Category: Great Moments

A Heritage of great moments in the history of the continent and the black race

All Support to Charles Onana as Trial against Him begins

On By Dr. Y.In Great Moments, Great People2 Comments
Kigali Genocide Memorial, Kigali, Rwanda

The trial against Charles Onana opened up yesterday, Oct. 7th, in Paris, France, and he is being accused of complicity in contesting the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Under French law, it is an offence to deny or “minimize” the fact of any genocide that is officially recognized by France. Mr Onana’s trial will be “historic, since there is not yet any case law strictly speaking related to Rwanda” on questions of Holocaust denial, as Camille Lesaffre, campaign manager for NGO Survie, one of the organizations which brought the case forward, told AFP.

Charles Onana

Friends, please rise in support of the Franco-Cameroonian author and journalist Charles Onana. Onana has been among those who have questioned the narrative of the Rwandan genocide of 1994 (NOT whether it happened or not) and by extension the Congolese genocide which has been ongoing for almost 3 decades and been swept under the rug. Thanks to his constant hammering, and his books, many now know that there is an ongoing genocide in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and more importantly that, these massacres have been going on for the past 30 years, and above all that Congo’s destabilization is coming from Rwanda, which serves as a pawn for foreign powers who want a part in the enormous resources of the DRC.

“Rwanda, la Verite sur l’Operation Turquoise” de Charles Onana

I have listened to Onana on several occasions and have read several of his books: nowhere does he question the Rwanda genocide or its happening; he is not a negationist. As his lawyer, Emmanuel Pire, told the AFP news agency, his book published 5 years ago, was  “the work of a political scientist based on 10 years of research to understand the mechanisms of the genocide before, during and after”. Over the past 25 years, Onana has meticulously documented and questioned first the narrative about the place of France in the Rwandan genocide via its Operation Turquoise (Rwanda, la vérité sur l’opération Turquoise : Quand les archives parlent enfin). On April 6, 1994, the airplane transporting 2 sitting presidents, presidents Juvénal Habyarimana of Rwanda and Cyprien Ntaryamira of Burundi was shot in mid-air; to date, it has not brought an uproar as to how or why the plane of 2 presidents had been shot down. This is what really triggered Onana’s interest in the region: if it were anywhere in the world, this would have produced an uproar and multitudes of investigations, but somehow, in the case of Africa, it has been total silence. In 2006, a French investigation concluded that Paul Kagame, president of Rwanda, was responsible for the killing, to which Kagame responded that the French were only trying to cover up their part in the genocide. We know that since Sarkozy, France has been playing the kissing game with Rwanda.

“Holocauste au Congo, L’Omerta de la Communaute Internationale” by Charles Onana

In his works, Charles Onana simply demonstrates that since 1994, the world has been witnessing the masked invasion of Congo by militias and troops of Paul Kagame, sponsored by the West. His latest book, “Holocaust in Congo, the International Community’s Omerta” is a true gem. Onana has even brought a case, on October 4, against the president of Rwanda, after receiving death threats.

Over the years, Onana has detailed and stood for the Congolese, and now, thanks to his work, and those of others, people now know that there is a silent genocide in the east of Congo which has been going on for almost 3 decades and whose victims approximate over 10 millions deaths, 500,000 raped women, and yet the world has been silent, even though some like Dr. Denis Mukwege, Nobel Peace Laureate, are being recognized for their work helping the victims of those attacks.

The questions should be: why is there a silence on the genocide of the Congolese people? Why is there a silence on the aggression of troops supported by Rwanda on Congo? How can there be a systematic killing of millions of people in a country, and total silence? Who benefits from this? Then people will talk of the international community as a group which represents the world… NO… the international community only serves the interests of the few who benefit from Congo, the geological scandal that it is, being brought to its knees. Let’s all come out in support of Charles Onana.

Attention! A Call to Action for Africans by Nathanael Minoungou

On By Dr. Y.In Great Moments, Great PeopleLeave a comment
Flag of Burkina Faso

Africa is a very rich continent, and one of its most important wealth is its youth… Africa is young, and the West, as seen by many of its generals and politicians, trembles. As Africans, it is our duty to free our continent. We can no longer stay behind while others get fat over our resources. As young Africans, it is our destiny to rise and conquer our freedom; we can no longer live it to others, or think future generations will do it for us… the future is now, if we cannot impact today, we will never change tomorrow.

