A political Dilemma of the African Identity Revisited

What is the African identity?

Scholars have not really addressed this issue, yet, this is the crippling factor of African politics and politicians. Is the African identity what Tom Mboya describes as African Values? He says that these values are "the proven codes of conduct in the African societies...that has conferred dignity on our [African] people and afforded them security regardless of their situation in life.”[1] In search of an African identity, African leaders like Nkrumah forgot that it was human beings that made the nation, and not the materialism that the leaders succumbed to. I have wondered what it would have been like, if African leaders did not rebellious jump to Socialism as a means of governance... At the time of independence, they were still in the state of euphoria of being free. The urgency of the creation of postcolonial states did not give the African people enough to understand that they were free. Instead, they were pulled into a system and forced to act a certain way with or without their consent. In a way, they had moved from one colonial rule, to another, only that this time, it was by their fellow Africans. Nyerere used forced to get some of the peasants into the communal villages, and burnt any private holdings that they had. Any opposition to the one man-one party state was met with violence. Instead of the African people being free, they had to face dictators who demanded loyalty or death.

A major mistake was in idolizing pre-colonial African societies. Nyerere assumed that an egalitarian system would be ushered in without conflict and that in time; every member of society would soon learn the value of communal work. This assumption turned out to be false because Nyerere did not envision the “massive peasant opposition to Ujamaa, nor the failure of communal methods of production and consumption.”[2] Like Nyerere, the leaders did not pay attention to the created the liberal laissez-faire system that had been left behind by the Europeans. Those who recognized it, tried to crash this system by becoming dictatorial and crushing any individual interests that would take precedence over the community.

This idolization failed to realize that even without the European materialism, money, ideas, and values, Africa had never been perfect. By recapturing the spirit of Africa, these leaders would have had to start from scratch. They would have to face the tribal rivalries, droughts, and hostilities among families and the imperfect governing systems that embodied this “African spirit".
Humanity, dignity in being part of a family, being proud of one’s origins, integrity, and a strong past- those are the traits of an African identity. Community is just a setting that allows all these characteristics can be practiced. It seems that African leaders have forgotten what pre-colonial african society was like, and more than that, they have misinterpreted the society and used this "blinded" vision as their propaganda to steal from their own people.

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[1] William H. Friedland., and Carl Gustav Rosberg. 1964. African Socialism: 251

[2] Fatton, The political ideology of Julius Nyerere: 15

Asian Tigers Vs Africa

The Asian Tigers have very strong states. They are very industrialized even thought they are not rich in natural resources. In addition, they have becoming some of the leading exports for the US and definitely export more than they import. Even though they are different in the policies in production and even government, these Tigers have risen from the ground and have made themselves known in the World Market.
The East Asian Tigers have five major points going for them. Education is the first key. You can always find some hard workers anywhere, but they will be useless if they do not have the knowledge to work. This is something the African continent needs to confront. The education system is poor. Not everyone has the opportunity to go to school. That is why their scientific systems and technology is less sophisticated. The lack of education has affected many different aspects of the state. To an extent, this has produced a kind of division between the different social classes.
The Tigers have already established quiet a saving system. They have also limited their foreign spending from other countries. The citizens in this country kept their money in the bank and with increases savings the bank could make loans at low interest. They have an emphasis on exporting and they are all trained as to what the foreign investors want. Therefore, instead of producing just anything, their production is based on the foreign need. However, for the African States, this is far from even becoming a reality. They import more than they export. Even then, what they export is not sold on a high price on the international market. The idea of Import Substitution Industrialization whereby countries in Africa would have their own production is not very workable. To have industries, one requires the resources and means to do that. Now the countries like Ghana are focusing more on the Export Oriented Industrialization where they can export things like cocoa and timber.
Another major difference would be in their production. The Tigers have a high rate of production. They started by producing Textiles, then steel and eventually, they are one of the leading producers of autos if not auto parts. Meanwhile, Africa’s rate of production is very low or rather declining. Due to lack of education and proper means to take care of their lands, droughts, deforestation and overgrazing have taken toil on the soil and makes agricultural exports or production to be at a minimum. This makes ISI even more impossible because the resources for industries are not available. When it comes to natural resources, Africa has more advantage than the Asian Tigers. However, to be able to have their own industries for the rubber, diamonds, gold and other precious resources that are found there, it would take more money that would be added to their enormous debt already.
Debt is another major difference. Africa has a large debt especially since 1960. They borrowed money for imports and even try to develop. Therefore, the export industry that the African nations have is mostly to pay for this debt. The Tigers on the other hand had their support from the US. From a capitalist’s view, this would be seen as the semi periphery. For the high investors, countries like Japan, South Korea and Taiwan are the middle points for the Capitalist beam balance. The African nations would be on the other end and since there is less production, the high investors sometimes overlook them.
While both regions experienced some sort of colonialism, one would think that they would have emerged to be on the same level. However, this is not true. The Tigers have stable governments something that is deteriorating in Africa. This would explain why there is no emphasis on education. Kleptocracy is not very heard in the Asian Tigers. There is a political system that supports their rate of production and economic growth. The government is involved in the production and actually emphasizes on some industries for success. On the other end, Africa’s political system is deteriorating. When the imperialists left Africa, they left borders that are not ethically sound. A good example would be the division of Burundi and Rwanda a people who speak the same language and same culture yet divided into two countries. Rivalries and ethnic wars have become common. These wars have hindered the economic growth by hindering government operations.
Japan which is the mother of all the Tigers has become a role model in these parts of Asia. The other countries had some sort of path to follow, something that Africa lacks. In addition, Africa’s population is high and rising. Medical care which was a problem when there was lack of thereof has become a problem for the African people who have a high mortality rate.
Globalization might explain some of the success that the countries are experiencing. However, there are other precursors and maybe an explanation as to why Ghana has not moved high from there were in 1960. Africa has to develop their own path of success. EOI might not necessarily work for them just because it worked for the Tigers. The achievement of success can be attributed to factors like education, healthcare, and a good investment and production system. Therefore, these factors should be in place before Africa tries to rule the world.

