Open letter: African writers in solidarity with African Americans

Dozens of writers from across Africa and the diaspora have co-signed a letter of support for the Black Lives Matter movement in the face of growing protests in the United States following the latest death of an unarmed Black man, George Floyd, at the hands of white police officers.

Read the text below:

As African writers without borders who are connected beyond geography with those who live in the United States of America and other parts of the African diaspora, we state that we condemn the acts of violence on Black people in the United States of America.

We note in dismay that what Malcolm X said in Ghana in 1964 that "for the twenty million of us in America who are of African descent, it's not an American dream; it's an American nightmare" remains true for 37 million in 2020.

We condemn the murders of:

George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Sandra Bland, Amadou Diallo, Ahmaud Arbery, Aiyana Mo'Nay Stanly-Jones, Tony McDade, Pamela Turner, Matthew Ajibade, Rekia Boyd, Eric Garner, John Crawford III, Michael Brown, Shelly Frey, Ezelll Ford, Dante Parker, Michelle Casseaux, Yvette Smith, Darnesha Harris, Laquan Mcdonald, Atatiana Jefferson, George Mann, Tanisha Anderson, Akai Gurley, Tamir Rice, Rumain Brisbon, Jerame Reid, Frank Smart, Natasha Mckenna, Tony Robinson, Anthony Hill, William Chapman II, Alberta Spruill, Walter Scott, Shantell Davis, Eric Harris, Philip White, Mya Hall, Alexia Christian, Brendon Glenn, Victor Manuel Larosa, Jonathan Sanders, Salvado Ellswood, Joseph Mann, Freddie Blue, Albert Joseph Davis, Darrius Stewart, Billy Ray Davis, Samuel Dubose, Troy Robinson, Christian Taylor, Sean Bell, Brian Keith Day, Michael Sabbie, Asshams Pharoah Manley, Felix Kumi, Keith Harrison McLeod, Junior Prosper, Anthony Ashford, Dominic Hutchinson, Paterson Brown, Lamontez Jones, Bettie Jones, Alonzo Smith, Tyree Crawford India Kager, Janet Wilson, Sylville Smith, Benni Lee Tignor, Yvonne Smallwood, Kayla Moore and all other names, known and unknown, that represent human beings who are our kin.

Our blood.

We support the protests in the United States and across the world as our people demand justice for any and all racial killings whether by police or civilians. We are aware that these are not quiet protests. We do not expect it and neither should the United States of America. The killings were not done quietly. The police brutality and state sanctioned murders were done loudly with no fear of consequences from those who perpetrated them.

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We acknowledge the African Union's condemnation of the United States government's continual terrorism towards African-Americans. We believe that the African Union can and should do better.

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We ask that African governments recognise our alliance and connections with our brothers and sisters across borders, from America to Brazil and through the rest of the diaspora. That they offer those who choose it: refuge, homes and citizenship in the name of pan-Africanism.

We demand that the American legal institutions independently investigate every police killing as well as investigate any complaint against police violence.

We demand that any accused be suspended without pay until a fair trial clears them of charges. In essence, we are asking the United States of America to be brave enough to adhere to its own bill of rights so that it can be the land of the free for ALL Americans regardless of colour, creed or sexual orientation.

We assert that Black Lives Matter. As writers, we raise our fists in solidarity with those who refuse to be silenced. To our brothers and sisters in the United States, we stand with you.

We ask all decent human beings to join us in being our brothers' and sisters' keepers. As they protest in the United States, please give whatever donations you can to #BlackLivesMatter.

Have signed:

1. Chris Abani 2. Kelvin Nonvignon Adantchede 3. Ali J Ahmed 4. Abdilatif Abdalla 5. Yasmin Abdel-Magied 6. Leila Aboulela 7. Leye Adenle 8. Bisi Adjapon 9. Jose Eduardo Agualusa 10. Ali J Ahmed 11. Julio de Almeida 12. Ayesha Harruna Attah 13. Sefi Atta 14. Meti Birabiro 15. Tanella Boni 16. Nana Brew-Hammond 17. Noviolet Bulawayo 18. Shadreck Chikoti 19. Nana Awere Damoah 20. Tolu Daniel 21. Ibrahim El Khalil Diallo 22. Boubacar Boris Diop 23. Raoul Djimeli 24. Edwige Dro 25. Ainehi Edoro-Glines 26. Chike Frankie Edozien 27. Filinto Elisio 28. Kalaf Epalanga 29. Amir Tag Elsir 30. Mona Eltahawy 31. Ubah Cristina Ali Farah 32. Virgilia Ferrao 33. Aminatta Forna 34. Chimeka Garricks 35. Kadija George 36. Laurence Gnaro 37. Hawa Jande Golakai 38. Isatou Alwar Graham 39. Francisco Guita Jr 40. Helon Habila 41. Osman Ahmed Hassan 42. Suad Sadig Hassan 43. Pede Hollist 44. Abdelmoumin Ibrahim 45. Abubakar Adam Ibrahim 46. Tsitsi Ella Jaji 47. Nozizwe Cynthia Jele 48. Mamle Kabu 49. Mubanga Kalimamukwento 50. Tamanda Kanjaye 51. Precious Colette Kemigisha 52. Grada Kilomba 53. Moses Kilolo 54. David Lukudu 55. Beata Umubyeyi Mairesse 56. Angela Makholwa 57. Nick Makoha 58. Jennifer Makumbi 59. Napo Masheane 60. Mohale Mashigo 61. Makanaka Mavengere 62. Eusebius Mckaiser 63. Jose Luis Mendonca 64. Maaza Mengiste 65. Thando Mgqolozana 66. Niq Mhlongo 67. Amna Mirghani 68. Nadifa Mohamed 69. Natalia Molebatsi 70. Yara Monteiro 71. Merdi Mukore 72. Marie-Louise Mumbu 73. Richard Ali Mutu 74. Kevin Mwachiro 75. Remy Ngamije 76. Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu 77. Mukoma wa Ngugi 78. Nducu Wa Ngugi 79. Natasha Omokhodion-Banda 80. Ondjaki 81. Troy Onyango 82. Tochi Onyebuchi 83. Chinelo Okparanta 84. Gabriel Adil Osman 85. Ladan Osman 86. Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor 87. Nii Ayikwei Parkes 88. Abreu Paxe 89. Mbate Pedro 90. Pepetela 91. Yovanka Paquete Perdigao 92. Hannah Azieb Pool 93. Jorge Querido 94. Sanaa Abu Qussasa 95. Abdelaziz Baraka Sakin 96. Mohamedou Ould Salahi 97. Hassan Ghedi Santur 98. Malebo Sephodi 99. Lemya Shammat 100. Lola Shoneyin 101. Lemn Sissay 102. Kola Tubosun 103. Chika Unigwe 104. Abdourahman Waberi 105. Zukiswa Wanner