These are people who could change Africa current position if they could implement their concepts or ideas for last 60 years since Africans countries beginning to gain their semi- independent from outsiders force. These African heroes they wanted for African people to have full independent politically and economically.

Kwame Nkrumah

One of founder of OAU, Krumah had vision how to free all Africa from colonialism that why he came with Africa united organisation. Colonial Africa was the theory of liberation of Nkrumah, which he explained in his book 'Towards Colonial Freedom ', written in 1947 and published in 1962.

Kwame Nkrumah

Kwame Nkrumah spoke of liberation as being mainly from colonialism, which to him was "…White man's burden which rest heavily upon the shoulders of the so-called "backward" people who have been subjugated, humiliated, robbed and degraded to the level of cattle."

Moreover Nkrumah saw in the policies of the colonial masters a lot of hypocrisy. In their crafty nature, they masked their real inhumane nature and evil intentions so well that it was very difficult for the people to notice.

" the attitude of Britain, France, Spain, Italy and other colonial powers towards what they call " participation" by colonial people in colonial government and public affairs are half-way measures to keep them satisfied and to choke their aspiration for complete independence".

His concept about Africa if it could be implemented today Africa could united and there will be not more coup etat in Africa and African government will speak in one voice to defend African people interests. He's truly African hero.

Patrice Lumumba

Patrice Lumumba, the first legally elected prime minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In DR Congo, Lumumba's assassination is rightly viewed as the country's original sin. Coming less than seven months after independence (on 30 June, 1960), it was a stumbling block to the ideals of national unity, economic independence and pan-African solidarity that Lumumba had championed, as well as a shattering blow to the hopes of millions of Congolese for freedom and material prosperity.

Patrice Lumumba

Patrice Lumumba's determination to achieve genuine independence and to have full control over Congo's resources in order to utilise them to improve the living conditions of his people was perceived as a threat to western interests

To fight him, the US and Belgium used all the tools and resources at their disposal, including the United Nations secretariat, under Dag Hammarskjöld and Ralph Bunche, to buy the support of Lumumba's Congolese rivals , and hired killers.

He was assassinated on 17 January, 1961 by American and Belgian governments used Congolese accomplices and a Belgian execution squad to carry out the murder. Patrice Lumumba is a son of Africa who sacrificed his life for his people to have full control of their own destiny.

Thomas Sankara

On 15 October 1987 a revolution was brought to an abrupt and bloody end by the murder of Thomas Sankara, President of the newly named state of Burkina Faso. In the years following Sankara's assassination, by his once trusted friend Blaise Compaoré who runs Burkina Faso to this day, his revolution was overturned and the country became just another African fiefdom of the International Monetary Fund. But for a brief period of 4 years, Burkina Faso shone brightly, a stunning example of what can be achieved even in one of the world's most impoverished countries.

In 1981, he was appointed to the military government in Upper Volta, but his outspoken support for the liberation of ordinary people in his country and outside eventually led to his arrest. In August 1983, a successful coup led by his friend Blaise Compaoré, brought him to power at the age of only 33.

Sankara purged corruption from the government, slashing ministerial salaries and adopting a simpler approach to life. Journalist Paula Akugizibwe says Sankara "rode a bicycle to work before he upgraded, at his Cabinet's insistence, to a Renault 5 - one of the cheapest cars available in Burkina Faso at the time. He lived in a small brick house and wore only cotton that was produced, weaved and sewn in Burkina Faso."

Thomas Sankara

"'Where is imperialism?" Look at your plates when you eat. These imported grains of rice, corn, and millet - that is imperialism."

His solution was to grow food - "Let us consume only what we ourselves control!" The results were incredible: self-sufficiency in 4 years. Former UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food Jean Ziegler says that a combination of massive land distribution, fertiliser and irrigation saw agricultural productivity boom; "hunger was a thing of the past".

