So many years ago, the land of my fathers saw a new light; a strong beam in their eyes, and their world was born a new. The land was green and beautiful and the sun was just over their heads but in their minds were deep darkness and their hearts bleeding war and terror. One day, after a hunting session, disappointed with the attitudes of grass-cutters and squirrels in the bush, they came out of the forest to see the awakening of a new dawn in their lives. Far away on the ocean came a precious gift from the gods; a reward of dedicated worship after many years of animal and human sacrifices. They may not have to hunt again or worry if the rains did not fall. The gods have answered their prayers.
As the supposed gift slowly approached the shore, natives gathered and priests offered prayers. What is so mighty and huge like this? They kept asking themselves. And as they kept waiting to know what was contained in that huge box, men like themselves but with different skin color came out of it and together the natives said, 'wooohh! The gods themselves have come to visit'.They took their gods home and gave them places to sleep for the night.
The following day, before the villagers were awake; their supposed gods were already up surveying the land. What were they looking for? Not many would have asked. But the chiefs of the surrounding villages sent delegations to the house of the gods to find out if they needed anything. It was difficult communicating the message but the gods managed to tell them by sign language that they needed a place to build castles and forts and were also searching for treasures. By custom the gods were above everybody on the land and so the chiefs ordered that lands be given to them immediately. What are the gods up to...? Some of my grandfathers may have asked. In just about a week the gods had taken over everything on the land and that was the birth of colonialism in Africa.
Colonialism did suffer oppositions. For example in West Africa, the Ashanti Empire strongly opposed colonial rule but after so many years of a fruitless struggle they selfishly went in bed with the British to trade gold for guns to expand their empire. In so doing, they also became a subject of dictatorship. In South Africa, the Zulus were also a strong force to reckon with.
In precolonial Africa, there were many dark centuries of war and Empires were built and empires were broken. A big cloud of superstition ruled the lives of Africans. Anything unusual was a curse or a punishment from the gods.So says historians.But according to historians too civilization did start in Africa. That still remains a hypothesis anyway or may be just something to console Africa of it's misfortunes. Egypt ,because of the strip of land between it and the Jews did benefit them an over flow of the creators blessings. But what is Egypt today? Imperialists, preaching the gospel of democracy have succeeded in infiltrating into the political sphere of Egypt in a blood pour uprising. After the long fought years of Africans against their colonial masters to claim independence, has there been any significant change from it's precolonial or colonial era? Of-course not! The situation has not changed much. Tribal segregation, war, corruption, greediness and Nepotism is what is ruling Africa today. Africa is still under colonial rule. As the selfish few struggle over power at the expense of life, the imperialists countries come in for resources and give them guns to kill more souls.
The drama in African politics may not interest any rational thinking individual since it has always been the same old situation of war and corruption. George Orwell's book 'Animal Farm' best describe the situation in most African countries where claimers of independence became the gods of their land. Men who minded not even if people have to die to make them retain power. Men who traded conscience for money and power. African politics today is even a subject of mockery for most imperialist countries. Who benefits if Serie Leone is in war today? Those who need the diamonds most.
Although Africa has benefited much from colonization there were terrified years of slavery and blood pour. But has blood pouring and slavery ceased in Africa? Interestingly, colonization itself is not a thing of the past. Neocolonialism is now the refined form of colonialism; where imperialist nations have to dictate to other nations through the control of economy. sadly, Africa has always been the major sufferer. It is undeniable that colonization did offer Africa something to stand on to propel its development. Especially the introduction of western education and knowledge was a piece for breakfast but lunch and super was to come from our own efforts. Education has in indeed helped improve the acumen of some Africans but to what extent has it improved the standards of living of the majority? Many Africans can't even get access to education. Illiteracy is still the devil of our time since it has contributed to many of Africa's political and economic problems. Illiteracy is even the cause of many behavioral deviations that has contributed much to the developmental problems in Africa. People freely at anytime can build up attitudes that gradually develops into some form of culture inhibiting growth and development. Waste Management situation in a country like Ghana is suffering from such attitudes and behaviors. Anybody at all can begin damping waste into a nearby river or piece of land and others will eventually join and in effect create health and other problems for people. Well counting the problems of Africa is an infinite exercise but relating the problems to the cause is muscle relaxing.
Governments have failed and they keep failing because the history of Africa is what it is today.
Logically, I believe it is wise for Africa to think of directing equal attention to emancipation just as infrastructural development. Africa has not fully emancipated from slavery and dictatorship and that is the major reason why it is not developing. Economically, Africa will continue to be the weaker one if it does not with immediate effect direct attention to human capital development and reborn it's education to meet the growing demand of industries to open job opportunities for it's citizens. Africa must open doors for trade but must restrict the influx of foreign goods and rather promote local ones. In so doing we emancipate ourselves from economic dictatorship. The IMF and the world are instituted structures to control the world's economy at the benefit of some nations. Politically, the sovereignty of most African nations has not been protected by it's union. African problems must be solved the African way through dialogue and understanding and even when it becomes possible for stubborn ones like Gaddafi to be uprooted with force, it shouldn't be the duty of NATO as it has happened already. We are responsible for each life that was lost in any war in Africa. If there is an international court of justice, there must be an African court of justice to rule the affairs of africans. We must be the rulers of our own lives.
united we stand; together we fall.
to be reviewed.........
