nourished a vast region. Despite being lesser-known on the global stage, Chad is rich in cultural diversity, geographic contrasts, and complex history. Below are some facts about this fascinating country.

1. A Hub for World-Class Camel Racing

In the remote Tibesti Mountains in northern Chad, you’ll find some of the finest camel racing on Earth. These rugged highlands—whose name means “the place where mountain people live”—are home to the Toubou people, a proud nomadic ethnic group.

Camel racing events, usually held in the early mornings, are a thrilling spectacle and an integral part of local culture. While still underrecognized globally, the region has produced elite camel racers who deserve wider acclaim.

2. “The Babel Tower of the World”

Chad is often referred to as “The Babel Tower of the World” due to its extraordinary cultural and linguistic diversity. More than 200 ethnic groups and over 100 languages coexist within the country’s borders.

Arabic and French are the official languages, a legacy of colonization, but dozens of indigenous languages are spoken daily. This cultural mosaic makes Chad one of Africa’s most ethnolinguistically diverse nations.

3. National Symbols: The Goat and the Lion

Chad’s coat of arms, adopted in 1970, features two symbolic animals: the mountain goat (representing the north) and the lion (representing the south). They stand on either side of a blue-and-yellow shield, topped by a rising red sun.

Beneath the shield is a scroll inscribed with the national motto in French: Unité, Travail, Progrès—translated into English as “Unity, Work, Progress.”

4. Lake Chad: The Country’s Namesake

Chad derives its name from Lake Chad, one of Africa’s most important freshwater lakes. Though the lake has shrunk by about 95% since 1963 due to climate change and overuse, it remains a crucial resource for water, fishing, and farming.

Lake Chad is the second-largest wetland in Africa and touches the borders of Nigeria, Cameroon, and Niger. It plays a key role in regional ecology and livelihood.

5. Crude Oil Fuels the Economy

Since 2003, crude oil has become the backbone of Chad’s economy. Before the oil boom, cotton was the country’s primary export.

The oil sector has driven major infrastructure developments, including a 1,070 km pipeline from the Doba oil fields to the port of Kribi in Cameroon. Chad currently produces around 94,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

6. A Giant on the Global Map

Chad ranks as the 21st largest country in the world by land area. It accounts for about 0.85% of the Earth’s total landmass. While smaller than Peru, it is larger than South Africa, making it a significant territorial presence in Africa.

7. Rich in Untapped Mineral Wealth

Chad has substantial reserves of gold and uranium. However, these resources remain largely underdeveloped due to inadequate investment and a difficult business climate.

The International Finance Corporation has consistently ranked Chad among the least favorable countries in the world for doing business—one of the key reasons why mining has lagged behind the oil sector.

8. The Kakaki: A Symbol of Authority

Traditional ceremonies in Chad often feature the Kakaki, a long, metal trumpet measuring between three to four meters. The instrument, also known as Waza, symbolizes power and is typically used during state or royal events.

The Kakaki is not unique to Chad—it is also part of Hausa ceremonial traditions in countries like Nigeria, Ghana, and Burkina Faso.

9. The Sahara Dominates the North

Roughly one-third of Chad’s territory is covered by the Sahara Desert, making its northern region arid and sparsely populated. The Sahara is the world’s largest hot desert and the third-largest desert overall.

The area receives minimal rainfall (300–600 mm annually), and vegetation is limited to hardy species like the date palm. Among the rare wildlife that inhabit this region is the endangered northeast African cheetah.

10. Grains Are the Staple Diet

Grain-based foods form the foundation of Chadian cuisine. Millet, sorghum, and rice are the main staples, used in dishes like boule—a thick porridge eaten with sauces made from vegetables or meat.

Agriculture varies by region: millet and maize dominate in the south, while hardier grains like sorghum are more common in the north.

While I hate some of the things going on in Africa and would wish not to write about them because of how they get me angry, Chad remains a land of contrasts—rich in history, diversity, and natural resources, yet burdened by poverty, underdevelopment, and climate challenges. Its untapped potential, however, is immense. From camel racing in the Tibesti Mountains to the cultural harmony among 200 ethnic groups, Chad is a country full of stories waiting to be told and possibilities waiting to be realized.

We need faithfulness and faithful people who will change the story of Africa from such contrasts as “rich in natural resources but one of the poorest in the world” narrative.

Prayer for Chad

I do not make this prayer so that some magic can happen, but so as to remind you, great people of Chad, that your history is beautiful, wealthy, healthy, and great. And you don’t have to accept every nonsense thrown at you and which has made you live below your true abilities. So I pray that faithful people will rise among you who will stand to build your nation with love, care, selflessness, vision, truth, and great strength. Turn on the lights in your hearts and let them shine until every darkness in your midst is banished and you rise as the true expression of faithfulness and love.

Be blessed indeed.