Sankara used a conference of the Organisation of African Unity in 1987 to persuade fellow African leaders to repudiate their debts. He told delegates: "Debt is a cleverly managed reconquest of Africa. It is a reconquest that turns each one of us into a financial slave." Seeing these same leaders go off one-by-one to Western governments to get a slight restructuring of their debt, he urged common, public action that would free all of Africa from domination. "If Burkina Faso alone were to refuse to pay the debt, I wouldn't be at the next conference." Unfortunately, he wasn't to be.

"The root of the disease was political. The treatment could only be political. Of course, we encourage aid that aids us in doing away with aid. But in general, welfare and aid policies have only ended up disorganizing us, subjugating us, and robbing us of a sense of responsibility for our own economic, political, and cultural affairs. We chose to risk new paths to achieve greater well-being."

"Those who led us into debt were gambling, as if they were in a casino.. there is talk of a crisis. No. They gambled. They lost... We cannot repay the debt because we have nothing to pay it with. We cannot repay the debt because it is not our responsibility."

Today Sankara is not well known outside Africa - his character and ideas simply don't fit with the notion of Africa which has been constructed in the West over the last 30 years. It would be difficult to find a less corrupt, self-serving leader than Thomas Sankara anywhere in the world. But neither does he fit the image charities like to portray of the 'deserving poor' in Africa. Sankara was clear on the role of Western aid, just as he was clear on the role of debt in controlling Africa. Young man who fought the Western ideology of slavering Africa economically and politically. He was killed but his ideology still live for many young africans of today.

Steve Biko

student leader, he later founded the Black Consciousness Movement which would empower and mobilize much of the urban black population. Since his death in police custody, he has been called a martyr of the anti-apartheid movement.

Steve Biko

While living, his writings and activism attempted to empower black people, and he was famous for his slogan "black is beautiful", which he described as meaning: "man, you are okay as you are, begin to look upon yourself as a human being".

In 1972 Biko was expelled from medical school and began working full-time for the Black Community Programmes (BCP). He also started writing regularly for the SASO newsletter under the pen-name of Frank Talk

Biko saw the struggle to restore African consciousness as having two stages, "Psychological liberation" and "Physical liberation". The nonviolent influence of Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. upon Biko is then suspect, as Biko knew that for his struggle to give rise to physical liberation, it was necessary that it exist within the political realities of the apartheid regime, and Biko's nonviolence may be seen more as a tactic than a personal conviction.

This brave man, he sacrificed his life because of his people; he didn't give up teaching his people their rights as human being. He was murdered in police station of racist South African white police. Africans are missing people like Steve Biko who was prepared to put his life for liberation of his people.

Not so called African leaders of today, who are scare to contradict the decisions from their masters because they will be out of power. What the point to look like you are in power but you're not making any decisions of your country or concerning interest of your people?

Your comments

New African generation need to follow the spirit of these people. Without that, you're African will be still be controled by the West governments and Chineses.
Micheal , USA, New York

I feel sorry for my country and Africa. Why they didn't follow Thomas Sanhara advice.If African leaders had courage to follow Sankara today Africa will be on his way to really freedom. My country went backward since Thomas Sanhara death. Until now people are still crying for Sankara. The young man who had courage to challenge the west finacials organisation concepts toward Africa.
James , Burkina Faso

We're here today because we africans lost the directions. the people who could lead us they are were killed before they could show us the way to be proud of been African. they left us with people like Nelson Mandela who was more interesting in his own legacy then change the situation of his people. Nelson Mandela move out of Soweto but the people of soweto still living in same situation.
Ole , South Africa, Pretoria

Great Topic; ALL these Leaders had A COMMON POINT: The Heart for their People & the Need to bring about RADICAL CHANGE for the Welfare of the Entire Continent. Unless we see the big picture to Develop Africa as 1 ENTITY like perceived by these Heroes, others will always take Advantage knowing well that when divided through civil Wars, they'll have proper control of our RICHES. STOP ALL FIGHTING.
Dixon F.W. , Royaume KONGO

I am always think why the war in Congo is not stopping?.My i call upon all Congolese rival groups to sit together and solve their differences.Big superpowers are jubilating when they see endless war you are waging in your own country killing innocent fellow countrymen.Think why Patrice Lumumba was assassinated.The reason is simple your country is endowed with rich minerals
Daudi Amiri Mbaga , Tanzania

