Life in Africa: The Good and the Bad

Whether good or bad, Africa is my home and there is no place like home. I love Africa because there is no place like Africa. Even in my second life (if I get the opportunity), I will choose Africa because I love Africa and there is no doubt Africa loves me. Some people don't understand. Some people think they know but they do not know. Some people think they know all about Africa but the truth is that, none of them knows Africa the way I do. I know Africa and Africa knows me.

I was born in Africa, I grew up in Africa and Africa is my home so you must believe me if I tell you there is no place like Africa. If it is true there is a God up there beyond the clouds then I am pretty sure that God is an African. Why? Because Africa is the rhythm of life. Africa is that mighty tree of ancient origin rooted in mountains of gold and silver. Africa is that mighty stream. Africa is that stream of life. Africa is that mighty stream full of untold number of souls. Africa is that bird. Africa is that quiet but mighty bird. Africa is that quiet bird with the voice of thunder. Africa is that mighty bird with the wings of gold and diamond feathers. Anytime Africa spreads her precious wings of different colors, even the beasts below the surface of the earth, smile. Africa is my home and there is no place like Africa.

It is very true my great-great grandfather did not build an airplane but what people do not understand is that, my great-great grandfather did not need an airplane to fly.

It is very true my great-great grandmother could not write her story in a book but what people do not understand is that, my great-great grandmother was able to carve her story on a mountain that does not move. If you see my uncle walking on the Kalahari desert with no shirt and no shoes on, don't just conclude he is dumb. My uncle chases away wild beasts with his bare hands and it takes great courage and wisdom to do that. If you live in New York City, don't just conclude my uncle in the jungle is a fool because no fool survives in a jungle full of wild animals.

Some people think Africa is dumb but what Africa knows, the world can never know even half. If you steal from Africa's backyard and she doesn't chase you away with a gun, don't just conclude Africa is blind. The eyes of Africa shines like the Sun and she sees all things. Africa doesn't judge. Instead, she leaves all things to He who knows how to judge. Once again, I love Africa because Africa is my home and there is no place like home.

Anywhere you hear "poverty", you hear "Africa". There is poverty in Africa today. There is no doubt about it. My great great grandfather had food in abundance and he had enough to drink. My great great grandmother had enough to give her grandchildren anytime they asked for something to eat. My great great grandfather had enough gold and precious minerals to decorate his throne and my great great grandmother had a palanquin full of edible fruits. There was plenty in Africa but plenty has been taken away leaving Africa with very little to give her beloved children anytime they ask for something to eat. The only problem with Africa is that, she opens her arms all the time. Africa opens her arms and welcomes every stranger. Meanwhile, they come with sweet tongues and friendly faces but with wicked minds and charcoal hearts. Some do not understand but instead of taking time to understand, they rush into conclusions.

There is poverty in Africa but why is there poverty in Africa? There is hunger in Africa but why is there hunger in Africa? You took away the piece of bread I had in my hands by force and now you are trying to feed me with expired biscuit and diluted fanta because I have nothing left to eat knowing very well that expired biscuit does me no good. Is it fair? You break my home into pieces then come back later on to teach me "Unity is Strength". Do you expect me to love you? If unity is strength as your good book says then why break my home into pieces? You take away my eyes and come back later on with a walking stick for me. Do you expect me to thank you for the walking stick? Some people think they know but they do not know. Some people think they understand but they do not understand. 

Many Issues need to be addressed. Many problems need to be solved. It is time we come together as one people with a common destiny.

Education and by "Education", I mean "quality education" is the key to solving most of our problems. Why should I worry myself learning about Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson when I don't even know about Kwame Nkrumah and Nelson Mandela?. Education in some parts of Africa is very poor not just because of poverty but because of the unnecessary things they teach us. My teacher was busy teaching me how to draw an American map when I didn't even know how to draw an African map. It is time we start learning the most important things first. Instead of wasting precious time learning American history, we could be learning about agriculture and proper ways of growing crops and rearing animals. Agriculture unlike American history benefits Africa directly and that is what we need to be studying not American history in Africa. There are many important things in this life but some are more important than others, and we must do the most important things first. We learn so many unnecessary things in school instead of concentrating on the most important things.

