The African Anathema

African Union

As earlier posited, the resurgence of political cleavages in Africa is no new event considering the hand-over of the colonial experience which is yet to be put behind Africans. Their hegemonic approaches tend to reduce the African man into a small consummative and non-productive individual, usually second to some other unknown person. Africans will agree that after the colonial rule, they are yet to come to terms that this is only history and as such there is need to put that behind them and move ahead.

Mandela N in Tunis-Tunisia 1994 during an African heads of states summit of the Organisation of African Unity now African Union (OAU-AU) solemnly declared that “I hope that from this day forward, we (Africans) will no longer spend time talking about apartheid nor colonialism but on the integration of and economic development of Africa” (sic). His premises were based on the eroding divisions witnessed between African countries as a result of political polarisation sanction by western imperialism. This was due to the lots of energy spent by African citizens talking about the negative consequences of colonialism neglecting the aspect of revitalising the missing link to break the inertia for the continents progress. I am in no way against that, but I also think it’s time to look forward.

While Mandela was preoccupied about the continents forward movement, his then deputy president, today former SA Head of State-Thabo Mbeki brought up a controversial argument in the parliament while referring to his person as an AFRICAN in 1996 (SABC News 23 October 2007). This statement sparked up a heated debate as to who is an African? No matter the answered they had, the question of the African identity is yet to be digested with resounding success. The continental Africans, the black race of the world, Sub-Saharan Africa where all the epitome of African reality is found etc. Nonetheless, the essence is an all-inclusive overview of the people for the betterment of the continent.

The theme therefore behind the aforementioned perspective can be explained with the problem of African unity. There is a big bang predicament to give the African identity. However, the case is not who is who, but the need for standard integration, interaction and friendly corporation amongst African states. This phenomenon is classic and needs urgent and instant redress. It is the wish and desire from the African people to unite, yet there is a problem that hinders this goal attainment. My analyses here are centred on the institutional inconsistencies that have marred the activities of African people to unite.

RACIAL GRADING.

The question of race is predestined within human beings. While some races are considered superior to others, others simply accept their second class place given to them by some other “superior” race. God who created us all know that we are all the same. This position has been highlighted in cases like Nazism, fascism, apartheid, Semitism etc. Thus Africans are at the crossroads of this social inequality. This is seen in the era of slavery, colonialism etc. Africans are not any different to any other race in the world. They have a brain, a creative mind, thought patterns, culture etc which not any different from any other set of humans. But the case is sour, given that Africans have been reduced to mere consumers. During the colonial era this continent were forced to consume western technology, culture, religion, thought etc. At independence, they were systematically coerced to inherit this and with the wildest monopoly in the race-card game of extreme autonomy over the media, medicine, science and technology. As such, Africans tend to feel dehumanised and inferior. This has generated a state of self-doubt, self-defeat and self-hate making it pretty difficult to get of this complex. As a result, Africans tend to respect and even adore the European, American, and Asian as against his fellow African.

In Cameroon today, a Nigerian is more alien to a European, American same in Equatorial Guinea and many African countries. In Togo for example, a French man or Brazilian pays XAF 10.000 CFA as visa fee upon arrival, meanwhile a Cameroonian pays XAF 25.000 CFA. This alone hinders movement, reciprocity, respect and integration. More so, ethnic dialectics have been an immunisation to this complex issue. This has thus transcended into local ethnic groups within African countries. In Cameroon the situation is appalling whereby ethnic sensitivity is placed at the prime level of the state at the detriment of aptitude. In this retrogressive method, some ethnic groups are inexcusably considered “superior” like it was the case of the Genocide in Rwanda (Tutsi and Hutsu), the same in Nigeria during the Biafra war (Ibos and Hausas,) in Cameroon it’s not any different with several, Anglophones, grass field people (Graffi), northerners, Betis, Bulus etc. Evidence can be found from the western front, that during their racial/ethnic struggles (war) that ended up to be called world war one and two, they had seen the need of pre-emptive diplomacy and large scale unity for a unilateral and wholesome economic growth. This explains the brain behind the European Union (EU). And for Africa not to learn from this will like refusing to accept that the bee produces sweet honey yet it stings. The time therefore is now for the African people to bury their differences for the collective good of all. After all, African people have suffered numerous conflicts which is a benchmark signal for a unity. Without concerted efforts, Boko Haram would have had a heavier toll in Cameroon, Nigeria, Chad and Niger.

IGNORANCE

The literacy level for most African countries is quite low. Though not so much a problem, its effects are however glaring with a futuristic explosion that resonates into the ruling class. The chocolate box of most African countries, show that they are essentially collective rather individualistic as is the case of today. The ignorance surrounding the power of unity is my pre-occupation.

