Earlier on I wrote about "There is no such thing as AFRICA”. But of course there is. You and I cannot deny the obvious existence of the African continent, (it’s on the map - clearly) however, I feel that coining the term 'African' its mere usage has been of more detriment than good. But I say that with a clear bitter taste of reality. And reality bites.
Early on in the day, as I was reading "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett, which as a movie has experienced much success this award season – (congratulations to Octavia Spencer and Viola Davis at this year’s Screen Actors Guild awards for winning Best Actress and Best Supporting actress awards.[1]) I came across an interesting phrase which spurred me to write.
As I was reading the book, I came across a passage which mentioned "poor starving babies in Africa”. This book was written in the context of Jackson Mississippi, in the early 1960's. And I thought to myself, "Why does that statement still ring true today, some 50 years later? Why are we still talking of starving children, why can’t it be a phenomenon long gone, only to be seen in history textbooks? Why in the 21st century must we still talk of starving children on the continent? Why in Somalia have 1.4 million people been displaced because of drought and famine?[2]
It dumbfounds me that 50 years on, as we have stayed virtually the SAME or have managed to deteriorate to worse off conditions, in that same time span - the civil rights movement happened, then the feminist movement, anti socialist movement and now even gay movements are on the rise. Yet we still talk of starvation and poverty on a continent that holds the world best resources. Is Africa as a whole resistant to change? I mean the saying never gets old, “Change must come from within’. So we talk of hostile governments, bureaucrats, dictators and systems that don’t work. So what? Hitler died and now Germany is the strongest key player in Europe. China, well, they still have the state controlling much yet, we’ve seen 10% GDP growth rates in the last few years.
Now, why should you care? I don't know. But just finish reading. Because, I like many other people, I as the others, are on a little research tip - if you may. It’s almost like we're trying to crack a code - a code that tries to factor out bad governance, civil wars, brain drain, ethnic wars and tries to envision what THAT Africa would look like.
Dambisa Moyo tries to illustrate that in her book Dead Aid, tries to envision a better Africa - a long process of eliminating foreign aid, in order to let the people of the continent be AN aid to THEMSELVES.
Or maybe the situation is far more complicated than my little brain can wrap around. Maybe, the equation is doubly negative towards us. Maybe our own incompetency coupled with lack of support from those with agency (the right kind of support that enables and does not breed a cycle of dependency) equals the sum of pointing a gun towards ourselves and firing.
Anyway, I think it’s time for a case study. Africa is too broad for my liking J I’m the fool who thinks it doesn’t exist remember? So, of course as a true southerner….southern African that is, I will pick my countries from there. Go deeper, in my questioning ….continue my “whys”
Join me, on this journey of discovery. Lets call it, the "A" word (for Africa)
More to come…
RM
[1] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/29/sag-awards-2012-red-carpet_n_1240757.html
[2] http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/30/somalia-famine-aid-refugees-shabaab?newsfeed=true