I saw this speech by Nathanael Minoungou, alias Nael Melerd, a Burkinabe who shared a call to action to all Burkinabe and to all Africans. Time is of the essence. Africa, Rise! Enjoy! I have translated a few lines… For the whole speech, watch his video!

Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso

“…

The biggest scam of time, the biggest scam of the century, is not to rob a country, but to make a young person believe that he has time ahead of him. A young person does not have time, time is for the old … I hear, “Enjoy your youth because we only live once,” lies and scams, we only die once, we live every day.

… Africa is invincible because of its youth, as long as this youth remains awake and takes its responsibilities … if we cannot defeat you, we must by all means make you waste time, time that you do not even have …

How do you manage to have time, while people call your country poor?

How do you manage to have time while your land is exploited, while Africa is assisted at almost all levels?

How do you manage to have time in the midst of reconquering food sovereignty while the fields are idle in the village due to a lack of able-bodied workers?

How do you manage to have time in the midst of the fight against terrorism when even the elderly are enlisting to defend the homeland?

How do you manage to have time when people work during the day, and at night become watchmen that are called wayiha? … how do you manage to have time?

How do you manage to have time in the middle of rebuilding while you have “made in China” on your t-shirt and underwear?

Capitaine President Ibrahim Traore (Source: sig.gov.bf)

… African youth has not suffered from poverty, … illiteracy, … African youth has rather suffered from a lack of reference points and worthy leaders … until today when these youth can finally turn to you, Comrade President Captain Ibrahim Traore … From now on, everything has changed, because everything has become urgent, because everything has happened quickly, and because Africa is proud!

That is why, if you are the Captain, know that from now on, all the young people in this room, in uniform or not, are now soldiers engaged at the front for the sovereignty of Africa! … If you accept the sacrifice, stand on your feet ! ATTENTION!“

“Fashion the Revolution with the People” by Sekou Toure

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Sekou Toure, Cover Time Magazine, Feb. 16, 1959

Every September we celebrate the lives of some of Africa’s great leaders who were either born or assassinated during that month, Ruben Um Nyobe, Agostinho Neto, Amilcar Cabral, Kwame Nkrumah, Gamal Abdel Nasser, and Steve Biko. I found this quote in Steve Biko’s book I Write What I Like p.32, by Sekou Touré, the Guinean leader who said NO to the France of General De Gaulle (Guinea: the country who dared say ‘NO’ to France). This quote by Sekou Touré is so on point, as it matches the revolutionary spirit that should be found in each African who fights to free his land. Each one of us is needed for the revolution, but we cannot just be bystanders, but need to add our hands to the fight. African leaders need to fashion the revolution with the people, if they want to free their lands.

“To take part in the African revolution, it is not enough to write a revolutionary song; you must fashion the revolution with the people. And if you fashion it with the people, the songs will come by themselves and of themselves.

In order to achieve real action you must yourself be a living part of Africa and of her thought; you must be an element of that popular energy which is entirely called forth for the freeing, the progress and the happiness of Africa. There is no place outside that fight for the artist or for the intellectual who is not himself concerned with, and completely at one with the people in the great battle of Africa and of suffering humanity.”

Africans at the Paris Paralympics 2024

On By Dr. Y.In Great Moments1 Comment
Paris Paralympics 2024 (Source: Paralympic.org/paris-2024)

This is the first year that I have watched the Paralympics long enough. I was particularly moved by the Brazilian Gabriel Araujo who won 3 gold medals in swimming; Araujo was born with short legs and no arms, yet he made swimming backstroke seem like a second nature. Watching the Paralympics was a real exercise of humility.  Why humility? We are sometimes so busy with our lives, our problems, and our problems seem so insurmountable that we crumble under their weight. Watching the Paralympics and the joy on the faces of these athletes who for some don’t even have hands or legs, make one realize that, 1) there is no mountain so high that we cannot climb it; 2) appreciate every little thing; 3) life might be hard, but make the best of it; 4) we might be going through a storm now, but like palm trees during a storm, we should choose to bend and not fall; 5) there are always worse problems out there, just make the best of today. I love this quote by Nigeria’s para-powerlifting silver medalist Esther Nworgu who issued a rallying cry for people with disabilities, which applies to all of us, “Sports will build you mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically, … Sports is like an X-ray. It brings you out and shows you what you are inside. Where there is disability, there is ability. I see it as strength.”

