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4 Things To Know About The Guardian Person Of The Year Arikana Chihombori-Quao

By Modupeoluwa Adekanye
06 January 2020   |   3:47 pm
At times, luck finds you, at times, you work hard enough and you get noticed and some times, while achieving a lot, you are given a bigger responsibility that neither luck or favour is required, rather, your voice is the tool. Dr Arikana Chiahmbori Quao is this person that has used her voice to make…

At times, luck finds you, at times, you work hard enough and you get noticed and some times, while achieving a lot, you are given a bigger responsibility that neither luck or favour is required, rather, your voice is the tool.

Dr Arikana Chiahmbori Quao is this person that has used her voice to make a difference and for that and more, she was named 2019 Guardian Person of the Year. If you are still wondering who this is, below are some important highlights about her:

Her Background
Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao grew up in the village of Chivhu in Zimbabwe and emigrated to the US in 1977. She went ahead to study General Chemistry for her Bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree in organic chemistry, and a Doctor of Medicine degree.

From 2012 to 2016, Chihombori-Quao served as the Chair of the African Union-African Diaspora Health Initiative (AU-ADHI). As the chair of the AU-ADHI, her work involves mobilizing Africans in the Diaspora health professionals in assisting with Africa continents’ healthcare crisis.

In addition to the above, since 2010, Chihombori-Quao has been the International Chair of the African Union-Diaspora African Forum Americas (AU-DAF). In this capacity, she advocates for Africans and friends of Africa to participate in the development of Africa.

A Successful Medical Doctor
Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao is a medical doctor. She practices as a family medical doctor. She is a graduate of Fisk University and Meharry Medical College. She did a residency in Family Medicine at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee.

Dr. Quao holds a bachelor’s degree in General Chemistry, a master’s degree in organic chemistry, and a Doctor of Medicine degree. She graduated from Meharry Medical College of Medicine in 1986 and has established a few medical clinics

Political Activist
In December 2016, she was given a chance to be more than a doctor. Not only did she accept this responsibility, she has successfully placed herself in one of the topmost levels of African activism and political advocates.

She was made the African Union Representative and she dedicated her time to fighting against neo-colonialism and western interference in Africa with a special focus on France as a coloniser.

Speaking about the neo-colonialist nature of France that has successfully put Africa in a continual 3rd world developing cadre, she said:

“France that the $500 billion you are taking out of Africa every year, no more. France needs to be the Third World developing country, not Africa. No more shall we continue to be exploited. France can no longer take $500 billion out of Africa.”

Her quotes
Often, political activists have political sayings to push their agenda in a simpler manner to their audience while also capturing the deepest essence of their messages. Arikana also have some sayings in which she used in voicing her oppostion to neo-colonial rule by France and they include:

“We are beautiful, intelligent, sophisticated, highly adaptable and totally indestructible people – the Africans. Any other race that would have gone through what we’ve been subjected to would have been extinct and that’s the truth.”

“We are the original people and we have every reason to stand up in the tallest mountains to proclaim who we are.”

“For Africa to take its rightful place on the world stage, the gutter of the mind that we have lived in for centuries, must be cleaned out.”

“Everybody is talking about the monkeys and the squirrels in the room, but no one wants to touch the 10,000-pound gorilla in the room, and that is our thinking, of the African people. How much do we understand our Africa? Why is it that the richest continent on Earth is painted as the poorest?”

Dr. Arikana has challenged political power holders and they have been shaken to the core of their beings with toes being stepped on, she has left an indelible mark in the sand of time and this will go a long way in unraveling and shaking the world order.

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