In Africa, the more things change the more they remain the same

“Nations build their developmental paradigm after their national values; Poor nations are poor because of their productivity values and rich nations are rich because of their productivity values.Values ultimately dictate policy and priority…”, Dr Mensa Otabil. African geopolitics cannot be understood without examining the influence and interests of foreigners on the continent. In this regard it’s vital to appreciate the influence and legacy of traditional powers such as Britain, USA, France and Belgium among others. In his book What is wrong with being black, Mathew ASHIMOLOWO, laments “All African nations gained independence from their colonial masters, yet that has not eradicated the impact of colonial presence and conquest by foreigners…certain parts of East Africa have their economy heavily dominated by foreigners…”Over and again, we keep on hearing the rhetorics about the causes of Africa’s underdevelopment. Some people blame Africa’s woes on foreign sabotage and influence, yet others believe Africans are responsible for their own misery, as evidenced by endemic corruption, dysfunctional leaders, political instabilities, disunity among states etc. There is a school of thought which believes we are where we are because of what we are! These ones believe that a black man is naturally impaired and incapable of handling sophisticated situations! Yet, others believe otherwise. This school of thought blame Africa’s development challenges on nature and her location! On the other hand some Christians believe African woes are biblical. Pastor Mathew ASHIMOLOWO, in his book What is wrong with being black quotes “And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they shall fight every one against his brother, and every one against his neighbour; city against city and kingdom against kingdom (Isaiah 19:2). According to Mathew, Egypt is used to represent the whole of Africa. It’s very hard to ignore this biblical observation even when you are an atheist with keen interest in African development endeavor. Perhaps the chaotic situation in the Great Lakes region could be a true manifestation of this biblical prophecy! But exactly, what is wrong with Africa or with black people for that matter? Did problems of Africa start with colonisation? Not according to Walter Rodney at least. In his book “How Europe under developed Africa” Walter maintains thus “The connection between Africa and Europe from the fifteenth century onwards served to block this spirit of technological innovation [in Africa] both directly and indirectly. (105) The European slave trade was a direct block, in removing millions of youth and young adults who are the human agents from whom inventiveness springs. Those who remained in areas badly hit by slave capturing were preoccupied about their freedom rather than with improvements in production. Enslavement was causing these people to lose their battle to tame and harness nature.”It’s clearly manifested that Africa’s unfair international deals started way back in the 15th century. Africa has always got row deals with international community. At least starting with slave trade, African kings exchanged beads, mirrors and bracelets for their energetic and able bodied men! To this date Africa still gets row deals from international trade. We still get small gifts in exchange of mining concessions and extractions of other natural resources. History teaches that one of the techniques employed by Europeans in devastating Africans was dividing them and fuelling inter-tribal wars. In that way we had collaborators and resistors, and these two categories would easily switch roles. The same history shows that even collaborators would easily be dumped as long they served the need at hand, as for the case of Semei Kakungulu of Buganda Kingdom. This position has remained the same in modern times; super powers use African nations as long as they need them and drop them as soon as their interests shift! In the final analysis and going back to what is wrong with Africa? One would not be wrong to say that as Africans we are where we are because of what we believe and do. Albert Einstein once observed that “the significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level we were at when we created them.” And most importantly, we must learn from our history to build the future. As Africans, especially the leaders we must extricate ourselves and avoid all practices that fuel disunity and hatred. In short Africans must stop being part of the problem of their own underdevelopment!The writer is an educationist, author and publisher.