BLACK AFRICA IS INDEED A DESERT

Everybody wants to be associated with success, isn't it? We all shed tears of joy when a family member, a friend, a countryman and sometimes when a member from our continent wins a medal at world stage. During the 1990 world cup in Italy, I was happy to get a few thumbs-up from bar patrons in an English pub in central London as we enjoyed our drinks during those memorable exploits by the Cameroonian football team. Recently, when Irene Jelagat who had earlier tripped but managed to compose herself and win the Commonwealth marathon Gold medal at the conlusion of the Delhi Games we all celebrated her triumph. But unfortunately that is where the rosy picture ends. The Nobel season has just ended but unfortunately no African managed a win. There are six categories where prizes are awarded in Medicine (Physiology), Physics, Chemistry, Literature, Peace and Economics. Whereas Africans and indeed a Kenyan has managed to win these prestigious prizes before, we may as well plan to kiss goodbye to all future Nobel Prize awards. So far, Africa has only won prizes in Literature and Peace but not in the other four categories for obvious reasons. Unless there is deliberate investment in education, science and technology, it's unlikely that any black African will ever win any prize in those categories, save for those who have migrated to the West. Our country for instance is littered with "academies" and in some cases high cost schools using the British curriculum of education. This, on the surface may look fine but deep inside, you will find an education system that lacks the necessary investment and support from the government for sustainable future development. Students, depending on their abilities and economic resource of their parents may join local and even in some cases, some of the best universities in the west but when they complete their studies, they find that there are no facilities to help them exploit their newly acquired knowledge further for their own good and that of the country. The problem is not just confined to science and technology but this extends even to literature. After the Ngugis, Ekwensis and Achebes of this world pass on, we should forget the Literature prize because there will be nobody to tell the African story. Our traditions, religions, culture, customs, etc have been assaulted, demonized and obliterated so much so that Africa as we know it today will soon become extinct. Any future novelists will have no base their creativity, at best, on the regurgitated material from Hollywood or on stories from the tired hoarse ranting from televangelists which will certainly never make the cut for nomination. In conclusion, therefore, Africa has been ruined by colonialism, corruption, mismanagement and poor political leadership. This has led to increased poverty, environmental degradation and lack of investment in education, science and technology particularly in black Africa. In other words, we are now starring at Africa which is a desert in every respect. The future is bleak and gloomy. That's black Africa for you!