May their innocent souls rest in peace, truly these were the rightful ideas that would bring a total social cohesion relationship in Africa hence strongest bonds to resist the western influences in African continent. But do current African leaders have such a strong vision? I would say no in my Country.
Goni Santo , Juba, South Sudan

I think you forgot to honor Mr Robert Mugabe . My Hero I no you cant please everybody, but what leader can
Gary Walker , london

Surely they were great guys and Africans must appreciate and thank for them for their vision and wise ideas.
Haile mahmoud , somalia

I AGREED WITH YOU THAT AFRICA AND AFRICANS ARE MISSING THESE GREAT LEADERS THEY WERE, THAT IS WHY WE ARE LOST, WITHOUT VALUES.... THE YOUNG GENERATION OF AFRICAN LEADERS MUST THINK ABOUT THEIR PEOPLE, THE AFRICAN VALUES. WWW.TOPAFRICAMAGAZINE.NET
JOHNSON KETO , LONDON/ UNITED KINGDOM

“AMANDLA”“CRY BLOW AFRICA”During Dr.kwames Africah had a vision they fought together but now there is fear coz our Presidents are compesating themselves economical they have become vampires blood suckers this school comes from satanist West&Europe to keep us in check even the SMALL EYES CHINESSE are pushing their ideology our current leaders are a big disgrace the youth will REV0LT soon AMANDL
laurence mdhlela , south africa

Its so unfortunate that the livings African statesmen and women have disregarded the beliefs of our founding fathers of African.
Jackson , Kampala

Its amazing how the west can run things like this,just look at what greed does to our African brothers. Congolese people suffered the most biggest genocide under that Belgium rat king,but the whites still ignores us and think the Jewish holocaust was something. White people run Africa the way they run the FIFA, Why is it that thw white men is full of shit. FREE AFRICA FROM THE WHITE MEN!!!!!!
boniface C Disashi , D.R.Congo

You forgot Haile Silase of Ethiopia who was the father of Africa
Dr Manaye Ewunetu , UK

Don't despair. While I have my difference with NKrummah, for example for forming a standing army, at the insistence of the international bankers he was beholden to rather than found a citizen's militia, professionally trained, he gave the former the power to later kick him out of office and lead a coup (of course in the control of former colonialists.
Renard a , USA

That is very true but some of us are doing it. you can check with African Youth Union (AYU) www.facebook.com/africanyouthunion
Tim Mugerwa , Pretoria

what about AMIN OE UGANDA
kanala moses , uganda

steve biko
moha , nigeria

I'm thrilled indeed, the past Africans heroes epitomised great examples which Africans leaders need to follow. "Those who led us into dept were gambling, as if they were in a casino..There is talk of a crisis....." The great Thomas sankara. And i doubt whether such character still exist in Africa of today!
T Kenga , Rotterdam

You forgot Julius Nyerere of Tanzania and also ( although not from AFrica) Fidel Castro and Che Guavara. They are all the greatest leaders the world as seen.
Nancy , UK

From deepest of our heart, we African youth of today says, BIG LOVE TO YOU ALL. we will always be proud of you our Kings and Queens ( Emporer Heile Selasie, Kwame Nkrumah, Idi Amin, Gadaffi, Lumumba and the rest....) the soil of the earth and the clouds of heavens knows your bravity. you truely our heroes, salute u all.... I know only one soldier alive now, Mogabe(zimbabwe) big respect to you forever... we admire you a lot. To the cowards, thieves and killers who are gambling with white people on mother Africa, your time will come someday. I wonder how they think. They can't see it clear, that white will never love black on this earth. No matter how much love we show them. And it a pity when our fellow black OBAMA joined hands with others to kill GADAFFI. BT KEEP IN MIND, THE EVIL DOERS HAVE THEIR DAYS NUMBERED. COME TOGETHER AFRICAN YOUTH AND RISE AS PROUD AFRICAN!!
RUJAH BUSKANZA , GHANA