As I learn more about humanity, I’m confronted with truths that make it difficult to reconcile with the conventional narrative of Africa’s role within it — or lack thereof.
The accepted understanding of how no civilisation [worth mentioning] existed prior to the arrival of Europeans on the continent. Presuming that the notion of civilization is to be both universal and Eurocentric. Leaving no room to allow the possibility that Africans might simply have a different outlook and way of life.
I take this time to examine the principles of the great western civilization not in comparison with another, but within itself to demonstrate a contrasting narrative from that of the bastion of civilization, Africa’s benevolent savior. Instead, show the paternalistic and duplicitous nature of the west.

I also impress the importance of reflection on history for black people to orient ourselves and understand our role in our legacy and place in society. I emphasize the courage we need to take more ownership of our circumstances and resolutions, for no other individual or collective (will or should) care enough to drive meaningful change and development in Africa more than its people.
I believe we owe it to ourselves to reclaim our identity by actively seeking out to become familiar with our pre-colonial identity. Thereby living true to our ideologies and way of life — not implying that we remain conservative in practicing antiquated traditions, but rather adapt our cultural roots to modern day. Becoming the quintessential African.

On the Duplicity of the West

Western civilisation was born from the legacy of ancient Greece and Rome, drawing intellectually and culturally from both empires. But to stop there I believe would be an act of plagiarism — a failure to acknowledge what it has also borrowed from the African civilizations that pre-date it. At its foundation lie the principles of reason, rule of law, democracy, and individual liberty. The dignity of the individual, the importance of ethical behavior, and concepts of justice and equality all to promote social cohesion.
One of the most critical of all is its view on humanism. It upholds the importance of an individual’s rights, freedoms, and autonomy within the boundaries of the law. The rule of law is fundamental, emphasizing that all individuals, including those in positions of power, are subject to the law and its equal application. It ensures a system of justice, protecting individual rights, and providing stability and
predictability in society. But this social contract bears a caveat — equality is determined by the dominant culture’s understanding of inherent worth and potential of the individual.
As the west has become the dominant culture it largely shapes how we perceive the value of an individual, so naturally that value does not translate across other cultures.
This seemingly is illustrated by the coups in Africa orchestrated by the west, the innumerable deaths caused by genocide, and other brutal practices disguised as benevolent efforts to intervene and save Africa from itself. Or the ulterior motives behind the west’s involvement in wars initiated based on false, inaccurate, questionable, or unjustified grounds.
Its foreign policies used as a diplomatic effort that allows for political interference and the imposition and justification of incomprehensive sanctions placed on countries like Zimbabwe, Sudan, Central Africa Republic, and Eritrea. Sanctions that are often intended to target specific governments or individuals responsible for human rights abuses or corruption.
Yet ultimately, they affect the everyday citizen through increased poverty, shortages of medical supplies, food insecurity and malnutrition, reduced access to education, increased dependency on informal economies and illegal activities to survive, and increased migration and displacement in search for better opportunities abroad. All the while, these sanctions marginally address the underlying issues they aim to resolve.
I partly acknowledge the west’s intent to intervene in African politics. For there are truly atrocious acts of violence and inhumane practices that infest our continent, layered by corrupt leadership with the lack of foresight to see past their self-interests.
But when do these humanitarian exercises become meddling? I question the motives of these western countries that license themselves with the power to threaten and impose their authority on African soil.
Because they publicly admonish these corrupt instable governments creating a narrative that raises public out-cry for the west to interfere — the mediator.
While out of the public eye they co-operate with or manipulate the same corrupt governments to serve their economic or political interests. The perpetrator, self-appointed adjudicator, and enforcer. A stench of imperial overreach. A hypocritical society overly critical about the actions and philosophies of Africa while oblivious or willfully ignoring its own shortcomings.

