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If women are the key to Africa's future - and I believe they are - we must figure out how to take away the barriers to their participation.

In short, we have, among African countries, a duty of solidarity.

You see, Africa makes a fool of our idea of justice. It makes a farce of our idea of equality. It mocks our pieties. It doubts our concern. It questions our commitment. Because there is no way we can look at what's happening in Africa, and if we're honest, conclude that it would ever be allowed to happen anywhere else.

It is important to nurture any new ideas and initiatives which can make a difference for Africa.

What we are trying to do now, this new generation of African writers, is to write about what it is to be a human being living in a particular African country. These are stories that resonate with anyone, anywhere.

Culturally, it is commonplace for African women to work.

Perhaps it is time to debate culture. The common story is that in 'real' African culture, before it was tainted by the West, gender roles were rigid and women were contentedly oppressed.

We have a vision of South Africa in which black and white shall live and work together as equals in conditions of peace and prosperity.

Those who have the ability as African men to bring a change in a community that so desperately needs it are concentrating only on their own careers, some charities, and how much money they can make.

South Africa is blessed to have women and men like yourselves who have little to give but give what you have with open hands and open hearts.