For a very long time, Africans were subject to information that was not necessarily true. Oppressors and colonizers told many tales of our origins as evil and our traditions as unacceptable. Polygamy in Africa is described as a barbaric, animalistic crime. Yet in the West, homosexuality is legal but nobody says anything. It’s important to respect people’s choices, because even a well-established man can choose to marry several women according to his culture, tradition and beliefs.
It’s often said that African traditions come from the devil. But before the arrival of Europeans, didn’t God listen to the prayers of the Blacks? Are all the people who died before the colonizers arrived in hell? Were even the positive actions, the improvements in people’s lives, the contributions and acts of charity in vain? let’s ask ourselves the right questions.
Greece-China relations: a constructive collaboration
A Western journalist recently asked the former Greek Interior Minister about relations between Greece and China. The Greek minister maintains that the Chinese are not players imposing their interests, unlike the Westerners, but rather builders offering their help with infrastructure development, such as ports, roads and hospitals. In his view, it’s normal for every country to seek influence in the world, and it’s therefore legitimate to look for beneficial partnerships. Although China is accused of imprisoning people through its services, it is clear that the Chinese are more humane in their work than Westerners.
Chinese free policies versus American imposition policies. The importance of respecting other people’s choices
The Chinese come with a clear proposition of what they can offer and work collaboratively, without imposing their ideas or military base in foreign countries. They build roads and railroads, as they did in Kenya for example, facilitating the movement of goods and merchandise. The aim is improvement and development, even if they have their own personal interests in mind. It’s a win-win relationship.
What’s more, the Chinese offer their help and leave it up to African countries to accept or refuse, without imposing their values or way of doing things. On the other hand, Westerners often tend to impose their ideas and dictate terms when lending money or offering aid. It’s relationships like those with China that Africa needs to nurture, not those where everything is imposed.
However, it’s important to stress that China is no angel. During the construction of the African Union building in Ethiopia, the Chinese undermined the headquarters by planting earphones, microphones and a hacked computer system. This allowed them to follow all the messages and conversations in the room. Obviously, we can’t expect better circumstances when we accept free services from others. Once again, this is one of the reasons why Africans must learn to manage themselves and work together to build their countries.
African cooperation remains essential
Furthermore, it is important to find ways of cooperating between African countries, to talk with our brothers and neighbors, to develop trade and economic relations, so as not to remain dependent on foreign aid which often only benefits the elites for their own interests.
For our growth, it is essential to question the information given to us by our oppressors, and to seek mutually beneficial collaborations for the development of our continent. We need to learn to have our own assumptions and draw our own conclusions before listening to others.
Totally inspired by Zack Mwekassa’s video
