When I look at Africa from the comfort of Mc Donald’s restaurant in New York, I see a people going hungry and naked. When I turn and look at it from those spacious parks of London and Paris I see a region dark, bushy and loaded with mud huts. When I look at Africa from an eye of an eastern European and that Arab in an elevator going up expensive skyscrapers I see a congregation resembling primates, I see slaves, I see drug lords and warlords bearing arms ready to massacre entire villages. When I look at Africa from that tiny Chinese eye I see a nation ready to go back to slavery, I see people holding receipts of poverty in pride and when I look at Africa from down that street football field in Brazil I see a brother drowning and doesn’t want to be saved.
Africa is by far the richest holder of natural resources relative to any other continent yet it is the poorest. Africa has lagged behind after a slight boom in the sixties and seventies thanks to combined international efforts to subdue this cradle of mankind. The Americans have made sure that Africa remains a jungle if it won’t be burnt down by creating factions in different communities, toppling governments and selling arms to a naïve Africa like they do chocolate bars to their children. Once arms are controlled by scumbags, hungry for power and wealth my young Africa can be sure to die a pauper. Critical yet is the fact that no American holds a gun to shoot an African, absolutely not; they made sure that we kill our own. No single American bullet touched Muammar Gaddafi they just made him flee into the hands of his own and so he was murdered.
If only Africa could be united, the African union would be strong enough to stand against the evil systems of the world bank and IMF, but just as we are tribalistic in our own particular countries, we cease to unite thinking we will benefit others more than ourselves. Let’s say maybe some benefit, it’s
still Africa. Why not? The Americans through their perspective of democracy pounded a stable Libya into a host of poor migrants and jobless people. They destabilized a democratic Egypt through aid into a dictatorship. They are stealing in the Democratic Republic of Congo under the disguise of UN
peacekeeping making sure to milk the uneducated Africans dry. They they they and the list goes on.
Africans tend to think having one super rich guy is far better than ten middle earning people. This way corruption has eaten to the core of government institutions from one repairing his personal home in South Africa using public funds to frequent oversees travels on taxpayers’ money. From stealing youth funds to faking accounts books to balance the stolen money. This way Africa has opened a hole into the hell of poverty, underdevelopment, individualism, hatred and unemployment. Corruption has killed
industrialization in Kenya, it has slowed down entrepreneurship. It has made every single Kenyan ready to kill to get a hold of a piece of bread. Yes, this was also taught to us by colonialists but who is to blame!
When I look at Africa through the eye of leadership, I remember that old Islamic saying that God gifts people leaders reminiscent to them. As a result of our carelessness we were accorded careless leaders, because of our ignorance and the lack of curiosity to learn and understand we have ignorant leaders.
Some who demand rivers to be moved. As a result of our lack of planning, we have poor planners, faulty project managers and as a result, cities that resemble medieval European suburbs. Because of our selfishness we have tribalistic and nepotism oriented leaders and unless we change am afraid we will remain as such.
Once as university student a lecturer spoke of specificity of systems. One that works for one may not work for others. After Europeans forced their systems of governance and education on us, we still held on even when it seemed fit to let go. All the while they were planning a third phase of colonization after being the misty servants of the Lord and then the masters of African destiny. As I speak they hold the keys to the tomb of my struggling Africa. After preaching the Lord they excised Him out of higher learning institutions to force in their ideas of immorality. Then they preached about women, equity and equality when it is clear that the horse itself- the United States and its board of leaders are the first to
disrespect, abuse and even rape women. They talk about how women are soft but then still let them work, and by work I refer to heavy labor. I mean where is the balance?
Africa decided to close its eyes and borrow telescopes from the Arabs. With the reference of lavish lifestyles they decided to make a move for the same. When I think about this I remember that Swahili adage: one who goes between two ends of a boat finally lands at the middle. Africa has moved from the
backwards immoral America to the forward fake China. With uncontrolled grants and loans from it, China is slowly buying African land and enslaving its people. Zambia is almost Chinese with some state departments accorded to them. Airport-Chinese run, state media-Chinese run. More frustrating now is
the upcoming second language-Chinese. Kenya is slowly following suit with Chinese citizens down to selling roast maize in Kibera and site managing, jobs that should and can be done by Kenyans. God does not a change a people until they themselves opt for change first. It is high time we together as Africa wake and change the dynamics. Lest five centuries to come bring the same bad news we are seeing today.
It is time for Africa.
