Is Africa the Problem? or the Problem Africans?

[Atabong]

Originally Posted by al-zalzalah

i shouldn't be online.
but it has to be said.
kemi is right about using the african languages. and he is consistent about it. i've seen him post in kisii and kiswahili before. and whenever i've asked him for translations he's been generous about it.
at the very least, folks could use swahili on this forum. it's not impossible. i'm willing to bet that at least 80% on this forum understand the language. so why not?

Many people are suggesting that we start to post in Kiswahili, this indeed is a fine thing but don’t forget that it is only another variant of English. To be fair, we may as well call it European- Kiswahili because we’ll be writing in the same alphabet and mode of thought. Do you realize that a non 'educated' Kenyan cannot read or write Kiswahili? This is why I said KEMINOKANA’s argument was entirely out of touch with both reality and context of the post and that his post shows lack of foresight. What he is proposing is a short cut to no where! nothing but a mask.

We are calling for a re-think (reborn if you wish) from bottom ^^^^UP

I was born and grew up in a sub Saharan suburb. I managed to retain part of my first language, but that was because I was lucky. Kids of today are not so lucky; they find themselves trapped in between a white man’s language they can never be articulate in and their own first language they barely understand; those in the cities find themselves trapped in a divisive environment full of people crackling in all kinds of tongues and languages. That is part of the cause of juvenile delinquency, violence and general breakdown of our societies. Our kids are basically dumb; they lack a proper means to think and express/communicate.

Imagine that our ancestors who were writers of philosophical, moral, scientific and artistic scripts, who were blacksmiths and goldsmiths didn’t have to strain to pass over their talents but today for me to learn these trades I need to go to the white man and pay the dollar first! whereas if this were done in a formal and organized manner in our own first language, the opportunities to our kids and young ones will be vast and varied; Our people will not need to be left out in the cold or have complicated languages, foreign laws and scriptures read to them.

I imagine those days in dusty feet and patched rubber sandals trekking miles to school and trying to make sense of what the teachers were saying.

Some times I ask about the whereabouts of my primary school mates; most are either married + having kids they cannot afford to send to the white man’s school, some melted into the outcasts that haunt our cities, others passed away altogether.
Black people the world over have the same story. Black African Youth are looking up to something their elders have failed to provide; that thing is called freedom and there is no other way to get that (Not the dollar or religion) but a liberator called Language.

Because of whom we are, we all have common stories to tell, we’ve got unique identity, struggles and yearnings. We cannot make it as this or that tribe but as Black people; no body is calling for black power , of even Afrocentricism, only awareness of the facts and the truth; for
when you come to terms with the facts and the truth it is almost inevitable that you will be Black and African centered.

My convictions are borne not out of hate but out of love for our people, strengthened by the fact that I believe if our people hadn’t had this barrier of trying to think and express in another man’s language they wouldn’t have to toil or give up so quickly. When I travel to other places people are never in doubt as to where I am from, why then can’t I use their views for my own betterment? This is what is important to me; which ethnic group, tribe, province or country I am from is entirely irrelevant to them and to me.

Look quietly at the abrasiveness of a dumb then you'll feel me.

[A.M Nafusi]

Originally Posted by Atabong

We are calling for a re-think (reborn if you wish) from bottom ^^^^UP
When I travel to other places people are never in doubt as to where I am from, why then can’t I use their views for my own betterment? This is what is important to me; which ethnic group, tribe, province or country I am from is entirely irrelevant to them and to me.

Look quietly at the abrasiveness of a dumb then you'll feel me.

Reminds me of a young man who told a jew: 'You want to know the difference between me and you, let us take a walk in the mall. When a store owner sees you, he is not sure whether you are an Englishman, Italian, Jew or Spaniard. Thus his biases are held back. As for me, miles away, everyone knows a black man is coming' The context of the story...remains to be found.

Not to digress.

@Atabong
While all you say is true, I think that implementing the same to perfection is impossible. Even close to it is impossible.

Kiswahili is currently watered down, that is true. However, it is the most feasible language that one can attempt to use as a unifying language in Eastern Africa. I am consiredering the fact that countries like Nigeria have close to 2000 dialects, and we can not at this point underestimate the virulent divisiveness among different ethnicities that has flourished in the past decades.

