The European invaders who eventually settled in America, Australia and New zealand are credited with so much ruthlessness and single minded resolve to exterminate the aboriginal inhabitants in those lands such that only remnants of the original populations now survive. Thanks to them, the Aborigines, the Red Indians and the Maori of Australia, America and New Zealand respectively now live in pathetic and secluded reserves which are no better than the way wildlife is kept. Africa didn't fare any better but due to the large population, harsh climate and tropical diseases like malaria which claimed the lives of many invaders, they found the continent rather inhospitable. However, always smart and never to be deterred by what could be tamed, they sold the people into slavery, exploited the resources and which they continue to do, may be forever.
The colonialists not only violated the African land and bodies but they invaded our minds and souls. Through their education system and religion they have managed to totally control our minds such that we can't do anything without looking over our shoulders lest we annoy the big brother. We have been converted to automatons that are switched on/off at will. Everything that now happens in Africa is regulated to work in a clockwork fashion with the control switch either in Europe, USA or God knows where else they have fixed it. The controllers run our elections, initiate our coups, control our Agriculture, Finances, Military, Education, Health, New Constitutions and even the air we breathe.
When the system of Apartheid ended in South Africa, there was a great sigh of relief and optimism that Africa had finally found its groove and there was even talk of a renaissance. But Alas, even before the euphoria of celebrations was over, the controllers had already worked out how to extend their stay and end our party mood. They quickly created a new class of super rich Africans that was aptly called "Black Empowerment Group". Now the poor black African from Soweto has to reckon how to fight the new Apartheid because his optimism and expectations have all suddenly evaporated into thin air. The housing and jobs are simply not forthcoming and in order to cool his nerves, he has resorted to killing Black Africans from other countries. Once he realizes xenophobia is not the answer to his state of joblessness, perhaps he will learn there is such thing as tribalism and nepotism in Africa. But interestingly, while this takes place, the white man will watch with glee as he continues to enjoy his wealth from the mines and industries without any recourse to the pesky blacks. The problem for the greater black Africa is that if South Africa falls for this game-plan, then even the little optimism that is left in us will dissipate.
The great African Novelist, Ngugi Wa Thiong'o, may have missed the Nobel Literature Prize this year, as was hoped, but he still remains a giant patriotic son of this continent. Through his writings and speeches, he has reminded us time and time again to reclaim our minds and souls from the colonialists but we continue to dismiss him as a daydreamer. Even the so called professors of western education cannot comprehend the meaning of what Ngugi is saying because of their present mental shunts. We have a big problem in Africa at the moment because if our professors cannot see the need to decolonize our minds, as advocated by Ngugi Wa Thiong'o, then it would be preposterous to expect a despotic African ruler to stop raiding the central bank and stashing the loot in an overseas colonial bank account even as his people starve to death. Unless we decolonize our minds, Africa will soon be extinct!
No comments:
Post a Comment