“Africa: Things Fall apart, can the center ever hold?”

A TRUE REFLECTION OF AFRICA AND ITS NEWEST CHALLENGE

“Africa: Things Fall apart, can the center ever hold?”

 

“I will begin by asking this simple question: When will Africa be challenged to understand that they have reached a ripe aged to take care of its own?” According to one African thinker (unquote), “Africans never do anything right”.  Her statements were a surprise to me even though she is a full fledged African woman, born and breed in Africa with ‘African blood’ running through her veins, and jostling her minds and hearts”. I was further perplexed by her undermined critique of African people; both in Africa and in Diaspora. But, reflecting over her understatement, I came to some realization that there may be some truth to her overall argument about very intricate and mind boggling ideology of “Africans never does any thing right”.

 

Therefore, my reason for writing this piece is to challenge those Africans who never think that they can do anything right. Some people do believe that, ‘due to several struggles past and present by African people during the colonial era- between 1800 AD’S  and 19^th centuries; and other historical struggles of racism, famine, HIV Aids, educational challenges, hunger, poverty etc,  that Africans relapsed their ability to become the best all over the world in all aspect of life and humanity. Many, as a result of this attitude have decided not to be innovative nor follow path with so called successful countries and continents to do what they did to be where they are today. Such as the united States of America, Europe Asia etc.

 

At any rate, how has it become a norm that we can not really unite in any way to bring positive contribution among us and our people who we left and decided to emigrate to North America and Europe etc? How do we think we can contribute effectively to Africa when we can’t believe in any thing that concerns it ranging from small community contributions, organization and formation of groups to facilitate economic, political, social agendas and growth? How do we think we can effectively contribute to the world at large where ever we see ourselves when we cannot think of the continent we once loved and cherished? Though, for those who have experienced wars, massacre, hunger, famine and so on while living in the continent of Africa, I may tend to understand the reason why you decided to turn your back to the country or continent that gave you birth and life. But how long can we continue to turn our back to Africa through our attitudes, actions, and life style just because of what we think we are gaining by living overseas or working with foreigners.  When, in turn, same foreigners respect and do care about Africa. The same foreigners have over feed you ‘Africa’ and Africans with foreign Aids thereby making you to become lazy to take care of your own issues both home and abroad. I understand that Africa had contributed so much to the undivided world success without adequate certain kind recognition; however indisputable this statement seems: my question is: Can a rejected continent continue to reject itself through its actions globally and domestically by not paying attention to others; and by not implementing policies that benefit its citizenry worldwide? So many Africans want to contribute to the growth of Africa and the world at large without action. It is not enough to sit down and write proposals of how Africa should be governed or how Africans should be treated. Nevertheless, it is reasonable enough to begin to be challenged participate actively in minor and major community pioneering and contributions, volunteer in schools, colleges, hospitals, culture, churches, offer aids to kids in Africa and so on as a way to uplift the good name of Africa and help those in need. If you find it very hard to give little of your time to making something out of nothing by helping your organization grow and achieve those positive visions and goals, how do you think you can extend that vision you have in your mind since centuries ago about Africa?.  Some times, we tell ourselves certain lies that keep on deceiving us from enriching ourselves and reaching our collective goals. We live in a very individualistic society; a society that is besieged by the invisible hands of capitalism that gives precedence to wealth, property rights, and under funded freedom of speech. At the same time, those in Diaspora have decided not to learn a lesson about giving and receiving. The west gives aids to Africa and at the same time, they receive hundred folds.

 

I am further overwhelmed how most Africans have decided to hide their identity because of ‘fear, ignorance, and complex just to be called western. I believe that we should work on becoming as western just to fit into the societal demands and needs and better serve the society in which we are living presently-Canada, USA, Europe. But, at the same time, we should hold firm our identity, cultures, traditions etc by participating in things that concerns us as Africans so that the society we live in can benefit from immense wealth, knowledge and ‘wisdom of Africa’. We in turn would be able to make the global world recognize our contribution whereby whatever affects Africa affects all.

 

Therefore, if you belong to any African club, organization, churches, company, firm, volunteer group, keep up the good works because you are writing your own testimony in many ways no matter how small it is. These so called ‘African universal dyfunctionality or disunity’ are a result of our inability to corporate at both domestic and global levels. The earlier we understand this notion, the better we will rise and make Africa proud and the world at large. The call by the new incumbent Chairman of the 53-nation African Union in Ethiopia, Muammar Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi this year to unite Africa as one continental government is a challenging one. In February 2009, upon being elected chairman of OAU, Gaddafi told the assembled African leaders: “I shall continue to insist that our sovereign countries work to achieve the United States of Africa’

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muammar_al-Gaddafi).The idea is good, but how can it be achieved when most Africans allow themselves to be disunited in all areas of their live.

 

“I cry for Africa; when will you wake up! I cry for African Children all over the world, when you will understand that your continent is fading away because of your lack of commitment to better your people instead of allowing others to keep on giving you aids, food, clothing’s? etc. “Do not misunderstand my kind of cry; I love Africa and would want you to understand that Africa is a continent of riches, of gold, diamond, of kings and queens. Africa is a continent where true love, relationship; family etc can be practiced devoid of any mind game or sophistication. It is a true natural home for those who believe that things need to be done to bring Africa to a greater HEIGHT.

 

STEPHEN ABARA

 

President, Glendon Africa Network

York University, Canada

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“Things fall apart ….can the centre ever hold” (a phrase borrowed from Chinua Achebe the author of the Novel “Things fall apart, the center can not hold” (1958)

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