Across Burkina Faso’s capital, Ouagadougou, a wave of young African entrepreneurs and creatives is making their presence felt — not from Europe or America, but from South Africa. They are part of the “Going Home” Initiative, a new Pan-African diaspora movement designed to reconnect Africans across the continent through entrepreneurship, cultural exchange, and community empowerment.
Launched in 2023, the initiative has drawn attention from across the continent for its grassroots approach to repatriation and collaboration. Unlike traditional migration programs, “Going Home” is not about returning to ancestral lands in a symbolic sense — it’s about building new economic and social bridges between African nations, led by youth and innovators.
“We are not leaving South Africa behind — we are expanding Africa’s unity forward,” said Naledi Mofokeng, a 28-year-old social entrepreneur from Johannesburg who now leads a sustainable textile project in Ouagadougou. “Burkina Faso has shown us that Africa’s strength is in cooperation, not competition.”
A Vision Rooted in Pan-Africanism
The “Going Home” Initiative was born from a collaboration between Burkina Faso’s Ministry of Youth and Civic Promotion, the African Diaspora Network, and several private organizations seeking to strengthen continental ties through trade, culture, and innovation.
The program aims to:
Create business incubation hubs for African youth across different regions.
Promote intercultural learning between diaspora communities and local populations.
Facilitate skills exchange in agriculture, technology, and creative industries.
Support community-driven projects that address sustainability and social inclusion.
According to the program’s coordinator, Dr. Issa Ouédraogo, over 300 participants from 12 African countries have joined the initiative so far — including engineers, digital content creators, agripreneurs, and designers.
“This is about reimagining Pan-Africanism for the 21st century,” Dr. Ouédraogo explained. “We are seeing a new generation of Africans who are no longer waiting for opportunity abroad — they are creating it together, here in Africa.”
South Africans Taking the Lead
The South African delegation has been among the most dynamic within the movement. Supported by the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) and private investors, their focus areas include green business development, cultural tourism, and technology transfer.
Several South African innovators have already launched partnerships with local Burkinabé organizations:
A solar-powered agritech startup co-founded by Cape Town-based engineer Kabelo Sebe, now operates in Bobo-Dioulasso.
A music and arts residency program in collaboration with the Ouagadougou Arts Council, founded by Pretoria artist Thuli Maseko.
A joint training initiative between youth in Soweto and Ouagadougou in fashion design and textile recycling.
“Burkina Faso’s creative energy reminds me of South Africa in the early 2000s,” said Maseko. “There’s a shared hunger to redefine African identity through art, sustainability, and entrepreneurship.”
Cultural Exchange Beyond Business
Beyond economics, the “Going Home” Initiative is fostering a renaissance in cultural identity. South African participants have collaborated with local griots (oral historians), traditional weavers, and film students at the Institut Imagine — one of West Africa’s most respected creative schools.
Workshops on Ubuntu philosophy, traditional healing, and music fusion have become central to the program’s intercultural agenda. Organizers say this blending of old and new is essential to building a shared African consciousness that transcends borders.
“We are learning that Africa’s future is not just about infrastructure — it’s about cultural infrastructure,” said Awa Traoré, a cultural coordinator in Ouagadougou. “When our stories unite, our economies will follow.”
Challenges and the Road Ahead
Despite its success, the initiative faces challenges. Visa constraints, language barriers, and funding gaps have limited expansion into Francophone and Lusophone regions. However, new partnerships with the African Union Youth Division and the Pan-African Chamber of Commerce are paving the way for greater mobility and investment.
The next phase, dubbed “Going Home 2.0,” will include an inter-African youth accelerator, a joint creative marketplace, and a diaspora investment summit planned for 2026 in Accra, Ghana.
Observers say the initiative is emblematic of a wider trend — Africa’s youth redefining what it means to belong and to build.
“The narrative is shifting,” said cultural analyst Professor Thabo Ndlovu. “For decades, the diaspora meant leaving Africa. Today, it’s about returning — not just physically, but economically and spiritually.”