Descendants of Legends at One Table: The World Peoples Assembly Took Part in a Discussion on Africa’s Future at the Russia-Africa Forum
On October 29, 2026, Secretary-General of the World Peoples Assembly Andrey Belyaninov took part in the session "Forging Independence: Lessons from the Founders of African States" at Gostiny Dvor. The event was part of the Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum and was dedicated to the legacy of African leaders, its significance for the continent's development, and the strengthening of cooperation with Russia.
Participants focused on the connection between the historical experience of the struggle for independence and the contemporary challenges facing African states. The discussion addressed the conditions for preserving sovereignty, the development of equal partnership, and the role of the media in the era of decolonization and in today's realities.
The session participants included:
Gamal Abdel Nasser Jr. – youngest grandson of Gamal Abdel Nasser (Egypt);
Juliana Lumumba – daughter of Patrice Lumumba (Democratic Republic of the Congo);
Ndileka Mandela – granddaughter of Nelson Mandela (Republic of South Africa);
Josina Machel – daughter of Samora Machel (Mozambique);
Musata Kaunda Ndhlovu – daughter of Kenneth Kaunda (Zambia);
Samia Nkrumah – daughter of Kwame Nkrumah (Ghana);
Madaraka Nyerere – son of Julius Nyerere (Tanzania).
Addressing those gathered, Andrey Belyaninov expressed gratitude to the descendants of great statesmen who had come to Russia and emphasized the depth and multifaceted nature of Russia's cooperation with African countries. According to him, being heirs to names inextricably linked with national liberation movements and the struggle against apartheid is a special responsibility.
The Secretary General of the World Peoples Assembly recalled that many representatives of well-known dynasties are today active participants in the Assembly. Among them are Fidel Antonio Castro-Smirnov, grandson of the legendary Cuban leader Fidel Castro (who became Deputy Secretary General of the World Peoples Assembly in 2026); Pablo Sepúlveda Allende, grandson of Chilean President Salvador Allende; and Ernesto Guevara March, son of the revolutionary Che Guevara.
Andrey Belyaninov paid particular attention to the symbolic gesture of Alexander von Bismarck (great-grandson of German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck), who appeared at the Second International Public Assembly wearing clothing in the colors of the Russian tricolor. As the descendant himself explained, this step became a symbol of friendship: his great-grandfather fought against Russia, and his great-grandson today is a friend of Russia.
Addressing Russian companies, the Secretary General of the World Peoples Assembly conveyed the key message of African partners:
- Africa warns us not to become like neo-colonizers, not to demand all concessions at once. It calls for friendship in education, culture, and sport. The young people of our peoples should play volleyball, football, and any other games together and unite in joint projects.
As an example of an unjust global economic model, Andrey Belyaninov cited the situation with Nigerien uranium, which provides 60% of France's energy sector, while Germany depends on the French energy sector by 40%. However, Niger is deprived of the ability to independently regulate export duties – two such attempts ended in military coups.
Speaking about global trends, Andrey Belyaninov noted that former colonial powers and the countries of the "golden billion" today demonstrate belated repentance, seeking to atone for their historical guilt before African peoples. At the same time, the speaker emphasized that Russia has no grounds for such gestures.
- Russia has never been a colonialist. We have always been friends to the whole world, and our ancestors brought only the best human values to Africa. It is this friendship, laid down by previous generations, by our fathers and grandfathers, that today yields favorable shoots. And all these sessions, meetings, and forums are conducted for one thing – in the name of our youth and its future, – summarized Andrey Belyaninov.
Appealing to the legacy of African leaders links the historical agenda with issues of contemporary cooperation: the independence of states in choosing their path of development, respect for national experience, and equal partnership between countries. In such a conversation, family memory complements official history, preserving the personal dimension of events that determined the destinies of entire countries and peoples.
The World Peoples Assembly builds interaction with African countries on these same principles - through work with public organizations, the expert community, and cultural figures. On the eve of the Russia-Africa summit, the World Peoples Assembly, in particular, presented a series of exhibitions of contemporary African art.
One of the program's events was the exhibition "Anti-Colonial Art" by Ethiopian artist Mikiyas Abera, which opened at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IOS RAS). In his works, the author addresses the theme of colonialism and racism, explores forms of resistance and the problems of human dignity. The theme of the exhibition echoes the agenda of the session: both the historical discussion and the artistic interpretation of the past raise the question of how the experience of the struggle for independence continues to influence the contemporary life of African societies.
The exhibition program also included the projects "Aspects of Woman in African Art" and "Unity." They introduce viewers to works of contemporary authors that reveal themes of cultural continuity, personal experience, and human connection in society.
Cultural initiatives complement the work of the World Peoples Assembly in the field of public diplomacy. They provide an opportunity to become acquainted with contemporary Africa through the works of its artists and their view of their own history and present. Such acquaintance helps to understand each other's experience more deeply - and this is the necessary basis for a respectful and substantive dialogue between peoples.
Additional information is available on the official website of the World Peoples Assembly, on its VKontakte and Telegram accounts, and at media@world-assembly.org.