An organization seeks local HBCUs to increase Black American participation in African development.
Thursday, members of the Pan African Council visited the Johnson C. Smith University Engagement Series to discuss the council’s mission to partner with historically black colleges and universities to continue to support and engage with Africa.
“There are many developments happening in many African countries and everyone [nationalities] involved except for African-Americans,” Fabian Anthony, council president, told QCity Metro.
The Pan African Council is an international leadership organization that works to promote the continent of Africa and unite the diaspora, a collection of communities around the world that originate from the continent.
Anthony was joined by Basketball Africa League (BAL) president and founder of the SEED Project, an organization that develops young leaders through basketball, Amadou Gallo Fall and Her Royal Highness Princess Tirelo Molotlegi of South Africa Royal Bafokeng Nation at the high school lunch.
The speakers focused on dispelling myths and false information about Africa and informed the audience about how the continent is developing.
“We want to show JCSU that there are opportunities,” Anthony said. “We want to discuss the expansion of global education, [student] to exchange opportunities and participate in the work that [Fall] and [the] the princess does.’
Molotlegi talked about creating sustainable communities and Fall talked about opportunities for student-athletes.
Athletic approach
Fall said his mission is to continue to grow the relationship between the Basketball Africa League and Black Americans.
“After the launch of the BAL in 2021, we had some Americans play for us, including J.Cole. We’ve seen an increase every year since then,” Fall said.
BAL’s partnership with the NBA has allowed the league to grow rapidly in its three years of existence. With basketball growing in global popularity, Fall said he wants to take advantage of the opportunity to attract players from HBCUs.
“We want to make the BAL an option for basketball players to continue their careers. A player from JCSU might look at us and see us as an option.”
According to a 2020 Study by the National Collegiate Athletic Association, only 1.2% of college basketball players are selected in the NBA Draft each year. This percentage is decreasing every year with more international players being drafted than college players.
More than 20% of college basketball players have pursued professional basketball careers playing internationally or in the NBA’s G-League, the NBA’s developmental league. The BAL’s fast-growing league could provide another solid option for college basketball players to pursue professional careers.
Fall said he hopes his message will attract potential players from JCSU and other HBCUs.
Look forward
Anthony told QCity Metro that the Pan-African Council will continue to look for ways to connect with HBCUs and Black Americans to further its work, such as a trade forum it hosts and youth engagement opportunities.
In 2022, the Pan African Council facilitated the African Caribbean Trade and Investment Forum to bring Africa and the Caribbean Islands together by sharing information on investment, trade, climate change, health and more.
In addition to coordination events, the Pan African Council has established youth mentoring and development programs. The council also provides grants and programs for young people to increase access to education, develop skills, mentorship and sustainability.
“There’s been a lot of talk in the past [about organizations supporting Africa]but we’re actually doing the work.”