Our Vision
A Dignified and Respected Africa
Ambition
KANU's ambition is to make the continent the master of its own narratives. Africa should no longer be merely a global playground, but rather an actor capable of anticipating and influencing the rules of the global game. This is to be achieved through a rooted, innovative, and audacious intellectual elite. Thus, KANU assumes a geopolitical vocation: that of being the mother continent, positioned at the center of the world, master of its own choices and aspirations.
Our Mission
- Assess the effectiveness of laws, reforms, or government strategies, and propose alternatives;
- Conduct in-depth, often interdisciplinary research to understand complex global issues;
- Provide recommendations to decision-makers (governments, businesses, NGOs) to guide policies and strategies;
- Contribute to shaping public opinion through conferences, publications, and media engagements;
- Train opinion leaders, experts, or future decision-makers through seminars or specialized programs;
- Generate transformative ideas for Africa and by Africa in key areas such as development, governance, geopolitics, science, mathematics, economics, innovation, and strategic culture;
- Train and connect a new generation of Pan-African intellectuals, decision-makers, and builders capable of thinking and acting systemically, proactively, and independently;
- Inform public, private, and institutional decision-making through tools such as foresight analysis, strategic monitoring, economic intelligence, and impact evaluation; offer multidisciplinary training workshops;
- Deploy intellectual diplomacy and maintain a presence of influence in major African and international dialogue platforms.
The Birth of KANU
The idea for KANU did not emerge in a formal boardroom but from a profound and uncompromising exchange between two African visionaries, Dr. Fokam and Colonel Kamé‑Domguia, in June 2013. During a high‑level strategic discussion on Africa’s future in a rapidly changing world, they shared candid insights grounded in years of experience, rigorous geopolitical analysis, and a deep love for the continent.
At the time, both were fully committed to demanding responsibilities. Colonel Kamé‑Domguia, working at the African Union headquarters, was focused on advancing Africa’s maritime potential through innovative geostrategic governance. Meanwhile, Dr. Fokam was expanding AfriLand First Bank, laying the foundations for African financial sovereignty. Though the creation of a Pan‑African, Afrocentric think tank was envisioned, it could not yet be realized. Still, the seed was planted.
The Urgency of Endogenous Thinking
Twelve years later, amid escalating geopolitical uncertainties, a fragmented world, and the persistent dominance of non‑African think tanks over African policies and strategies, the urgency became undeniable. Africa can no longer rely on external analyses and narratives; it is time to think for ourselves, by ourselves, and with ourselves. The intuition of 2013 has become a certainty.
Thus, KANU Knowledge for Africa’s New Uprising was born. More than an acronym, KANU is a manifesto, a compass, and a call for intellectual sovereignty.
From Vision to Strategic Structure
The initial idea was formalized in a comprehensive strategic concept note, defining KANU’s mission, values, strategic pillars, operating model, and Pan‑African positioning. This document reflected countless hours of reflection, critical review of global models, and a determination to make KANU a leading intellectual force, capable of shaping Africa’s public policies, industrial strategies, and cultural and scientific directions.
A select group of founders credible, committed, and bold figures from across Africa and its diaspora joined to bring the vision to life, recognizing the necessity of a rooted, transformative, and Afro‑optimistic think tank.
An Intellectual Insurrection for a Rising Africa
KANU is more than a think tank: it is an intellectual insurrection, a Pan‑African strategic movement built on excellence, sovereignty, and dignity. It is a space where African intelligence organizes, structures, and asserts itself to influence the world.
Born of a long‑standing friendship dating back to 1989, a shared conviction, and a profound sense of duty to Africa, KANU is now a living reality a growing community, a vision in motion, and a call to think differently in order to build differently.
KANU Moving Towards Official Continental Recognition
The Pan‑African Think Tank KANU Knowledge for Africa’s New Uprising is in the process of securing observer status with the African Union and other leading political, economic, and strategic institutions on the continent. This recognition will enable KANU to contribute more effectively to public policy design, strategic dialogue, and the defense of Africa’s interests on the global stage.
