One of the hardest parts of life is history. For me, it is particularly African history. It’s too hard to read… to think about the inhumane circumstances that my ancestors went through. Chained, whipped, kidnapped, raped, drowned, murdered in cold blood, uprooted from their homes never to come back again.
Much of our history before slavery is lost and stolen. Our artefacts are stolen and displayed in the museums of those who killed makers for their crafts. Diseases that were shipped to our shores are not labelled as originating from the bowels of Africa. Now, the continent that was thriving and invaded by crusaders is called a third world. Our colonisers, however, seemed to have moved on.
While thinking about the perils of Africa, I could not help but think about how many human civilisations have also gone through torturous acts of oppressors. The Holocaust is one recent example. Yet, the societies from which these atrocious acts emanated and were dissed out seemed to be thriving. They are definitely not seen as “third world”, nor do they do much to earn that title. Why is Africa different?
This was a conversation I had with my friend about this issue:
Me
Can You Compare African Slave Trade to the Holocaust?
Friend
I really don’t believe in comparing large scale sufferings, or suffering of any kind. I believe they are unique and not particularly proportional to the quality of lived experience.
On face value, most people will agree that the Holocaust was more terrible. But there are many untold horrors of the Transatlantic slave trade. The told horrors nko? Some of the things I’ve read about it still messes with my head.
Then we have to think about the unending repercussions of both tragedies. Semitism, racism, racial inequalities, generational hatred and distrust trickling down the path of history into today and the future. It’s horrible but unique. Both are incomparable.
Me
I agree
I stumbled upon Hiroshima and the Holocaust yesterday. It made me realise that Africans aren’t the only ones who have a terrible history that will be hard to “just get over”. Yet, our cries seem to be the loudest (which is fine, really. We all grief differently)
Two other things came to mind:
- There isn’t a way to get over the horrors our ancestors went through at the hands of oppressors (Africans, Asians, and Europeans alike). I think time will heal our wounds ??♀️
- Other countries across the world also went through mass killings and oppression. Yet, they are advanced (economically, politically, technology, educationally, etc, and are doing well). What is wrong with Africa, then? It’s definitely not colonialism or slavery. Else, other countries (in other continents) who have gone through similar things or worse will be on our level too. What exactly is wrong with Africa?
Friend
Well, we cannot just get over the horrors our ancestors faced. You’re right about that.
The answer to your question in the second point is embedded in the first point. Africa is still living through its horrors in a literal sense, unlike its continental counterparts such as Europe and North America.
There are ongoing wars and armed conflicts in Africa. There’s still widespread hunger and drought. Intercontinental politics and neocolonial advancements still impact African communities deeply. People are more worried about eating and surviving.
Development is hard to find in places with such challenges, and any little progress built will not stand for long under such circumstances.
Me
The wars are also ongoing in other parts of the world
Like Europe and Asia. After America’s independence, wars still happened
The problem is the people, I think
Friend
I know. Development is not happening in those parts as the war rages, no nation at war and knee-deep in humanitarian crises can develop.
Obviously, people who are living in abject poverty and crisis have a higher tendency to get stuck in retrogression. Or, you’re one of those who think something is exclusively and fundamentally wrong with the people on the African continent?
Me
I think I am going with the latter. What has happened in Africa is no different from what has happened in the rest of the world at some point in time
At this point, Africans are solely responsible for the lack of development in Africa
I’ll use Nigeria as an example. People divert funds needed for the literal survival of people. Like, they deliberately leave people to suffer and die. In the North, people are intentionally left uneducated and misdirected just so they can be controlled.
In a country where people are intentionally kept in the dark, it becomes very difficult (if not impossible) to think outside the box they’ve been confined to. You can’t know that something is wrong if you are not exposed. The people facilitating this lack of exposure are also Nigerian. They do this solely for personal gain and international worth. As a result, greedy ex-pats are able to come in and further exploit the oppressed people
Do we blame these foreigners or the Nigerians who have given them room to come in?
I’ve noticed this in other countries. Countries that do well like Japan, Germany, the US, and South Korea are highly protective of their borders as well as educating the average person and involving them in communal participation. This is not to say that they don’t have any issues in those areas. However, their efforts to make their country better are intentional
Friend
I concur.
Olamide! This is an insight hiding in plain sight. ?
Unfortunately, our ‘leaders’ don’t really care much to think of a genuine way of solving our problems.
Me
The wars in Nigeria are completely Nigerian made and avoidable. It all boils down to the selfish desires of “powerful” Nigerians, the ignorance and brainwashing of the common man, as well as the disunity the first two have caused
Friend
Hmmmm. This is where I disagree, partly. Nigerians are not totally responsible for making these failings. The external influences and the powers that be in the global community really cannot be ignored.
There are strings pulling those who think they are pulling the strings in Nigeria.
Me
Who are the internationals pulling strings?
Friend
The so-called political elite, the self-proclaimed inheritors, your Obasanjos and Tinubus.
Not forgetting a certain Yakubu Gowon. That one was a standard dog on a leash.
Me
Tbh, I am of the belief that if our internal affairs are sorted and there is a clear intention/effort to make the country better, no external forces can penetrate (except by physical force). It does not matter how powerful they are
Friend
I think so too. But what to do to get the puppeteers out of the system first.
Nigerian elections come up in 2023. As citizens of this country, we will gather on the 12th of February 2023 to decide our fate for the next 4 to 8 years. Do you want growth or the further destruction of our dear country? The answer lies in our votes. Get your Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC). Educate yourself about the candidates across all electoral positions. Most importantly, come out and vote. Remember to vote wisely. Your vote counts.
These are 500 words (or more ?)! Talk to you tomorrow!