“ I dream of an Africa which is at peace with
itself”…Nelson Mandela (1918 - 2013) Former President of South Africa
This is Africa...
Of
course we all know that Africa is not just a random geographical location, she
is a great continent mothering fifty four countries, about a thousand tribes
and thousands of languages, the greatest ever diversification mystery in
history. To top it all, Africa has massive mineral resources ranging from oil
to gold to diamond and so much more. Unfortunately though, Africa harbours the
greatest percentage of poverty bourne of illiteracy, corruption, poor
leadership and western interference, which naturally culminates into wars,
terrorism, diseases, youth restiveness and instability on various fronts.
“Africa is not a colour – it’s a place”…Trevor
Noah (1984 - ) South African Comedian and host of The Daily Show on Comedy Central.
Many
westerners only see the dark skin colour of majority of the African people and
regard them as inferior, they have also been quoted in the past perhaps out of
negative racism to have said that Africans are a lower race and that they
simply exist as raw materials to the rest of the world, fortunately however,
the negro race as they are referred have broken records and shattered barriers
in virtually all sectors of human endeavor, proving that indeed we are all
equal and no race is superior to another. Come to think of it, even if Africa
was just a colour that reeks of racism, what is wrong with naturally living
dark skin, which God created to withstand the intensity of the sun and healing heat
that prevails in Africa? Sadly and disappointingly, racism is simply and
deliberately thought to the younger generation by toxic and insecure people
aimed at stirring hate and destabilizing the world.
“It is very easy to overestimate the importance
of our own achievements in comparison with what we owe others”…Dietrich
Bonhoeeffer (1906 - 1945) German Pastor, Theologian and spy.
Africa’s achievements
If we
were to highlight the great potentials embedded in Africa and her people we
would probably never end, but on the contrary, Africa is a far cry away from
what she is actually capable of offering the world, but why is this?
This is
a question that has been asked by countless people for as long as we can remember;
yet there seems to be no answer in sight.
I hope
not to get on any nerves in an attempt to use animal analogy to drive home my
point. Africans are innocent, loyal, trusting and have a golden heart just like
a dog does, bearing no ill feeling. While the westerners are like the cat,
which is brave, smart, cunning, vicious and always having an ulterior motive.
Africans have unwittingly let the western world fully take advantage of the
virgin continent of Africa, and even after Africa realized the rip-off, they neither fret nor throw a hiss off it, rather they embraced them in love to
prove that wealth is not in the physical things we see that stink of profane
vanity, but in our character.
“Having these colossal accolades and titles,
they get in the way ”…Bob Dylan (1941 -) American singer and songwriter.
Accolades?
This,
my friends is a tricky one. If we choose to be sentimental or overtly emotional,
which of course is not necessary, we would seek to dwell on the apparent
misadventures of Africa, which has led to her being massively duped and raped
of her jurisdiction, resources and self-esteem of her people. Africa is
definitely an uncelebrated hero to have survived slavery, illiteracy, poverty and
international ridicule for so long, even when she provides resources that help
run the entire world. But we cannot claim recognition for being alive,
naturally strong, resilient, endowed with talents and resources unless we use
them maximally and have an astounding result of greatness to show for it.
We
cannot and should not cry for glory when three quarters of our population are
illiterate, and while the rest equally languish in untold poverty.
We must
not rejoice for it is not yet uhuru, rather we must be ashamed that the whole
world watches as we waste precious lives that could have served great purpose,
yet we oppress ourselves with ill-gotten wealth, misplacing our priorities and
languishing in religion which the high and mighty use as a source of control
for the weak, poor and feeble minded.
Although,
after we might have gathered together and agreed on a thought pattern, we are
permitted by nature to celebrate milestones so that the little successes we achieve
might as well serve as a source of motivation for us to forge ahead with
strength, and an intriguing inspiration for others that share in our dream of
making a difference.
God
bless Nigeria, Africa, and the world!
Thank
you, and be awesome because you
truly are.
Akin
Abimbola.
Twitter: @akinzogee
Facebook: Critical Lyric by Akin Abimbola
Instagram: Akinzogee
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Sources: Brainy Quote, Google, Good reads, Instagram, YouTube,
Wikipedia
This article is an
original piece, which was reasonably researched, contains considerable opinion
and is composed in a unique style of the author.
The names in actual
stories are not real and the stories in this write-up are fictional. Consequently,
people’s names appearing are purely co-incidental, except for quotes and news
that are typically referenced.
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