At the same time, KANU is preparing partnership agreements with several of Africa’s top universities to co‑create a dynamic Pan‑African platform for research, innovation, training, and intellectual influence. These collaborations will strengthen strategic thinking, cultivate a new generation of thought leaders, and build strong bridges between academia, policymaking, and industry across the continent.
Ethical and Scientific Charter
of KANU – The Pan-African Think Tank
“Knowledge for Africa’s New Uprising”
Preamble
KANU is an independent, visionary, and committed Pan-African Think Tank dedicated to Africa’s intellectual sovereignty. Driven by a will for radical transformation, it places ethics, scientific rigor, excellence, human dignity, and the common good at the heart of its mission.
This Charter serves as a reference framework for all members, researchers, partners, and collaborators of KANU. It sets forth the guiding principles for conduct, research, knowledge production, and dissemination within the Think Tank.
Article 1 – Foundational Principles
KANU’s work is guided by the following principles:
Intellectual Independence: Our work is carried out freely, without ideological, partisan, financial, or geopolitical pressure.
African Sovereignty: Our approach is rooted in African realities, cultures, and aspirations.
Scientific Rigor: All publications adhere to methodological discipline, evidence-based reasoning, verifiable sources, and critical thinking.
Ethics of Truth: KANU does not produce or relay manipulated, false, or instrumentalized information.
Collective Responsibility: Our publications seek to enlighten, empower, and build never to harm, divide, or stigmatize.
Article 2 – Scientific Integrity
KANU upholds the highest standards of integrity:
- No plagiarism, data falsification, or intellectual dishonesty of any kind.
- Mandatory source citation (APA format), proper authorship acknowledgment, and full methodological transparency.
- Clear distinctions between facts, analysis, hypotheses, opinions, and normative commitments.
- Ethical handling of personal, sensitive, or strategic data.
Article 3 – Independence and Non-Instrumentalization
KANU asserts full autonomy in setting agendas, choosing research priorities, and formulating recommendations:
- No donor, partner, or state may impose an editorial line, alter results, or dictate content.
- Opinions expressed reflect the authors’ views within KANU’s shared ethic of rigor, integrity, and service to Africa.
Article 4 – Pan-African and Decolonial Commitment
KANU embodies a Pan-African, de-centered, and decolonial vision:
- It values African epistemologies, indigenous knowledge, community experiences, and long-silenced narratives.
- It deconstructs hegemonic models, rejects dependency logics, and advances and promotes emancipatory critical thinking.
- KANU ensures that Africa’s voice shapes the global agenda.
Article 5 – Pluralism, Inclusion, and Diversity
KANU fosters an intellectual space:
- Open to all disciplines, schools of thought, and Pan-African perspectives.
- Inclusive, celebrating contributions from women, youth, diasporas, local communities, and indigenous peoples.
- Collegial, encouraging collective intelligence, debate, and deliberative processes.
Article 6 – Protection of Individuals and Data
KANU respects the dignity, privacy and rights of all individuals referenced or involved in its work:
- Informed consent is required for interviews or fieldwork.
- Sensitive data must be anonymized.
- International data protection standards are applied.
Article 7 – Social Responsibility and Foresight
Each KANU publication aims to:
- Drive African transformation through intellectual innovation.
- Anticipate geopolitical, economic, technological, and cultural disruptions.
- Propose concrete, endogenous, adapted, sustainable, and transformative solutions.
- Contribute to training future leaders, decision-makers, researchers, and nation-builders.
Article 8 – Ethical Governance
KANU’s Ethics and Scientific Committee ensures:
- The implementation of this Charter.
- Quality and ethical review of publications.
- Arbitration of disputes or ethical breaches.
- Regular updates of ethical standards to reflect evolving contexts.
Conclusion
This Charter is a voluntary, personal, and demanding commitment.
It embodies KANU’s identity as a think tank of intellectual uprising, strategic audacity, and Pan-African rigor.
All members of the KANU community formally adhere to this Charter, in fidelity to our founding mission:
to think, affirm, and build Africa by itself, for itself, and with itself.
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Championing Pan-African Growth Goals
Empowerment
Innovation
Collaboration
Integrity
Inclusivity
Empower Africa's Future Leaders
Join KANU's mission to elevate young minds across Africa with cutting-edge research and innovation. Collaborate and build an empowered continent today.