"To write is to reveal oneself"

Founding President of the Canada-based Groupe Afro-Médiation Inc., Boubakar TRAORE makes his debut in the literary world. His reflections are captured in a book with a highly evocative title: "The Joy of Entrepreneurship: Keys to Management and Business." In the following interview, he pulls back the curtain on his autobiographical work and delivers a powerful message to African youth.

Le Stratège: After several months of hard work, your book is finally published. How do you feel at this exact moment?

Holding this book in my hands is an emotional release. To me, it encompasses joy, fear, anger, and sadness. I feel I am in a state of continuous progress toward uninterrupted development. Beyond its physical volume, I hope it serves as an educational legacy for the youth.

What motivated you to write this book?

Writing a book is a form of self-revelation. It is about sharing one's ideas, experiences, life, history, and vision. It means evoking feelings, describing passions, challenging oneself, and envisioning a future built on perseverance and hope. These are the elements that motivated me to write this book, which I intend as a modest contribution to the intelligibility of the world.

In light of the economic difficulties faced by the majority of African countries, what levers do you believe must be pulled to help these nations break out of the rut?

African governments must put an end to oligarchy. They must absolutely ensure a fair distribution of the fruits of growth and offer real future perspectives to young people. To achieve this, it is essential to invest in training, leadership, innovation, and support for the emergence of viable start-ups. This is how young people will radically transform the face of the continent.

After Mali and Burkina Faso, your own country, Ivory Coast, was struck by terrorists. What strategy should be deployed to overcome this scourge, which also hinders Africa's development?

In all humility, I do not wish to dwell on this very thorny issue and this scourge that is turning the entire planet into a training ground for violence. Even though we all know that many forms of injustice exist on the planet, no reason should justify physical or even psychological violence. I believe that focusing on reducing unemployment through job creation is a significant solution to this problem. Work represents health, stability, and responsibility. One is more tempted and vulnerable when they feel they have nothing left to gain. If this scourge is not eradicated in Africa through adapted strategies, it will claim more victims than anywhere else in the world.

Drawing on your own journey, you address several aspects of management and entrepreneurship. What is your message to African youth through your book?

The era of the welfare state is over! Young Africans must resolutely take charge of their own destinies. But they cannot succeed alone. They need the support of those in power. Therefore, we need visionary leaders who take concrete actions for the well-being of their fellow citizens, rather than hiding behind demagogic rhetoric and other political theories. We urge young people to cultivate self-esteem and to work with self-sacrifice by adopting the 5/40 strategy—investing 5 years of one's life to secure a better life for the next 40 years.

Interview conducted by Arsène Flavien BATIONO