Guylaine Saint Juste, CEO of the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA), has called for a transformative shift in global Black economic thinking, urging African nations to embrace Ubuntu economics, a model rooted in collaboration, shared prosperity, and self-reliance.
In a passionate interview with Sandra Babu-Boateng on PanaGenius TV, Saint Juste emphasized that prosperity across the Black world will only be achieved when African nations begin looking inward and prioritizing intra-continental trade and Caribbean partnerships over dependence on external systems.
“If the African continent turned inward and focused on building trade within itself, we wouldn’t be seeing crises like the one in Haiti,” she said. “One of the biggest misconceptions I hear is, ‘Oh, poor Africa.’ I always ask, when did Africa become poor? I must’ve missed that.”
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Saint Juste questioned why, in 2025, there still isn’t a robust economic relationship between Africa and the Caribbean, stressing the urgency for Black communities to take ownership of their development.
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“Why isn’t there an active trade pipeline between Africa and the Caribbean? How do we take care of ourselves if we’re constantly begging others who, frankly, need us more than we need them?”
At the core of her argument is the African philosophy of Ubuntu, the belief that one’s well-being is tied to the well-being of others. She drew a sharp contrast between this and Western economic models, which she described as rooted in zero-sum, imperialist thinking.
“Ubuntu says: when I win, you win. And in order for me to win, you’ve got to win. That’s the kind of economics we need, not this competitive, extractive model that pits us against each other,” she explained. “Desmond Tutu left us with that legacy. It’s the essence of Blackness.”
Saint Juste also underscored the need for more visibility and celebration of African innovation and wealth, pointing to the overlooked success stories that rarely make global headlines.
“Many people don’t even realize that one of the richest men in the world is Nigerian, he runs a multinational, multifunctional business empire. But we don’t tell our stories. And we must. We must keep saying what we do want, not just what we don’t.”
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She ended by commending Sandra and the PanaGenius platform for amplifying these conversations, calling them essential to the shift in mindset she believes is necessary for Black economic liberation.
“This is where it begins. It starts with shows like this, platforms that challenge the narrative and focus on what we can build together.”