AIDS vs Women Abuse

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I am seating right now in my room holding a book in my hands. For the last five months, I have decided to do two desertations...just for the fun of it, (but off course I end up turning them into my graduate entrace papers). However, as am seating here at 1 in the AM, I feel like I need some sleep, but for the life of me, I cant bloody sleep! So am angry at my inability to sleep...and angry because I feel so taxed already. My inability to sleep is because I keep thinking of the book that I just read. Or parts of it atleast.
AIDS...killer disease, is what they call it in Africa. Being that I am from there, I have made this a personal journey to figure a way out of this mess. So am writing a paper about it, but now I am really mad, because I stumbled upon a disturbing occurence. Women getting abused by men, because they are "in love". ( I will tackle this topic at a later time)...I am not a cynic and I truly believe in love, but when that love is one of the roots of AIDS, then I have a big problem with that. When women are selling their bodies so that they can have a good life, then that is a problem. When a woman is getting beaten by her bf or whoever sugar daddy, then I pity the fool who dares lay a hand on me or my sisters...because this has becomes a health hazard and a big injustice to human rights, then I bloody have a big problem with it. You see, I wasnt surprised as the abuse women get, but the idea that a man can be unfaithful, and expect the woman to be faithful is just not kosher with me...but who cares right? I mean, AIDS is rampant, and it okay?
Drug companies want to develop vaccines. Condom makers want to sell condoms. Churches want to preach sexual abstinence. Politicians want to ignore the frequency of rape, casual sex, and cheating among married people. Individuals want to believe they are safe because they know the people they have sex with...this is the vicious cycle now. However, all these people, want to "help"....maybe its time that Africa stood for Africa.....
"As a woman living with HIV," says Beatrice Were of Uganda, "I am often asked whether there will ever be a cure for HIV/AIDS, and my answer is that there is already a cure. It lies in the strength of women, families and communities who support and empower each other to break the silence around AIDS and take control of their sexual lives." With a vaccine against HIV far off in the distant future (if at all), and with treatment of AIDS in the two-thirds world difficult, expensive, and limited in effect, the name of the game in HIV-AIDS is prevention.

Conglomeration terror- part one

Conglometion brings one word to mind..dictactorship, only it's not really of people but of the media industry. Let me take that back, the media is influencing how we think so I gues that it could be some kind of terror there. Being and African, can't help but worry about my ol' continent there. If conglometion comes to an upper scale that it is right now, Africa is going to be taken over. The simplist of media which we enjoy so much there will be gone. Infact, there is signs of that already. Go to S. Africa and the media industries in America are taking over slowly. AOL is already being used by the teens who are becoming obsessed with cyber space. Africa needs a chance to be creative, and if these monopoly companies take over, then it will crush many Ashleys (if you know what I mean) There are those Ashleys who are doing well and putting out their ideas in Africa, but if the companies takes over, that little flame is going to be blown away. The American Conglomerates are becoming a monopoly for the world. This is going to cost the people..it will be forcing them to have values that might end up not being so good. No offence to Americanism, but what will be the point if everyone becomes like American. WHere will the individuality play a role? The issues of abortion, homosexuality and all these conflict issues will become an acceptable thing just because the media accepts it. In my opinion. somethings are to stay where they belong.