Yes, it is true at times we blame the western world for no good reasons at all. We are the cause of almost all our problems and so it makes little to no sense at all to blame the western world for the problems we face today in Africa. However, that is not to say we shouldn't talk about the western powers and their evil deeds in Africa. The western world pretends to help but in reality, the western world only knows how to destroy Africa. The western world has done nothing but great harm to Africa. Our sorrows serve as melodies for their "Amazing grace". They benefit from our pains. They benefit from our tears and sorrows. They pretend to help but that is just one of the ways the wicked one deceives people. It is time we start thinking for ourselves instead of allowing the west to think for us all the time.

The west has nothing good to think about Africa besides "lets go there and make more profit". They encourage the planting of trees in their various countries but come in record numbers to Africa to cut down all our trees for timber. The gold belongs to us but the west determines the market price of our gold. The diamond belongs to us yet the west determines the price of our diamond. It is time we start depending on ourselves instead of depending on the west because the western world has nothing good to offer Africa. They know "Unity is strength" and that is why they keep dividing Africa so they can control and manipulate us all the time.

The West destroys and then pretends to help rebuild very similar to the way the devil steals and destroys. They ensure that only wicked people win elections in Africa. The west benefits from our wicked and greedy leaders so they always use money and influence to help the wicked ones win elections in Africa and that is why most of our leaders in Africa today are very corrupt and greedy. The west wouldn't be able to benefit from our sweat and pains if Africa had great leaders who did not depend on the west but on Africa and Africans. Yes, we live in a global community and we cannot do away with the rest of the world. I am not saying we should do away with the west completely but we should do away with their interference. We shouldn't allow the west to decide for us all the time because the west has nothing good to offer Africa.

There is no doubt our leaders are very greedy, corrupt, and wicked-minded people. We do not elect bad leaders in Africa. Instead, the west elects these corrupt people to rule Africa so the west can benefit from our sweat and pains. When the west elects these greedy leaders for us, sometimes we revolt and then the west sends NATO troops, etc. to intervene as if they are helping. That is why you often hear political violence in Africa. The west referred to Mandela as a "monster" and a "terrorist" but as we all know, Mandela was just a freedom fighter who did not give in to the western influence. They offered Mandela money but he rejected it. They offered Mandela paradise but he rejected it. Nelson Mandela was always a leader and never a boss, and Mandela loved Africa.

I cannot say the same about the other leaders in Africa because they are all corrupt and wicked-minded. More than 500,000 innocent people were murdered in Darfur and Omar Al-Bashir, the president of Sudan, sponsored most of the killings yet remained president until recently. Some people loved Gaddafi so much even in death just because Gaddafi was anti-west. However, some people forget the fact that being an anti-west is not always good enough. Some people considered Gaddafi one of the best heads of states in Africa just because Gaddafi was anti-west forgetting the fact that, being an anti-west sometimes benefits only the leader in power and not the poor African. Gaddafi was anti-west but also a "snake under grass". Mugabe was an anti-west but also a "shinning demon". Mugabe took away productive farming lands from the white farmers in Zimbabwe but what did he do with those lands? Mugabe gave those lands to his immediate relatives and friends while the poor farmer had no land at all to farm on. He took away farming lands but failed to cultivate the land.

Zimbabwe which used to be one of the most prosperous countries in all of Africa, is now one of the poorest in the world. In fact, in 2008, Zimbabwe recorded one of the highest hyperinflation rates in world history. Zimbabwe's inflation rate hovered around 79600000000% in 2008. The inflation rate was so high Zimbabwe's currency became totally useless and had to be abandoned. Meanwhile, Mugabe continued to blame all his failures on western sanctions. Sadly, several Africans continued to hail Mugabe as a hero.

Dictators like Teodoro Obiang of Equatorial Guinea, Eduardo Dos Santos of Angola, Paul Biya of Cameroon, King Swati III of Swaziland and Yoweri Museveni of Uganda have all been in power for decades yet their various countries continue to wallow in poverty. We allow this "old cargo" leadership to exist in our various countries yet expect positive change and prosperity. Sometimes very sad but this is life in Africa.