Held at the Wellness Centre on the Mbombela Campus, the event offered a powerful exploration of the lasting psychological, cultural, and political effects of settler colonialism in Africa.
In his address, Professor Diescho traced the historical foundations and contemporary consequences of colonial rule, contending that while African nations may have achieved political independence, the structural and psychological legacies of colonialism remain firmly entrenched.
Referring to the infamous 1884 Berlin Conference – where European powers partitioned Africa without any African representation – he argued that settler colonialism was not merely an act of conquest, but a deliberate reconfiguration of African societies in the image of European empires.
The public lecture engaged an audience of academics, students, staff and government delegates.
“We live with ghosts that do not resemble us,” Professor Diescho remarked. “African people have been conditioned to see themselves through the eyes of others. Colonialism did not simply take our land; it took our mirror and replaced it with one that reflects inferiority.”
He stressed that this mental disorientation continues to shape how African leaders engage with governance, development, and international relations.
To illustrate this, he recounted a 2014 diplomatic visit during which a Namibian delegation travelled to Brussels and Beijing ill-prepared and lacking strategic direction, in contrast to their Chinese counterparts, who were highly organised and united in purpose.
“Our leaders go to global tables unprepared, while others arrive united and clear in their mission,” he said. “This is a continuation of the colonial script where we are present, but not powerful.”
Dean of the Faculty of Economics, Development & Business Sciences, Professor Vusi Gumede. Professor Diescho also addressed the cultural reprogramming imposed by colonialism, citing the introduction of items such as salt, sugar, guns, and mirrors as tools that subtly but fundamentally altered African value systems. He highlighted the influential role of missionaries, who imposed foreign religious and moral frameworks that disrupted African spirituality and communal cohesion. “They brought us shoes and jackets, but stripped us of our identity,” he said.
“We were told that our gods were demons and that salvation looked like someone else.” Turning to the post-liberation period, Professor Diescho reflected on the political transitions in countries such as South Africa and Namibia. He noted that while leaders like Nelson Mandela adopted the moral high ground as a tactical necessity, these choices ultimately fell short of dismantling entrenched structures of inequality.
“Mandela’s government had to mislead the world about their true intentions to gain time and avoid chaos,” he said. “But in doing so, certain colonial laws and mindsets were never truly dismantled.”
Professor Diescho issued a fervent call for an African renaissance grounded in intellectual sovereignty, cultural revitalisation, and spiritual reconnection. He expressed concern over what he described as “spiritual schizophrenia” – an identity crisis resulting from the internalisation of foreign religions, philosophies, and benchmarks of success. “We have become afraid of gods that are not ours, and dependent on logic that is not our own,” he said. “Africa must begin to reason again, in its voice.”
Attendees had the opportunity to engage in a question-and-answer session with the speaker.
In closing, Professor Diescho underscored South Africa’s distinctive role in spearheading a continental renewal, particularly through the embrace of indigenous languages and cultural heritage. He singled out isiXhosa for its expressive depth and adaptability. “We must use our languages to speak the future,” he urged.
“The African renaissance will not come from outside – it will rise from within if we are prepared to reclaim what is truly ours.”
The public lecture drew a large and engaged audience of students, staff, and community members. The event prompted a lively discussion and served as both a moment of reflection and a call to action, reinforcing UMP’s commitment to fostering critical dialogue about Africa’s history, present realities, and future possibilities.
Story by Cleopatra Makhaga. Pictures supplied.