Secondly, in the matter of identification: Unless we seek to cut ties with the rest of the world it is not practical to simply live as black people as opposed to being Kenyan, Ugandan or Podunkan.

For economic benefits, I think operating as blocks is more viable.

What is done is done, our duty should be to work with this ugly that we have, turning it into good.

@Ester
I am a proud African but I also prefer relaxing my hair to kinky twists. I do not look at fashion as eroding the African values. Perhaps mine are oxymoronic views, but I always think that I do not need to 'reinforce my African-ness'Something has to appeal to me.

[Atabong]

I think I’m after all not the first or only one in this line of thinking. You can follow a similar discussion

( Note, BBC is not and cannot be an authority on African issues. We are forced to listen to all these stuff because they (Europeans and white people) are the owners of the Language and the dollar)

bbc: should there be one official african lingua franca ? where i quote


‘i believe this could be a good long-term project. As it may facilitate regional integration. Kiswahili would be a good choice at least in my region east africa. Also, i do disagree with you on the notion that kiswahili is of an arab origin. Liban mahamed, somalia (currently in the usa)’

I’m not a prophet of doom but personally, i think untill the language issue is sorted out; sub saharan africa will neither be peaceful nor prosperous!! not christianism, not islamism, not any religion, not the dollar

But LANGUAGE who is the time tested ENSLAVER/LIBERATOR of all men

[A.M Nafusi]

Originally Posted by Atabong

II’m not a prophet of doom but personally, i think untill the language issue is sorted out; sub saharan africa will neither be peaceful nor prosperous!! not christianism, not islamism, not any religion, not the dollar

But LANGUAGE who is the time tested ENSLAVER/LIBERATOR of all men

I do not see anything in your posts that indicates doom; implementation is my question???? Factoring in todays Sub-saharan Africa.

It is the viability of this ideality that needs to be examined. Perhaps using it as a model will suffice.

(I believe that when we think of these things, we must then ask ourselves: Is it doable? The whole idea is to rise the dark continent, no? We can not have these thoughts as mere theses. That is where Anyang' Nyong' gets me lost.)

[Atabong]

Originally Posted by a.m nafusi

it is the viability of this ideality that needs to be examined. Perhaps using it as a model will suffice. (i believe that when we think of these things, we must then ask ourselves: is it doable? the whole idea is to rise the dark continent, no? we can not have these thoughts as mere theses. That is where anyang' nyong' gets me lost.)

We are moving forward indeed. I'm not in doubt as to whether it can be done or not. All I need to do is to look back 5.000 years ago till date . It has been done and has worked (in fact we have no choice, it is the only way ).

The question that remains, in the light of todays economic and power hawks is how do we proceed? The one who figures that out should know that CHANGE HAS COME TO AFRIKA.

I pledge my discipleship and support in wards and in dollar to such a program.

I trust in the ingenuity of fellow mashadits to figure a way out.

It is not heaven and hell tales, nor Euphoria, it is possible. I look to that day.

[A.M Nafusi]

Originally Posted by Atabong

I trust in the ingenuity of fellow mashadits to figure a way out.

I admire the trust/faith you have in mashadites

I do not think Mashada has any such minds. Probably 2 or 3, atmost 4.

Lastly, I have never believed that anything got done by the majority. Inviting all aboard is simply looking for analysis paralysis.
Please be reminded that a good number of Africans would want it to be where it is for their own selfish gain. Ask youself how many people depedn on NGO's, and who are they?

Take for instance the rampant abduction of young girls in Northern Uganda and turning them into sex slaves; there is a section of Africans whose livelihood is hinged on the existense of this atrocity.
I can bet my paycheck most beneficiaries of such atrocities are avid contributors and readers of these forums.

Asking them to contirbute towards ending their source of livelihood will be too much, dont you thimk?

A better way in my opinion is to sneak it to them without their accessing the truth. For as long as they know the true motive, they will not support it.

[KEMINOKANA]

Originally Posted by al-zalzalah

i shouldn't be online.
but it has to be said.
kemi is right about using the african languages. and he is consistent about it. i've seen him post in kisii and kiswahili before. and whenever i've asked him for translations he's been generous about it.
at the very least, folks could use swahili on this forum. it's not impossible. i'm willing to bet that at least 80% on this forum understand the language. so why not?

