Lack of political governance has been cited as the major stumbling block on Africa's progress and fair sharing of resources.

Founder of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, Dr Mo Ibrahim, said on Saturday at a cultural celebration organised by the Foundation that time has came for Africa to stop blaming the colonial past and take full responsibility for their future.

"Africa is a very wonderful and rich continent, but yet we are poor and hungry. The problem with us is political governance. We have abundant natural resources but our resources are not exploited for the benefit of our people," he said.

President Jakaya Kikwete, former Botswana president Festus Mogae, Dr Salim Ahmed Salim and were among the prominent people who attended the evening event that was coloured by performance from local as well as other celebrated African musicians.

The musicians who performed include Angelique Kidjo who is Unicef Goodwill ambassador and who has traveled around the world campaigning for children's rights, healthcare and education.

Others were a Senegalese singer and percussionist, Youssou N'Dour, who has been a global champion for Africa, Emanuel Jal who won worldwide acclaim with his message of peace and reconciliation that comes out of experience as a child soldier and a local artist, Judith Wambura popularly known as Lady Jay Dee.

However, Dr Ibrahim said there has been some positive trend in governance in Africa and called for all Africans to be agent of positive changes.

"We have seen some positive trend in the issue of governance in Africa and we want to be part of that change. We should not keep blaming the colonial past and became full responsible for our future in order to move forward," he said.

He said this is the time for Africa to focus on and begin to tacked pressing challenges facing the continent.

The foundation which this year has resolved not to give the $5million prize to a deserving retired African leader, also organised discussion forum on Sunday which focused on three major issues-climate change and justice, agriculture and food security as well as regional economic integration, which the organisation believes constitute an argent African agenda.

It is estimated that some 50 to 70 per cent of African live on arable land and depend on agriculture, but yet they can't feed themselves.