Most of us make many noises about not being treated fairly; I know I am part of those noise makers. Most of us claim our society is not conducive for living. We claim the streams’ water kill faster than malaria; and I know that is what fed our grandparents but some lived to over 100 years.
Some of us claim that mosquitoes may kill all of us if we do not take care. Some of say that cholera is seasonal and will come no matter what we do. Some of us claim that living abroad brings enlightenment.
Now my first question is, abroad, where many are rushing to go and stay permanently, what makes those places so charming?
I bet many, many years ago, they faced the challenges we are facing now (Let’s just forget about colonialism as we are past that, what is left now is self inflicted colonialism: neo-colonialism). They struggled to keep up with conditions that necessitated actions of risks, trail and error and most importantly sacrifice.
When will the African learn that killing a thief by the most brutal means possible is a more serious crime than stealing?
When will the African learn that going to work late in government agencies thinking that it doesn’t belong to his/her father affects him/her?
When will the African learn that he/she does not need a bicycle, motor bike, car or money in order to vote a person into power?
When will the African learn that chasing ‘beela’ (bush rat) and trying to trap it with fire can cause more damage than the cost of that ‘beela’ when there happens to be a bush fire?
When will the African learn that the gutters are meant for drainage so as to avoid flooding and not meant as incinerators? When will the African learn that a travelling vehicle meant to take 17 passengers is a form of protection and ease?
When will the African learn that paying bribe constitutes the same crime as the one receiving it? When will Africans learn that giving children good sex educating can prevent many unpleasantness other than telling them that it is an abomination to even mention a sex organ?
When will the African learn that doing illegal mining causes more havoc than good? When will the African learn to correct his/her fellows when they are tampering with state resources and stop sitting on the fence?
When will the African know the difference between hospitality and groveling?
When will the African aspire to better his/hers instead of ‘theirs’? When will the African stop thinking that if he/she does not litter the environment sanitary workers will get no work doing? When will the African learn to put off electrical bulbs and gadgets like TV, radio, etc… when they are not in use to save power?
When will the black see his skin for what it is; a gift and a blessing? When will the African learn to teach his/her children how to speak their local language better than a foreign one?
When will Africans come together and find means of solving their problems instead of kneeling and begging shamelessly for loans which come with horrible bonds?
I can go on and on and on as the questions won’t stop.
I guess when we are able to do all these and what you’re thinking I didn’t add, then we can say that WE HAVE ARRIVED!
Guess I’ll revise Nana Awere Damoah’s coinage
#Africamanosyncraticnsempiiisms.
Mum Cee 
5 replies on “When Will We ‘Arrive’ Africa!”
We may be past colonial rule, but colonial relations with former colonizers and with settlers colonies continue throughout the continent. This is not self-inflicted, but is in the form of legacies created by colonizers during the times of colonialism.
I find this list is far too limited and does not speak to the realities that are causing any of these. It is victim-blaming on a national scale.
http://obibinibruni.org/
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haha… I almost want to change this :
When will Africans come together and find means of solving their problems instead of kneeling and begging shamelessly for loans which come with horrible bonds?
to:
When will Earthlings come together and find means of solving their problems instead of kneeling and begging shamelessly for loans which come with horrible bonds?
It seems our problems have become universal to the whole of earth these days… I figured I’d start with your first poem and work my way forward 🙂
May take me a while and few weeks… time… but I really like what your doing, and it’s you… that too me is what great poetry should be… one knows who is there in it.
thanks!
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You’ve made my night this evening. Thank you so much, and I do agree with the change. I do appreciate your coming by too. Blessings.
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I’m glad it did… and look forward to spending more time 🙂
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🙂
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