At sixty‑nine, I stand not only as a man
celebrating another year of life but also as someone who has spent a quarter of a
century in Europe reshaping the way difficult stories are told. My journey from
Africa to Belgium opened doors I never expected.
The doors that led me into conversations with scientists,
medical professionals, and thinkers who helped me understand how narratives
around health, disease, and human suffering are shaped. Those encounters
sharpened my instincts and strengthened my resolve to pursue journalism
grounded in integrity, accountability, and fearless inquiry.
Over the years, I have witnessed how information can be
manipulated, how certain truths are sidelined, and how journalists can be
pressured to follow predetermined scripts. Instead of discouraging me, these
realities fueled my determination to write boldly, to question deeply, and to
defend the dignity of communities whose stories are often ignored.
My work has not always been welcomed, but it has always been
necessary. Attempts to silence or bury my articles have only confirmed the
importance of the mission I embraced.
Today, as I mark my 69th birthday, I celebrate not only my
life but also the foundation I have built, a foundation rooted in truth‑seeking,
resilience, and the unwavering belief that history remembers those who refuse
to be erased. Just as the legacy of slavery endures despite centuries of
attempts to minimize it, the impact of my work will remain.
My voice, my advocacy, and my commitment to justice will
continue to echo long after I am gone. This birthday is not just a personal
milestone. It is a reminder that purpose gives life its meaning and that every
act of courage, no matter how small, contributes to a larger story. I move
forward with gratitude, strength, and the conviction that my journey still has
chapters left to write.
I pray for those who made me suffer for speaking the truth.
Their actions only strengthened my resolve and reminded me that I have
committed no crime. My advice to them is simple: if they are younger than I am,
may they pray to enjoy the good health I have today; and if they are older, may
they pray for a healthy life in the years ahead.
I also extend my heartfelt gratitude to the thousands of
readers around the world who believed in my work, even now that you no longer
have access to it. Above all, I thank the omnipotent God whose unwavering faith
in me has carried me through a world too often ruled by money and race.