Africa shone at the Paralympics, winning 64 medals, with Morocco getting the most medals with 15 medals, but Algeria topped the continent’s medal table thanks to its 6 gold medals vs. 3 gold for Morocco. Most medals were won in para-athletics and para-powerlifting disciplines.

Below are some highlights:

Raoua Tlili (Source: Outlook India)

Raoua Tlili of Tunisia cemented her place as a legend in the F41 discus throw and shot put, winning 2 gold medals this year. With 8 gold medals under her belt, she holds the national records for the most Paralympic gold and total medals at the games. She started at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics where she won gold in Discus Throw F40. Since then, she has been ever-present at the Paralympics, winning gold in London 2012, Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020, and now Paris 2024. At these games, she opened the winning streak by offering the very first African medal of the games. She is a true legend!

Yovanni Philippe gave Mauritius its first medal ever by securing a bronze medal in the men’s T20 400m.

Mariam Eniola Bolaji (Source: APR News)

Nigeria’s Mariam Eniola Bolaji became the first African to win an Olympic or Paralympic medal in Badminton with her golden victory in the women’s SL3 singles category.

Annaba native of Algeria, Brahim Guendouz won gold in para-canoeing’s KL3 class over 200m, giving Algeria its first ever medal in a discipline outside of para-athletics, para-judo, and para-powerlifting.

Algerian runner Skander Djamil Athmani also won 2 gold medals in the T13 class over 100m and 400m.

Below is the list of the medals per country at the Paralympics 2024

Flag of Morocco

Algeria : 6 Gold and 5 Bronze

Tunisia: 5 Gold and 3 silver, and 3 Bronze

Morocco: 3 Gold, 6 silver, 6 bronze

Nigeria: 2 Gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze

Egypt: 2 gold, 2 silver, 3 bronze

Ethiopia: 2 gold, 1 silver

South Africa: 2 Gold, 4 bronze

Namibia: 1 gold, 1 silver

Kenya: 1 silver

Mauritius: 1 bronze

The motto is simple, let Africans and Africa prepare to shine at the next Paralympics in LA, by investing now building on today’s victories, to make tomorrow even sweeter. 

Kaylia Nemour : At Ease on Uneven Bars and giving Algeria/Africa its First Olympic Gold in Gymnastics

On By Dr. Y.In Great Moments, Great PeopleLeave a comment
Kaylia Nemour celebrates with the Algerian flag (Source: Reuters / Independent)

As the Paralympics 2024 are currently under way in Paris, and as paralympians show us that there is so much beauty in life, today, we will focus on yet another African athlete who gave her country the highest honors at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The athlete of our focus today is Algerian Kaylia Nemour, the gold medalist in gymnastics in Women’s uneven bars. Born in France of an Algerian father and a French mother, Nemour was representing France until last year when she switched her country to represent that of her father, Algeria. The switch came as a result of a rift between her and the French Gymnastics Federation which did not clear her to resume training after a knee surgery despite the fact that she had been cleared by her surgeon, and which also wanted Nemour to leave her club and train in Paris under their supervision instead, but she did not want to, and opted instead to switch to representing Algeria. She still lives and trains in France, at her club Avoine Beaumont Gymnastique whose director is her mother.

Kaylia Nemour in action during the uneven bars final (Source: EPA / Independent.co.uk)

Since Nemour opted to represent Algeria, she has been on fire. At last year’s world championships, she won a silver medal on uneven bars, the first World medal ever by a gymnast representing an African nation. She is also an African all-around champion and has an element named after her in the Code of Points (The Nemour). This year at the Paris 2024 Olympics, she handed Algeria and Africa as a whole, its very first gold medal in gymnastics. She also got the best score of her life in the event, with a score of 15.700. Her victory is reminiscent of the victory of the great Algerian Hassiba Boulmerka who won the gold medal at the Barcelona 1992 Olympics in the Women’s 1500m, thus handing her country its very first Olympic gold medal ever.