On Progressive Dehumanization

To discern the difference between overt and concealed systemic oppression I’ve learnt that while the former is confronting it’s easily identifiable. The latter, however, is an effort from the oppressed to prove that it exists.
So, I ask that you indulge me as I put into perspective the moral consideration afforded to Africans by humanity. The degradation of their rights, dignity, and worth. A momentary timeline to show the normalization of mistreatment and discrimination through propaganda and the justification of violence.
Out of need and dependency, western countries have never left the continent from the time they landed on our shores over 600 years ago.
Since then, black people have been made to endure a lot of suffering and trauma — our identity disparate, our history displaced.
Over 500 years ago — the Portuguese initiated the transatlantic slave trade when they transported Africans to their colonies to be enslaved on plantations and various labor-intensive industries. Many died along the way due to disease, malnutrition, and abuse. A morally reprehensible practice with lasting effects on the descendants of those enslaved — leaving us scarred having to undo the psychological effects of that trauma.
160 years ago — Abraham Lincoln signed The Emancipation Proclamation, an executive order to free all slaves in the Confederate territories. The primary reason that led to this event was not the care for black lives, but rather to weaken the Confederate war effort as it would deprive them of enslaved labor.
139 years ago — European countries held the Berlin Conference between 1884-1885 to negotiate the partition of Africa amongst themselves — Great Britain, France, Belgium, Germany, Portugal, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, and Russia. It was a period of intense competition among European powers to colonies and control various regions of the continent. This saw a multitude of genocides across Africa, some documented such as Germany’s massacre of the Herero and Nama people in 1908 during their colonial expansion and oppression in response to dissent and resistance.
73 years ago — blacks were still fighting for civil rights. Rights that guarantee individuals equal treatment and protection under the law, which saw the Civil Rights Movement achieve significant legislative victories and contribute to changing public attitudes towards racial equality. 31 years later four police officers were caught on tape but acquitted for brutally beating Rodney King in Los Angeles. George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer, shot and killed unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin 11 years ago and was acquitted. And just 7 months ago [upon writing this], Tyre Nichols was brutally killed by Memphis police during a traffic stop.
66 years ago — the Françafrique policy was established. A set of relationships and informal agreements between France and it’s African colonies. Allowing France first right of refusal for opportunities to extract resources or exploit the markets, military operations and intervention [at times without consent], and meddling in the politics of African countries by supporting specific leaders or intervening under the guise of ensuring stability. Yet France’s true nature was and has been to protect its economic and strategic interests. Funding its state treasury by regulating the Francophone regions to use the CFA Franc as their currency of trade and commerce. Establishing French-owned companies as major manufacturers of natural resources at the detriment of local citizens e.g., using Niger’s uranium to supply a significant portion of France’s electricity demand while over 80% of Niger has no access to electricity. Using cultural assimilation to incorporate French culture and language in these regions and displace local languages and culture.
30 years ago — the rest of the world become aware of the realities of life in
countries like DRC, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, and Angola brought about by “blood diamonds”. Where civilians became subject to mass killings, mutilations, sexual slavery and rape, torture, and children recruited as soldiers to meet the world’s demand and consumption of diamonds. Today Africa faces new risks and threats to its sovereignty by some of the strategic alliances being struck by China and Russia.
So, the problems of black people have been economically and socially orchestrated in such a manner that has allowed most of the world to turn a deaf ear, remain ignorant, or diffuse any responsibility. Manipulating our essence and consciousness, exploiting our resources, debilitating our social and political structures.
The conventional narrative of Africa has even blinded its people so much so that we have become divisive amongst each other. We not only embrace the negative stereotypes and perceptions formed of us, but we perpetuate them. Signs of a hurt people (still healing) trapped in a psychological slumber. We are ashamed to identify with our heritage, so we eagerly choose that of others.
We do not understand how and where we fit in this world. We carry on historical feuds, killing or oppressing our own because we belong to different tribes and religions. Mostly stemming from a lack of deep understanding of our shared history and ancestral connections. How can we demand respect and dignity when we know very little of our pre-colonial heritage to understand what it is we truly deserve?