Alza saa zingine an african is an interesting character. Look at these ones for example. You know I and others have stopped coming to this section because of this blatant hijacking of this section. Now please do tell me, why go around posting hundreds of posts castigating "africans" or "us africans" for abandoning our ways including our language in the same language you are castigating others or yourself for using? I remember days back there were people who would post in swahili only. Those ones you take them serious. This behavior is always on display from the most corrupt more often than not. And they use the "westerners" as a boogeyman. Take Mugabe for example. The man slips out of a sleek Mercedes S600 to adoring jubilating Zimbabweans. He takes the mic and lashes out at "those" imperialists and their "collaborators" for wanting to recolonize Zimbabwe. He uses this as a justification for denying the adoring fans freedoms that are otherwise inalienable. The poor fans are left cheering, he slips back into his air-conditioned mercedes and off he goes. You are left to wonder, if the imperialists are so bad, why buy from them such expensive cars, suits, shoes and even drinks? If they are so bad, why stash your money (stolen from the cheering fans) in these imperialists' banks? Animal Farm circa 2.

So suddenly, language which we have been told in numerous post to be important is NOT that important afterall. No need to use it. If you see no need to use it here in Mashada, what will make that African in high school not master it to pass the SAT, KSCE and etc to get into University, pass university and get a job? Ah! Some animals are more equal than others. Some rules only apply to others. Laughable.

[Atabong]

Originally Posted by KEMINOKANA

So suddenly, language which we have been told in numerous post to be important is NOT that important afterall. No need to use it. If you see no need to use it here in Mashada, what will make that African in high school not master it to pass the SAT, KSCE and etc to get into University, pass university and get a job? Ah! Some animals are more equal than others. Some rules only apply to others. Laughable.

Originally Posted by Atabong

Many people are suggesting that we start to post in Kiswahili, this indeed is a fine thing but don’t forget that it is only another variant of English. To be fair, we may as well call it European- Kiswahili because we’ll be writing in the same alphabet and mode of thought. Do you realize that a non 'educated' Kenyan cannot read or write Kiswahili? This is why I said KEMINOKANA’s argument was entirely out of touch with both reality and context of the post and that his post shows lack of foresight. What he is proposing is a short cut to no where! nothing but a mask.

Originally Posted by Atabong

I think I’m after all not the first or only one in this line of thinking. You can follow a similar discussion

( Note, BBC is not and cannot be an authority on African issues. We are forced to listen to all these stuff because they (Europeans and white people) are the owners of the Language and the dollar)

bbc: should there be one official african lingua franca ? where i quote

‘i believe this could be a good long-term project. As it may facilitate regional integration. Kiswahili would be a good choice at least in my region east africa. Also, i do disagree with you on the notion that kiswahili is of an arab origin. Liban mahamed, somalia (currently in the usa)’

Originally Posted by A.M Nafusi

Lastly, I have never believed that anything got done by the majority. Inviting all aboard is simply looking for analysis paralysis.
Please be reminded that a good number of Africans would want it to be where it is for their own selfish gain.

You must make a persuasive argument Kemi, not little tribal instincts nor some Mary-go-round kind of scenario. If you don't like reading long posts you may as well forget it.You don't have to post if you are not sure of what to write

[Realistik Dreamer]

Indeed. This is the image we have been educated to death with. That now we can write & read in european. Even with their accents. We pray to their white deities. Where their clothes. Buy their images of beauty and kill ourselves trying to conform to that chemically/financially even. Celebrate their holidays. Adopt their names & discard ours. Wait for them to advise us on how to organize resouces in our societies. Wait for them to build for us cars, planes, bridges, hospitals. Nails and paper clips.

Welcome to civilization Black Wo/man. No more spears and savagery. The por white guy sure has big black burdens. Right?

And he carries with strenghth, intelligence and with the milk (white) and kindness of his gentle heart he teaches us out of our dark, backward heathen ways.

Nice.