Flag of Algeria

We are proud of Kaylia’s choice to represent Algeria, it must not have been an easy choice, and we are also happy that the Algerian federation has been supportive of her. Her coach, Marc Tcherlinko, said, “It [representing Algeria] was not in the plan, but life serves you some curves, some rivers you must cross. For two years she stayed focused on her goal – the Olympics. What she’s achieved is amazing.” Nemour is considered by many as one of the best gymnasts of her generation on uneven bars. As a result of her Olympic victory, she has been decorated with the Ahid National Order of Merit of Algeria presented by the nation’s president. Just after her win, she said: “I am very, very, very happy with what I was able to do today. … It was my ultimate dream, years of work and hard work, details. … I am really honored to have been able to win this medal, first for me and for Algeria too.” I am sure Nemour has set an example for countless Algerian and African little girls. The future is bright for Nemour and promising for Algeria and the continent as a whole in gymnastics.

Letsile Tebogo : “Africans can be Sprinters, too!”

On By Dr. Y.In Great Moments, Great People1 Comment
Letsile Tebogo after winning gold in 200m (Source: Onuaonline)

Since Frankie Fredericks of Namibia, who used to always win silver at the Olympics in the 1990s, no African has gotten close to the gold medal in the 100-200 m distances until Letsile Tebogo of Botswana who won the first African gold in the Men’s 200 m discipline ever, at the Paris 2024 Olympics. He also helped Botswana and an African country land silver in 4 x 400 m Men’s relay. By winning the gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Tebogo became the first Olympic gold medal winner from Botswana and the first runner from Africa to win the 200m final at the Olympic Games. He set a new African record by shaving off 0.04 seconds off his previous best to clock 19.46 s. “Africans can be sprinters, too,” he said in an interview to NBC Sports.

Letsile Tebogo (Source: SportNewsAfrica)

Tebogo started with a strong love for football (soccer). At the age of six, Tebogo was already a well-rounded footballer and sprinter. His teachers encouraged him to practice both sports, but injuries hampered his football career so he opted to focus solely on track. As he explained in an interview with Runblogrun.com., “I used to run past people and won medals. I also played football. Every time though I went to play football I was being benched.” “[This] made me frustrated…and prompted my decision to go back to athletics as I saw [that] I am able to put food on the table for my family from that,” added the runner whose single mother Seratiwa Tebogo struggled to raise him and his younger sibling. His mother, who was his pillar, passed away this past May and did not get to see her son achieve this great accomplishment, but there is no doubt that she would be very proud of her son. Tebogo dedicated his 200m gold medal win to her, and held up his shoe to the camera after the race, which featured his mother’s birthdate on it. He also painted her initials on his nails. … ” I’ve had such a huge blow that affected me deeply so I’m still trying to get the confidence back into the body. It’s not about injuries, it is all about my mum.” Reflecting on his Paris Olympic victory, Tebogo shared, “It was a truly memorable race. Heading into the final, my coach told me his job was done and the rest was up to me—to finish the race healthy, medal or not. I’m glad I could finish stronger than before, carrying the memory of my mother with every stride. She’s watching from above, and I know she’s proud. I chose not to mark the date of her death on my shoe because it’s too emotional.”

Flag of Botswana

He “didn’t take sprints seriously until 2019” when he raced his first major 100m in 10.68s and clocked 21.12s in the 200m. “For a while, I didn’t pay more attention to athletics until about 2018-2019 when I realized I could go professional with it,” Tebogo said. “The motivation to get into athletics was from watching the big guys like Isaac Makwala, Karabo Sibanda and Nijel Amos,” explained Tebogo. “However, I just really wanted some change in the country, so I had to do something different from the big guys, that’s why I opted to compete in the 100m and 200m.”

Like so many track and field athletes in the sprint distances, he looks up to Usain Bolt, the fastest man in the world and 8-times Olympic champion, and dreams of running faster and faster. “It’s time for Africa to take charge over the sprints and every event,” he said in the interview with Runblogrun.com.

Since his Olympic triumphant victory in Paris, he has been taking charge by winning 2 other games so far. Keep an eye out for Tebogo tonight at the Diamond League event in Rome, Italy.

