ARE WE ASHAMED OF AFRICA? (Answering The Call) - Being an open paper by Oliver Mbamara, Esq.

As the world continues to run its course in the field of geography, economics, politics, and the so called modern day civilization, the call has continued to go out for Africans in the Diaspora to return home to Africa and share or contribute with the growth of the continent. Many are really answering the call while some of us are still arming ourselves with the necessary tools that we require to effect such positive change in a continent dogged with Political, religious, and social upheavals. There are still others who have relegated Africa to the background as a secondary society that may not even be returned to or even visited again. The latter category includes critics and believers in the barrage of negative criticism leveled against Africa and Africans. It is supposed to be a free world and each individual is entitled to decide the priority of his own national, continental, political, or societal allegiance. Yet, it must be maintained that there is quite a substantial good side to the story of Africa and Africans, notwithstanding the barrage of incidents that continue to smear the prestige and integrity of that great continent.

Behind the scene of today’s world, Africans play a major role in the maintenance of society, be it in Africa or any part of the world. Whether Africans get their due credit is another matter left for independent consideration. Today, there are African Scientists, Doctors, and Scholars who continue to break new grounds in their various fields. It is questionable if such Africans get an equal amount of exposure and recognition as their counterparts in the West. Nevertheless, African names are rampant in the list of employees of numerous world-class companies and institutions. How many of us know the following? Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is the Vice President and Corporate Secretary of the World Bank. Ms. Chinwe Dike is the Principal Inter-Agency Adviser, United Nations Systems Chief Executive Board? Cardinal Arinze is almost next in hierarchy to the Pope. A Nigerian scientist, Mr. Louis Obyo Obyo Nelson, just obtained patent rights for coming up with a treatment medication for type one and type two diabetes, an ailment affecting an estimated 400 million people worldwide. Many Africans like Nelson Mandela and Wole Soyinka have won many global awards such as the Nobel Award in several categories – peace, literature, etc. The list of African world-achievers is rather too long to be contained here even in the smallest fraction.

Interestingly enough, the West and all other nations of the world know about the capability and integrity of Africans regardless of the impression that is let out. World organizations and institutions that are objective and bold enough to take Africans into their fold are most reluctant to let these Africans go. After the UN tasted the prudence of Boutrous Boutrous-Ghali at the helm of affairs, they were willing to welcome Kofi Anan. Check out the history of other Global agencies and/or institutions such as the World Court. Whether these Africans are allowed the free hand to run affairs while at the top is also another topic worthy of evaluation. 

Regardless, let us return to the purport of this piece. Many Africans in Diaspora continue to excel in their various fields of endeavor whether it is academics, business, administration, arts, or otherwise. Yet, some choose to remember Africans only by the occasional negative news that hit the Television or Radio transmitters. Pictures of war torn societies, starving children, and dilapidated suburbs are the kind of coverage Africa gets in the world media. Unfortunately, negative news travels faster than good news, and it definitely leaves a stigma even after the news seemed to have passed. Consequently, some Africans in Diaspora are reluctant to say that they are from Africa when asked where they come from. It is that bad. Some of us believe we could get treated unfairly differently, if we identify with being an African. Regardless, the fact remains that those Africans who go around tarnishing the image of Africa and Africans are always in the minority. The majority of Africans are very good people. They are very hardworking, respectful, resourceful, ambitious, and serious minded individuals. Furthermore, many African societies are in piece today, and their economies continue to strive.

Unfortunately, those in Africa who believe that they are more devoted than others in their tribal and/or religious beliefs have not helped matters by their continual commitment to riot and kill fellow Africans at the slightest provocation. Remnants of civil war remain scattered here and there. But must some of us continue to dig graves that are so wide and deep as to take everyone along with them? Some of our African leaders continue to take actions that inevitably attract worldwide condemnation, and further degradation of the Africa continent. It seems that for some reason, some Africans seem to enjoy the propagation of negativism about Africa. I will recount no further, but the question will not go away. What is the cause of this seeming joy of bathing in the aura of negative impressionism? Is it out of a selfish desire to survive at all cost, or as a result of biased influence and orientation? The question continues to linger, but it has to be answered, if we really intend to make progress. 

Having been exposed to a different way of doing things in the Diaspora, some of us actually return to Africa to help improve things while others simply go back and get sucked in and influenced by the pending disrepute alleged by critics of Africa and Africans. Many of us who return to Africa go ahead to jettison whatever little enlightenment we have obtained, and we carelessly dash the hopes of those Africans at home who have hoped that we could make a difference. We refuse to let our light shine. The present political dispensation in Africa includes various returnee Africans. How do we rate the contribution of these returnee Africans? Whether it has been positive, passive, or negative, is yet another topic that requires the devotion of another write-up. 

While the call for the return of Africans in the Diaspora continues to ring, Africans in Diaspora could do a lot to help matters even if they are not ready to return to Africa at the moment. Being proud of Africa and being good ambassadors of Africa anywhere the African finds himself in the world could go a long way to help. This does not have to involve a mammoth task. It could be as simple as not being ashamed of owning up to being an African, or simply proving the critics wrong when they expect some negative behavior from the African. This is not a call for a moral revolution (although that would be interesting). It is rather a simple restatement of our civic duty to promote the goodwill of our motherland - Africa. 

To those who have done a lot and have remained in the forefront of promoting the positive attributes of Africa and Africans, the comment would be for them to keep up the good work. I am not a crusader and I have nothing to say to those who continue to pull the name of the continent down for reasons best known to them. They will decide for themselves at the right time. However, to those who are not sure of Africa or Africans, I would make an appeal for them to please give Africa and Africans a chance devoid of prejudicial assessment A simple request to be treated with an open heart, not with a preconceived impression. But what chance do we Africans give ourselves? How do we respect our honor and integrity when tested by situations that tell the kind of stuff that we are made of? If an African is not proud enough to stand up for one single fellow African out there whether at home or abroad, how could he contribute to the betterment of the continent as a larger entity? If man is ashamed of himself, how would he expect more from others? I am only asking.

With these questions raised, I would like to conclude this piece with the following poem (“The Africans”).

The Africans

We shall upon the hill of freedom

Climb again and ascend to the top.

We shall through the darkness valley,

Emerge again to bask in the light.

We shall above the illusions of life,

Soar again to mingle in revelation.

And though we now cry of hunger,

And suffer the pangs of starvation;

And though we now reel in pain,

And suffer the atrocities of civil strife;

And though we now weep and wail,

And suffer the agony of purification,

We shall cling to our heritage,

As sons and daughters of divinity,

Who greeted earth at the dawn of time.

We shall not forget who we are,

But shall regain our consciousness,

As children of God  - The Africans.

Oliver Mbamara, Esq. © 2003

Oliver Mbamara, Esq., is an Administrative Law Judge with the State of New York.