I think our leaders of the 60s especially were over-awed by whitey due to his shiny things & money. And Power. This was their undoing in terms of their individual loss of Black Spirit. Soul.Which till today they overcompensate by massive theft and ego trips: They love honorifics like Mheshimiwa, mkubwa, Munene and the sucking up that we the majority poor have to do to get a morsel from these rotten souls.

This is why Abacha was caught dead in a massive cardiac arrest on a tryst in bed with two women. Bless him!

He is not alone in such weak-minded outlets of expression by those African leaders who are just destroyers/parasites. NOT CREATORS.

It gets worse: The youth have note the impunity of the leaders and now believe the only way to be happy & successful is to sell their souls for money. 7000 prostitutes in little Nairobi every night (see yesterday's nation) and men selling their bodies in Kisumu (only town in Kenya with this malaise really)

It is lazy/easy to be cynical with such realities. It only makes things worse.
We are Afrikans!

.

Again yesterdays Nation: Angola has 2 million chinese living in that country and there are plans (unconfirmed rumours ) to provide farm leases to china. Vast tracts.......Now I am no yellow peril (racist bias towards asians) but this is madness.

So, comming to your important query Atabong: We Africans have issues. We have to face the reality squarely. We all know we have big problems but we have yet to really define the causes, when they begun, how they did.

When this is done, the solution becomes glaringly obvious. Either which way, it is not a plug n play solution but a change of mind & body to materialize the True Potential of The Motherland.

Many people both Africans (wherever they be) and our enemies will not like this kind of thinking.

Ignore them. This is work beyond our lifetimes. What is 70 yrs (if you are lucky) compared to the age of Afrikan civilization?

Make your life part of the Rhythm towards African Awakenning. Its much more meaningful than chasing wildgooses in white hypnosis. Or Black weak greed.

[Realistik Dreamer]

Indeed. This is the image we have been educated to death with. That now we can write & read in european. Even with their accents. We pray to their white deities. wear their clothes. Buy their images of beauty and kill ourselves trying to conform to that chemically/financially even. Celebrate their holidays. Adopt their names & discard ours. Wait for them to advise us on how to organize resouces in our societies. Wait for them to build for us cars, planes, bridges, hospitals. Nails and paper clips.

Welcome to civilization Black Wo/man. No more spears and savagery. The por white guy sure has big black burdens. Right?

And he carries with strenghth, intelligence and with the milk (white) and kindness of his gentle heart he teaches us out of our dark, backward heathen ways.

Nice.

I think our leaders of the 60s especially were over-awed by whitey due to his shiny things & money. And Power. This was their undoing in terms of their individual loss of Black Spirit. Soul.Which till today they overcompensate by massive theft and ego trips: They love honorifics like Mheshimiwa, mkubwa, Munene and the sucking up that we the majority poor have to do to get a morsel from these rotten souls.

This is why Abacha was caught dead in a massive cardiac arrest on a tryst in bed with two women. Bless him!

He is not alone in such weak-minded outlets of expression by those African leaders who are just destroyers/parasites. NOT CREATORS.

It gets worse: The youth have note the impunity of the leaders and now believe the only way to be happy & successful is to sell their souls for money. 7000 prostitutes in little Nairobi every night (see yesterday's nation) and men selling their bodies in Kisumu (only town in Kenya with this malaise really)

It is lazy/easy to be cynical with such realities. It only makes things worse.
We are Afrikans!

.

Again yesterdays Nation: Angola has 2 million chinese living in that country and there are plans (unconfirmed rumours ) to provide farm leases to china. Vast tracts.......Now I am no yellow peril (racist bias towards asians) but this is madness.

So, comming to your important query Atabong: We Africans have issues. We have to face the reality squarely. We all know we have big problems but we have yet to really define the causes, when they begun, how they did.

When this is done, the solution becomes glaringly obvious. Either which way, it is not a plug n play solution but a change of mind & body to materialize the True Potential of The Motherland.

Many people both Africans (wherever they be) and our enemies will not like this kind of thinking.

Ignore them. This is work beyond our lifetimes. What is 70 yrs (if you are lucky) compared to the age of Afrikan civilization?

Make your life part of the Rhythm towards African Awakenning. Its much more meaningful than chasing wildgooses in white hypnosis. Or Black weak greed.