Faith Kipyegon : Making History All the Way

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Faith Kipyegon (Source: StarConnectMedia)

This week, we will talk about Faith Kipyegon, our Kenyan sister who made history at the Paris 2024 Olympics as the first African athlete to earn a gold medal in the same discipline three times in a row: Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020, and now Paris 2024. This is a remarkable feat never achieved before by an African, and only a select few athletes in the world can claim such in any Olympic discipline. She said, “It’s a big, big achievement. I was really looking forward to defending my title. I had a dream, I completed it. … I managed to make history, to win the gold medal in the 1500. It was my key target. I’m so, so grateful.” And Faith went further by setting a new Olympic record in the event with a time of 3:51.29. She is considered one of the greatest 1,500m athletes the world has ever seen, and has dominated the field for the past 7 years. Moreover, she has a gracious presence which makes her endearing to her fellow competitors. She is nicknamed the “smiling destroyer.”

Faith Kipyegon winning historic 3rd gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics (source: Kelly Ayodi for Olympics Kenya – EastleighVoice.co.ke)

She posted on X,
“Track History Made in Kenya 
Three successive Olympic titles in women’s 1500m : Rio-2016, Tokyo-2020, Paris-2024

It has taken DISCIPLINE, HARD WORK, DEDICATION, CONSISTENCY and FAITH

Praise be to God Thanks for the love“

Flag of Kenya

Born in 1994 on a rural Kenyan farm in Nakuru County in the Rift Valley, Kipyegon, like so many Kenyan and Ethiopian distance runners, walked and jogged many miles to and from school. She grew up exposed to a culture of running in her family (her elder sister Beatrice Mutai is a 10km and half marathon specialist, her dad Samuel Kipyegon Koech was a 400m and 800m runner, whole her mother was also in athletics) and community. Her talent was identified early on by her physical education (P.E.) teacher. By the time she was 16, she had already placed 4th in the World Cross Country championships. She trains in Kaptagat and shares the same coach, Patrick Sang, as another great Eliud Kipchoge. She is also a mother of a beautiful daughter, and on the year she came back from maternity in 2019, she won at the Diamond League in Oregon. She owes her success to, as she says, hard work, discipline, dedication, consistency and faith, but also to the great Kenya’s athletics training system which has given us phenomenal distance runners over the years.

Now onto further victories for Faith, for Kenya, and for Africa as whole. The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics are around the corner. Let’s keep working hard, consistently, in a discipline manner, and with faith.

Senegal Launches its First Satellite Marking a Major Technological Milestone

On By Dr. Y.In Great Moments, Great Science1 Comment
The Take-off of Transporter-11, on Friday August 16, on which was the first Senegalese satellite (Source: © SpaceX)

This past weekend, Senegal marked a milestone in its history by launching its very first satellite from the SpaceX launchpad in California in the USA. By this action, it has become one of 12 African nations to launch satellites to space.

The satellite, GAINDESAT-1A was built by Senegalese engineers in collaboration with the French Space Centre of Montpellier University (Centre Spatiale Universitaire de Montpellier (CSUM)). It is a nanosatellite, launched into orbit with 115 others from different countries. This satellite will focus on collecting data for multiple state agencies including the Directorate for Water Resources Management and Planning (DGPRE) and the National Civil Aviation and Meteorology Agency.

GAINDESAT-1A (Source: Space in Africa)

The country’s president Bassirou Diomaye Faye said the move marks a major step towards Senegal’s “technological sovereignty,” … he said on X, “I would like to express my pride and gratitude to all those who made this project possible.” Maram Kaïré, director of Senegal’s space agency, described the launch as “an important step and a historic day in our country’s progress and determination to become a space-faring nation”.

For more, please check out phys.org and Space in Africa.

Tamirat Tola or Making the Best of a Second Chance

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Tamirat Tola wins Men’s Marathon at Paris 2024 Olympics (Source: afrik.com)

There were many awesome stories at Paris 2024 Olympics. Many athletes surpassed themselves, broke new records, and set new firsts. The Olympics are over, but over the next few weeks, we will highlight those whose story may inspire us to get even better at what we do in our day-to-day lives. One athlete whose story particularly touched us was Ethiopian Tamirat Tola. Why?

