Editor, RE: “Post-2017: Rwandans cannot waste time on political theatre” (The New Times, Wednesday, July 15). Sunny Ntayombya raised various interesting points in the article. He rights argues that Africans spend much time learning about Western achievements and their miracles and completely ignore African values. As a result, many African academics use western paradigms to critique African matters. The meaning of democracy is a typical example. I am always amazed by educated Africans who force their children to live like Europeans, behave like Europeans and only speak European languages – because this is considered as an epitome of civility. Moreover, it is common for Africans in big cities to give little attention to the rural areas – the “villagers” are often perceived as pariahs – and this kind of perception interferes with the way we understand ourselves. To this day, we still learn about Africa from outsiders who suddenly become ‘experts’ even if all they know about Africa is from Google. Even the few African researchers, who get their hands dirty and try to contradict the western discourse on Africa and its people, face isolation in various public spheres. The same applies to African leaders who attempt to challenge the established meaning of African governance which is associated with corruption, cronyism, crime and so forth. Butare
