Songhai Newsletter- February 7, 2026
From the office of the President,
Songhai International
California, USA
Ms. Susan Mattern
Dear Friends of Songhai
There have been some wonderful things happening at Songhai recently. In December 2025, there were three celebrations.
First, the launch of Father Nzamujo’s new book. He tells the story of how Songhaï began in 1984 and how it has grown over the years. But this book is far more than a historical account. It is a book about building a new African society — one that is resilient, dignified, and sustainable. It proposes a new vision of authentic African development, rooted in people, land, culture, and responsibility. Alongside it is a companion book — a practical guide — that shows how this vision can be applied in real life. It asks the essential questions: with whom, with what, and how can this transformation happen? Above all, it focuses on educating Africa’s youth for independence — not by copying failed economic models, but by equipping young people with entrepreneurial skills, digital knowledge, and sound economic thinking, so that wealth can be created in Africa, by Africans, for their own communities. It also shows how to restore the land instead of destroying it, and how to use solar energy and biogas rather than exhausting the earth’s resources. I know that I have seen only a small part of this vast continent. But I can say this with conviction: in visiting Songhaï, I have experienced the very best of Africa. Here, I have seen what Africa’s future can be.
We also celebrated the 40th anniversary of Songhaï itself. Forty years of vision, hard work, and excellence. And this journey continues, as Songhaï enters a new phase — Songhaï 2.0 — ready to meet the challenges of a modern era. From just a few acres of swamp land, Songhaï has expanded into more than 50 projects across Africa and has trained over 30,000 young people. With its focus on people, integrity, and community, Songhaï represents the future. The era of greed and unchecked resource exploitation is ending. Songhaï is the future. And with the creation of its Leadership Academy, it has laid a strong foundation to sustain and expand its work for another forty years — and beyond.
The third celebration marks the 50th anniversary of Father Nzamujo’s ordination as a Dominican priest. Without his education, training in biology, engineering, and economics, and his brave decision to return to Africa in 1984, Songhaï would never have come into existence. For Father Nzamujo, the needs of others — whether strangers, family, or friends — have always mattered more than material comfort or personal ambition. He took seriously the two greatest commandments: to love God and to love your neighbor as yourself. His life has been built on faith: faith in God, faith in the sacredness of the earth entrusted to us, and faith in the dignity and worth of every person as a child of God. Without that faith, he could never have overcome the many obstacles and setbacks along the way. Initially, Songhaï was difficult for many to accept. Many projects had failed because they imposed external models and underestimated the people they aimed to help. But Father Nzamujo persisted. He believed strongly that Africa could rise and claim its rightful place in the world. And his perseverance paid off. People saw that he wouldn’t give up. This strength came from his faith in God — and from his faith in his people.
Although these celebrations may appear separate, they are, in reality, one single celebration: a tribute to how one person, guided by faith and vision, can help change the world — and join with thousands of others to forge a new path toward a better future, for Africa and for generations to come.
Susan Mattern
President of Songhai International
Explore our newest newsletter below, or download the PDF for easy reading.
What Is Songhai?
Songhai is a non-profit 501 c) (3) corporation registered in the United States and the State of California for the purpose of supporting the activities and training at Songhai in Africa.
We have just set up online donations at Zeffy which will go directly into the Songhai account to be used for education, training of students, solar equipment, and a microbiology lab. The details are below.
Donate to Songhai to Make a Difference
The Songhai Program is more than an agricultural project—it is a regenerative, systems-based transformation platform. Born out of the urgency to rethink Africa’s development trajectory, Songhai is a holistic, integrated agro-ecological initiative that builds sustainable food systems while training a new generation of African leaders to spearhead green entrepreneurship and socio-economic regeneration.
We understand that Africa’s transformation cannot be reduced to agricultural productivity alone. It requires the construction of resilient, self-sustaining ecosystems—economically viable, socially inclusive, and ecologically sound.