Abebe Bikila on the podium in 1960 Olympics in Rome
Abebe Bikila on the podium during the 1960 Olympics in Rome, after winning the gold medal in the marathon, and surrounded by Rhadi Ben Abdesselam of Morocco (silver) and Barry Magee of New Zealand (Bronze)

Tamirat Tola is not a stranger to the Olympics: he was a bronze medalist in the Men’s 10,000 m at the Rio 2016 Olympics. He has had many victories since then, more recently winning the 2023 New York City Marathon, and coming 3rd at the 2023 London Marathon. However, his performances this year were not enough for him to make it into the Ethiopian team selected for this year’s Olympics/Marathon. Ethiopia is a powerhouse for long distance runners, producing some of the best runners in the world: there is no secret that since Abebe Bikila: Emperor of the Distance and Running Barefoot, the world of long distance has been partially dominated by Ethiopia (and Kenya). So in a powerhouse team, Tola’s performance this year was not enough to make the cut. This makes it so that some of the best athletes may not make the cut for the team even though they are very good, and would be outstanding for other countries.

Tamirat Tola crosses the finish line at the Paris 2024 Olympics winning the gold medal and setting a new Olympic Record (Source: EthiopiansToday.com)

Two weeks prior to the Men’s Marathon at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Tola was added to the team as a substitute for teammate Sisay Lemma, winner of this year’s Boston Marathon, who had been injured. Teams are selected weeks ahead of the Olympics, and Tola was just selected 2 weeks prior. He made the best of this second chance and won the gold medal at the Olympics in a very hilly route billed extremely difficult with inclines as steep as 13%. Tola also set up an Olympic Record in 2 hours 6 minutes 26 seconds. His win also marks Ethiopia’s first gold medal in the event since Sydney 2000. He said, “I was the reserve in the Ethiopian team, but when Sisay had injuries then I had a chance, … I was fully prepared and knew I could fulfil my dream. I am very proud, very happy.” Indeed, it was an opportunity given to him by his teammate, and Tola acknowledged his teammate in his victory. “Sisay told me that it was better for him to drop out and for me to compete. He said, ‘You can do better than me in my condition.’ … It is thanks to him. This victory also belongs to him for giving me this opportunity. … I am happy today because I fulfilled my goal, … I prepared well. I trained hard so I could win. In my life, this is my great achievement.”

Tola’s victory inspired us to remember to always be ready, one never knows when a second chance will come, be ready, stay ready, and make the best of it.

African Victories at the Paris 2024 Olympics

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The Paris 2024 Olympics have just ended, and African athletes have shined in usual disciplines i.e. those where we are used to seeing them, but also on those never conquered before. They made us proud and served us joy, endurance, and passion. At these games, we also saw more Africans representing other countries European and even Asian and winning medals: Bahrain, Qatar, Japan, Netherlands, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Canada, US, … and winning for them as well. In essence, Africa shined a lot! For this article, our focus will be on African athletes representing the continent.

Faith Kipyegon (Source: StarConnectMedia)

We had faith in our Kenyan sister Faith Kipyegon… and she delivered: Faith won her 3rd successive Olympic gold in the women’s 1500 m, making her the first African to ever win gold in the same event 3 times in a row. Last Monday, she had won silver in a very contested Women’s 5000 m at the Olympics, where she was first disqualified for track obstruction, and then reinstated as the silver medal winner after appeal by the Kenyan federation. Her compatriot Beatrice Chebet won the first Kenyan gold medal of these Olympics in the Women’s 5000 m, and proved unbeatable in the Women’s 10,000 m delivering gold there as well. Mary Moraa, Faith Cherotich, and Hellen Obiri all took home the bronze medal in the Women’s 800 m, Women’s 3000m steeplechase, and in the Women’s Marathon respectively. Emmanuel Wanyonyi won gold in the Men’s 800 m. Ronald Kwemoi won silver in the Men’s 5000 m, while Benson Kipruto and Abraham Kibiwot took home bronze in the Men’s Marathon and Men’s 3000m steeplechase respectively. In total, Kenya earned 11 olympic medals: 4 gold, 2 silver, and 5 bronzes.

Letsile Tebogo after winning gold in 200m (Source: Onuaonline)

We had our eyes on Letsile Tebogo who missed out on the 100m  podium, but earned the top most place in the Men’s 200 m thus giving Botswana and Africa as a whole its first ever gold medal in a 200 m. Since our brother Frankie Fredericks of Namibia who used to delight us, and always ended with silver, this is a very first. Tebogo also led the Botswana’s team to a silver medal in the Men’s 4x400m relay, again a first for any African country ever, letting the world know that Africans can no longer be discarded in these disciplines.

