Let’s face it, Africa’s survival in the post-colonial era has been guaranteed by the penance of the West, be it for slavery, colonialism or apartheid. More than 400 Billion US$ (discounting USSSR rubels) have flowed into the continent since the 1970s in order to keep it alive. The continued reliance on this western-induced ‘moral’ lifeline will, however, spell the end of Africa’s hope to join the developed world.
The West simply hasn’t got the time and resources anymore to ‘feel sorry’ for deeds that cannot be undone. It is currently engaged in a life and death struggle with China, India and all the other civilizations that have taken it upon themselves to exploit the unique opportunity to become part of the globalization of knowledge which can elevate all races, faces and places.
African countries, South Africa and Zimbabwe in particular, are shunning this fantastic opportunity by flogging a dying horse (i.e. blaming the West for all its woes) instead of showing the basic humility and passion for knowledge that has made countries like the UAE, China, India and the tigers of the East what they are today namely, beacons of hope in the 21-century!
That the West is dying is no longer disputable, and I wish Desmond Tutu and his fellow cry-babies all the best in their quest to guarantee Africa’s survival by trying to elicit sympathy from the next super-powers of the world. The Chinese don’t give a damn about human rights and India has to feed one billion mouths. Does Tutu really believe that these two future super-powers will feel sorry for Africa? Nope, Africa has to grown up. There is absolutely no time left to breastfeed it anymore. Welcome to the post-western world – where Darwin will rule once again!
Slavery was practiced in Africa long before the West made Africa part of contemporary history, ex-colonial powers left infrastructures that current African leaders can only dream of, and Apartheid (morally reprehensible as it was, seen from a non-Darwinian perspective) ensured South Africa’s status as the powerhouse of Africa. Stealing the limelight from the ancient Egyptians (AIDS-is-not-caused-by-a-virus Thabo Mbeki) will not lay the foundations for an African Renaissance, nor will taking all the jobs and money away from the pale males (Black Economic Empowerment and Affirmative Action) guarantee the country’s survival. Despite a solid growth rate, South Africa has experienced net employment shrinkage in the past decade.
Why? It is quite simple; all the other civilizations are using westerners to help them build up their countries. They look, learn and then do it faster, cheaper and, with increasing frequency, better than their tutors.
Africans are following a completely different path – lead by the prophet Robert Mugabe. They know everything (e.g. Jacob Zuma’s anti-AIDS/HIV shower), and nobody can teach them anything (e.g. the mess parading as glorious acronyms like the South African National Defense Force, South African Police Service and the Koeberg nuclear power station). This is the reality of 21-century life in a continent which could, given its fantastic people and natural resources, be right at the top.
A black woman (Condoleeza Rice) is poised to become the most powerful person on earth. Her home is in the West, not in Africa! What can Africa learn from this? It’s quite elementary. If Africa doesn’t drop its hubris forthwith, it will keep on sucking on the hind tit of history for the coming millennium as well.
