AFRICAN, DO IT THYSELF!

“Every man must be architect and implementer of designs that define his destiny.”

Well, the problem with the African is that he has neither been the architect nor the implementer of designs that define his destiny. Is it then any wonder that he wallows in abject poverty, disease, squalor, wars and in fact foreign domination? Of course not! He who seeks his independence must himself be independent. And have we been independent in our thoughts, words and actions?

Our desire – true political, economic and social independence and respect as an equal race – has yet to be realized because the African simply is not doing for himself what others are doing for themselves. Just look around you. They, the Caucasians (“whiteman”) or the Mongoloids (“yellowman”), produce the clothes you wear and the shoes you put on. The materials you use for your clothes you wear and the shoes you put on. The materials you use for your buildings, same. The food you prefer these days – fried rice and chicken, burger, pizza, ice cream, apples etc. – same. Your beverages – fanta, coke, beer, guinness, wine, champagne, etc – same. Your electrical appliances – television, sound systems, air-conditioners, refrigerators, cookers, etc – same. Your means of transportation and communication – cars, trains, airplanes, ships, telephones, computers, fax machines, etc – same. Your medical equipment and medicines, same. Just name them.

No one is disputing the fact that Africans invented some of these things but who controls their production now? Again do not be deceived, some of these might be produced here but the question is by whom? It is not enough to call on foreigners to come and invest here. What are we doing ourselves? As succinctly expressed by Ayi Kwei Armah in The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born, “we do not serve ourselves if we remain like insects fascinated by the white people’s power. Let us look inward. What are we? What have we? Can we work for ourselves? To strengthen ourselves?”

Sometimes, I shudder to think what would happen to us if these people pack bag and baggage and leave for their home countries. What would happen to us if these people decide not to give or sell to us the clothes, food, materials for shelter, the domestic appliances, the means of transportation, communication gadgets, medical equipment and medicines? Can you imagine? In fact, God forbid but the horrible truth is that, WE ARE DEAD!

But as sound thinking rational human beings, does it make any sense to put our lives in the hands of other people, people who time and time again have amply demonstrated to us that they have not the least interest in our welfare? Whilst our governments are at the mercy of these “benevolent” Western governments and their financial institutions, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and World Bank, we the citizens are slaving for “greener pastures” in their homelands. Those who have not yet had the opportunity are just biding their time. For how long are we going to be the obedient servants of others?

God did not create any race to be the servant of another race even though there is no denying the fact that there would always be masters and servants in any given society. But just as God does not control any one’s will so is it up to the individual/group to decide what category he/she/they want to belong to. We by our actions and inaction have relegated ourselves to this ignoble position. As Marcus Garvey rightly points out, “Lagging behind in the van of civilization will not prove our higher abilities. Being subservient to the will and caprice of progressive races will not prove anything superior in us. Being satisfied to drink of the dregs from the cup of human progress will not demonstrate or fitness as people to exist alongside of others, but when of our own initiative we strike out to build industries, governments, and ultimately empires, then only then will we as a race prove to our Creator and to man in general that we are fit to survive and capable of shaping our own destiny.”

What have we as individuals or collectively done to lift Africa up where she truly belongs – in the highest regions. Note what Frederick Douglass says “Men may not get all they pay for in this world, but they must certainly pay for all they get. If we ever get free from the oppressions and wrongs heaped upon us we must pay for their removal. We must do this by labor, by suffering, by sacrifice, and if needs be, by our lives and the lives of others.” Until we begin providing for our wants and needs there is no way we can ever be truly independent and recognised as equal human beings.

san-kofa