On Moral Relativism

To address the dehumanization of blacks has typically been met with empathy, understanding, and respect. What all these virtues have in common is the dependency on the individual’s willingness and openness to adopt and act on these qualities. The more I observe humanity the more I understand that it’s human nature to care and act on those things that serve our self-interest. And there is a limit as to how far reaching we choose our empathy to extend. Or at times we care, but not enough to make the sacrifices needed for change. The Polish-Jewish scholar Raphael Lemkin coined the term “genocide” in 1944 to describe the deliberate and systematic extermination of a racial, ethnic, or religious group.
Rightfully so, most agree to memorialise the Holocaust (1941–1945) and empathise with the consequences it had on the victims and their descendants. It resulted in the killing of millions of Jews, and other minority groups that were considered as undesirables. There were programs and agreements established as measures of compensation and restitution to those affected. These actions were part of broader efforts to acknowledge the atrocities of the Holocaust. Yet today the same society finds the idea and implementation of reparations for slavery and the slave trade contentious — except for slave owners/traders of course, who were compensated for the “loss of their property”. Despite common knowledge of how the wealth generated during that period by the labor of enslaved Africans contributed significantly to the economic growth of Europe and America.
As a point of reflection, slavery and slave trade lasted from the late 15 th century to the early 19 th century — about 400 years, in comparison to 4 years of the Holocaust.
To be clear, I am no sympathizer of Hitler. I am quite certain he did not look favorably to blacks either. I have no interest in comparative suffering, but rather wish to point out the fallacy of humanity so you can understand why I question the concept of the rights and equality of all, when in practice society not only continuously falls short but expects the aggrieved to be patient for change to come.
Slow change of course, never with the immediacy and urgency it calls for.
I make these comparisons to emphasize that inherent is an association of the value of one life over another whether conscious or unconscious. In our case, the value seems inconsequential since the rest of the world is not openly confronted or directly affected. So, justifiably I refuse to reconcile with the prevailing narrative of Africa when we were never authors of it.
The danger and power of a narrative mostly told from one side is seen in how history is remembered, in this case who is remembered. For example, outside of Africa there is little that is said of King Leopold II of Belgium, who personally presided over DRC until 1908, exploiting its people to benefit from the extraction of rubber and ivory. A rule marked by inhumane forms of coercion, humiliation, and forced control and compliance. Congolese rubber and ivory workers were mutilated — amputating their hands or feet as punishment. He endorsed mass killings and the sexual violation of women and girls to incite fear and intimidation.
The trade of rubber, ivory, and other valuable resources were highly profitable, and the state and European businesses benefited from the exploitation of Congolese labor and resources. The Belgian state, although aware of these atrocities and abuses, chose not to act for over 20 years until the release of The Casement Report, officially titled “Report on the Administration of the Congo Free State” which brought unwanted attention. For long I’ve wondered whether its moral disengagement from the fear of feeling guilt or shame, or whether it’s an inherited hatred borne of prejudice. But after a while I’ve decided it’s not my problem to solve, but rather one for the rest of the world since it still struggles to come to terms with the black existence.

I do wonder, how many more fatalities and realties does it take for people
to reconcile with the black experience?

On Reclaiming Our Dignity

It’s difficult to appreciate or identify with something we know very little about. Slavery and colonization saw to the erasure and suppression of African cultures, languages, and traditions. The disruption and loss of cultural heritage and the denial of one’s cultural identity which led to trauma, grief, disconnection, and a sense of cultural void. A fragmentation of our identity and a struggle to establish a coherent sense of self.
We’re unaware of our historical identity that we’re easily convinced of how
undesirable or unrefined our image and beliefs are. Feeling humiliated for simply being ourselves. Embarrassed by who we are, because of arbitrary standards placed by people who refused and failed to understand us.
Leaving us ashamed of what we like — disparaging our arts, degrading our food and fashion for not being western enough. Mocking ourselves when unable to fluently speak English because we equate it to our level of intellect. Forgetting to take pride in our own languages.

Compelling ourselves to live someone else’s dream — hateful, intolerant and
degrading of ourselves on the account of what others think of us.
Conforming to Eurocentric standards to become more palatable. Changing our names or speech patterns, straightening our natural hair, dumbing down our music, or bleaching our skin in an attempt to gain recognition and acceptance. How much have we lost by trying to live up to the expectations of others? Why do we let a people that refuse to learn, understand, or respect us dictate who or what we should be?
We need to bridge the gap created between us and our cultural legacy. One side rooted in pain, struggle, subjugation, and brutality — the psychological hangovers from colonization, slavery, genocides, and cultural displacement and erasure. The other tasked with the generational inheritance and responsibility to change the prevailing narrative of Africa and Africans.

We are the solution; we are the revolution.