Most African heads of states (Leaders) have an abbreviated relationship with the African Union and pay little respect to African Union Institutions. They are quick to show solidarity to the western world than to brotherly African countries. A sea of African leaders quickly rushed to France after the July 13 Paris attacks, but none showed up in Cameroon when Boko Haram attacked the Northern part and killed scores of people. Neither were they also in Burkina Faso after the Radison Blue hotel attack, same in Cote d’Ivoire etc. They tend to be hasty toward global things as against what really concerns them. All African leader Including Knurunziza of Burundi and Paul Biya of Cameroon were some of the first people to congratulate Donald Trump after his elections in the USA. But Ali Bongo had to wait for weeks before his congratulatory messages could come. In this wise they are often seen seeking friendly rapport outside their African sphere. This situation has a case study in Cameroon, where the president herein will run out to Europe (France), Asia (China) at the expense of even CEMAC meetings let alone African Union summits where he’s been identified as a classy absentee. The problem here is the little considerations given to continental issues. While the position of Kwame Nkruma, Julius Nyerere, is most needy now, the likes of Gadaffi M, Abdoulaye Wade were also exquisite toward this promethean drive towards unity. In 2006 at the invitation of the Chinese statesman, an attendance rate of about 99% was achieved with notorious Heads of States attending in the likes Moubarack of Egypt and Paul Biya of Cameroon. The fun is that there were seen brandishing gallantly as though Africa was there to give to china rather receiving. What a dishonesty, sham and con. This chino-African relationship cannot by any means replace the need for Africa doing its thing by itself. It has even been rumoured that, the war in Sudan has its somewhat backing from China. The question of African unity still remains frivolous to most African leaders.

In their incessant cry for aids (which has never solved any basic problem), the indebting process keeps on. And if they don’t rethink and re-read their lessons, the worst might be fall the African people. In Cameroon, we applauded the attainment of the completion point of the HIPC initiatives but how we got there only God alone knows. The western ideas of Millennium Development goals-MDGs-, Poverty Reduction Strategies, structural adjustment programme-SAP-, neo-liberalism have all not yielded any tangible change. Cameroonians were happy getting to the completion point of HIPC initiative with the pious hope that it’s going to be better. The living standards of Cameroonians have fallen greatly, more and more children unable to go to school, access to medical care near absent. Is it not in February 2008 that Cameroonians were on the street complaining of high cost of basic commodities? Didn’t we evacuate Rigobert Song to Europe because of insufficient medical facilities, the drain derailment of October 21^st is still in our minds.

THE MEDIA

The acute shortage of satellite autonomy by African states have ridiculed continental attempt to savage its image. While the HOS are inextricably concern with western orientations, the mass media also makes sure the cultural sphere is diluted as much as it can. It is either deliberate (western media) or systematic censorship of African media). Western Media bias, Influence peddling and corruption, have all helped in the question of media participation in African unity. Journalists are reputed for giving false information to the public especially with issues of national interest. The tendency to please the omnipotent and omniscience Head of State at all times is the bone of contention here.

While broadcasters are supposed to be the ears and eyes of the citizens, inform and educate them, they have often taken a rather shady position of praise singing. Let me by this example explain what I mean. I am in no way trying to hurt the vision bearers. But, there is a continental Top TV show program called “big broad Africa” widely watched and cherished by youths across the continent and most especially English speaking African countries. In fact the African culture has been reduced to endless kissing. Luckily I am a youth and so would love programs of such designs but cannot stand the brain washing there in. It’s the same with the Urban Music TV channel called Trace Africa. The kind of Music broadcasted to their viewers has a particular taste and orientation, Cinema is not any different with A+.

CONCLUSION.

The trajectory of human dignity is founded on the African man. The cradle of humanity is in Africa, therefore we don’t even need to dream for one second of copying from anywhere. As such Africa perspectives should be people centred geared towards a wholesome Africa. The question of xenophobia as seen in South Africa is real and everywhere in the world. Other parts of the globe have reduced it and contain it, why not Africa? We are only xenophobic because we are poor, frustrated and threatened, lack justice etc.

In Cameroon, this linguistic diversity has been vastly abused and ridiculed. It is the source of political alignments, development orientation, appointments etc. Cameroon is theoretically a bilingual country, but in essence is a French Bilingual Country. The English subsystem of the country has been on a systematic, deliberate and continuous degradation for years. The educational system is threatened, the Bi-jural Justice system Endangered, English Language on the blink of oblivion. How many people who speak and understand this language feel as part of the country Cameroon? All administrative and political agenda have all been in French. The crux of it was been seen in the Latest Senatorial Elections (the Very First of its kind in Cameroon) of April 14th, 2013 where there was massive misrepresentation of the text. The penal code in Cameroon doesn’t carry the same meaning in English and French, the OHADA Uniform law was exclusively in English, All appointments are first done in French and maybe in English. Unity cannot come out of this kind of disenfranchisement. Cameroon like many other African countries must and should think of an original Cameroonian identity that will be for Cameroon and of Cameroon.

Moses NGWANAH