The Stagnating Africa

When I was a student of philosophy, I remember being introduced to the most famous man that the world has ever known; Alexander the Great. This was a man who conquered the whole world in terms of war. He subjugated Anatolia, Syria, Phoenicia, Judea, Gaza, Egypt, Mesopotamia, Persia, Bactria, Punjab as well as India, he all conquered. He is a man who enjoyed control of a powerful army that never lost in war. He conquered and grabbed all kinds of wealth. He dominated the world for couple of years. But his fall was great as himself, just like the house built on the sand grounds on rain season. His fall reminds me that no one can be proclaimed successful until s/he enters in the grave. However, his final days offers a moral lesson to all of us and especially to those who are in the primitive business of accumulating power and money.

When he was returning home from war, after conquering many kingdoms, Alexander the Great in Babylon fell sick and as he was taking breath on the bed in the palace of King Nebuchadnezzar II, he realized that he was facing his destiny and worthless was his success, gold, silver, jewels and the power he had accumulated. He realized that he made a wrong investment. Instead of investing in people he invested in war, power, wealthy and death. 

Alexander the Great longed to reach home and have a last look at his mother but he knew his health could not allow him. He called his generals and said to them; “before I depart from this mortal world, I have three wishes to make.” The first wish, he requested for the best physicians to carry his coffin when he dies so that people may realize that no doctor can prevent any patient from dying. Before death, the doctors are powerless. For the second wish, he requested that gold, silver and other precious stones to be scattered on the path that leads to his graveyard so that people may know that though he had accumulated a lot of wealthy, not even single one will accompany him when he departs from this world. And in his last wish, he requested to be buried with hands spread-out so that people may know that he came empty handed and empty he returns. 

 

When I look at Africa, I get devastated especially when I see what is happening today. Shortly let me take you through a mental tour in Africa. Before we got independence, we were colonized and so we came together to liberate ourselves. However, our founding fathers fought for independence so that we may role ourselves. And so, they fought for our freedom. The reason why we wanted to be decolonized is because we wanted to be masters of our own destiny and take charge of our own affairs. In the enterprise of independence there was Dr. Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, Modibo Keita of Mali, Gamal Abdul Nasser of Egypt, Sekou Touré of Guinea, Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, Ben Bella of Algeria, Emperor Haile Selasse of Ethiopia though not colonized, William Tubman of Liberia, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa of Nigeria, Nnamdi Azikiwe of Nigeria, Jomo Kenyatta of Kenya, Kennedy Kaunda of Zambia, and many others.

In all struggles for Independence, Ghana was the first country to gain independence in 1957. I remember the words of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah when Ghana gained independence. He said, “The Independence of Ghana means nothing if other African Nations are still in chains of colonists.” He called for unity for the leaders of each Nation in Africa to come together and fight for liberation as one. And so, it happened. Guinea gained independence as well as Gabon and Gambia and all other nations followed. So, we gained independence. We ruled ourselves. 

I remember the first African Union meeting that was held in 1963 in Ethiopia. I remember so vividly the outstanding speech of Kwame Nkrumah. He appealed in that meeting that they should not terminate that meeting without coming up with a union; One Nation the United States of Africa. He said; “Let us not leave here without One Nation (United States of Africa), one currency, one president of Africa and the capital city of Africa.” Unfortunately, they listened him not. They were all after power and so each went back to his country of origin. Kenya had her own president, Zambia had their own president, Egypt had her own president, Ethiopia had her own prime minister as well as other nations in Africa. We were determined to rule ourselves.

Historians will tell us that our leaders promised to build our nations after independence. Schools, health centers, Infrastructure, free education, jobs, agriculture, good economy they all promised. It is unfortunate that after 50 years and above of independence, we don’t have good roads, good and enough hospitals and schools and jobs for our young people. Africa is still poor. It is unfortunate that we cannot feed ourselves. Today, hundred-thousands of young men and women die in Mediterranean Sea going to Unites States of America and Europe to be enslaved. It is unfortunate that after hundred years of colonization and slavery, today we are begging to be enslaved once more. “Enslave us, we cannot stay without slavery.” Today, our leaders cannot be treated in their mother countries when they fall sick. When Robert Mugabe falls sick, he goes to Singapore, Moi who ruled Kenya for 24 years will go to Israel. Do we have leaders or misleaders? Mugabe having dominated Zimbabwe’s politic for almost four decades, he cannot be treated in Zimbabwe. This too applies to a big number of leaders in Africa.

I am an African and the more I stay in Africa, the more I get clarity of things. No politician today will dare to take his/she children to the public schools. If not all, majority will take their children to United States of America, Britain, Germany, France and other developed countries. As we speak now, the cry of bad politics is still heard in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Congo is known to be the richest country on earth in terms of minerals. But today Congo cannot hold election because of poverty. Bad politics are at work. The leaders there are in the primitive business on obtaining wealth. People are born poor and died poor in that country. Today, South Soudan; the youngest country in Africa is at war. The Dinka have risen against Nuer. How many will remember the genocide that took place in Rwanda in 1994. The Hutu turned against Tutsi. More than 800,000 people were killed within 100 days. Historian will remind us that Africa was and is still at war with herself. 

Today if you analyze, you will realize that we have become beggars of all time. For  treatment today, Kenya will invite Cuban doctors because we have no doctors in Kenya! The rich will seek treatment in India and UK. For the construction of roads, Chinese will be our good friends because we have Engineers who cannot construct roads. There is no hygiene in African politics especially Kenya in particular, the historians will remind us. How much BILLIONS of money disappeared in National Youth Service famous known as NYS? How many corrupt leaders are still in public offices? In Kenya, to become a powerful politician, you must engage in stealing of billions. Unfortunately, it is through stealing that Kenyans will elect you as their leader. How much is associated with Ann Waiguru; the former Cabinet Minister of Devolution and Planning? And still after that scandal was elected as the governor of Kirinyaga. If St. Paul were to rise up, what would he say to Africa. “You Stupid Africa, Who Bewitched You?”  

 

          Our leaders today accumulate a lot wealth and because they gained through the ways which are unknowable, bank them in Switzerland; the world bank. This happens as the poor die in the streets out of hunger. This happens as the orphans and widows spend sleepless nights because of poverty and insecurity. And I ask myself, where is humanity taking us? Are we going to the light or darkness?  But am not worried because Alexander the Great reminds me that empty handed I came and empty I will return. No doctor will ever prevent me from facing death nor will gold and silver accompany me to the grave. We are all bound to see death and eternal judgment.