Joshua Cheptegei (Source: Dailyexpress.co.ug)

Before the Olympics, our Ugandan brother Joshua Cheptegei told us that this will be his last Olympics, and promised us magic. Cheptegei did not disappoint, he ran his heart out serving us a performance worthy of a novel, coming from behind to win gold in the Men’s 10,000 m, and landing Uganda its first gold at the games. Compatriot Peruth Chemutai won silver in the Women’s 3000m steeplechase.

South African team after 4 x 100m Relay win (Source: dispatchlive.co.za)

In swimming, Tatjana Smith of South Africa made her country proud by winning gold and silver medals in the Women’s 200m and 100m breaststroke events; recall that Smith, born Schoenmaker, was the Tokyo 2020 Gold medalist in the 200m breaststroke category. South Africa also landed 2 bronze medals in rugby and mountain bike with Alan Hatherly. Although flag bearer Akani Simbine ended 4th in a highly contested Men’s 100 m track and field, Simbine and the rest of his team delivered us silver in the Men’s 4 x 100 m relay, again a first for South Africa, and for Africa as a whole in winning a medal in the discipline. Jo-Ane van Dyk delivered silver in the Women’s javelin throw.

Algeria took home 2 gold and 1 bronze medals, one gold from the controversial athlete Imane Khelif who is said to be a man competing in female boxing, and another gold from Kaylia Nemour in the Women’s Uneven bars in artistic gymnastics. Nemour‘s victory is a first for Africans in gymnastics. Djamel Sedjati took home the bronze medal in the Men’s 800 m.

Tamirat Tola wins Men’s Marathon at Paris 2024 Olympics (Source: afrik.com)

Tamirat Tola, who was just added to the Ethiopian Olympics’s team 2 weeks ago after his compatriot Sisay Lemma was injured, took home the gold medal in the Men’s Marathon, making Ethiopia and our legend Haile Gebrselassie who opened the marathon, proud. Berihu Aregawi won a silver medal for his participation in the Men’s 10,000 m. Tsige Duguma and Tigst Assefa both won silver in the Women’s 800 m, and the Women’s Marathon respectively.

Ahmed Elgendy wins gold in the first ever modern pentathlon (Source: TheTelegraph.com)

Egypt won 3 medals: 1 gold in the Men’s Modern Pentathlon with Ahmed Elgendy, 1 silver in Women’s 81kg weightlifting with Sara Ahmed, and 1 bronze in fencing with the Men’s individual Epee with Mohamed Elsayed. Elgendy‘s gold is the first gold medal for Egypt at any olympics, and a first in the discipline for an African athlete; he also becomes the first person to win in this brand new discipline at the Olympics.

Morocco  delighted us when Soufiane El Bakkali won the gold medal in the Men’s 3000m steeplechase; and the Moroccan football (soccer) team, currently Africa’s highest ranked soccer team at number 4 (the senior men’s team) in the world’s ranking of football team, took home the bronze medal by defeating Egypt.

Tunisia reveled us with gold in Taekwondo in the Men’s 80 kg with Firas Katoussi, and bronze in the Men’s 58 kg with Mohamed Khalil Jendoubi. Fares Ferjani won silver in Fencing the Men’s Individual Sabre.

Our dear brother Cheikh Sallah Cisse of Ivory Coast did not disappoint by taking the bronze medal in Taekwondo for Ivory Coast, in the Men’s 80kg; Cisse had given Côte d’Ivoire its very first gold medal at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

Cabo Verde got its very first medal at the Olympic games through David de Pina who won bronze in the Men’s 51 kg Boxing.

Muzala Samukonga of Zambia wins Bronze in the Men’s 400m (Source: pulsesports.ng)

Zambian Muzala Samukonga won the bronze medal in the Men’s 400m. This may be Zambia’s first medal at the Olympics; if not, it is Zambia’s first medal in the discipline ever. And the Zambian team also came out 4th in the Men’s 4 x 100 m relay one step short of a place on the podium; this tells you the future that this Zambian team holds if it perseveres.

We cannot wait to see Africa at the Los Angeles Games in 2028!