A Response Article to Kimberly Njau’s ‘Africa: Between Riches and Renaissance’
The first thing that came to my mind when I read Kimberly’s response to Babazanna Abdulkarim's article was "THIS IS A TYPICAL VIEW OF AN AFRICAN FROM OUTSIDE AFRICA". While indeed everyone is entitled to their own opinion, I also strongly believe that one cannot solve a problem until one realizes it exits, then find its solution and then implement it.
Very well as Babazanna Abdulkarim has put it, he presented the problems prevailing our society and then identified the reason for its persistence (our inability to differentiate rights from privilege which is a precursor to a lot of challenges that face the African region) as well as the solution (which he excellently summed up as "planting the Mandela seed in us").
SAFE HAVEN...
Your article portrays the opinion of one who has found ones self in a safe haven and her feet on firmer grounds; serene and secured environment so the story of the challenges faced by Africa and Africans is no longer a focus, but rather its rich heritage. The association of Nigerians in Diaspora (in the U.K.) wrote Prime Minister Gordon Brown over the Ekiti state governorship re-election which was marred by election misconducts. Should they ignore that and continue to celebrate the heritage?
WE HAVE ALOT TO BE PROUD OF....
Very well we have a lot to be proud of, our forefathers and former leaders, however they did not in any way cling to past glories and heritage to get us to where we are. Furthermore while we appreciate that, I’d like to point out that they faced and addressed present challenges for the betterment of the future. Nelson Mandela who was one of Africa’s greatest personalities said:
"During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." Nelson Mandela - April 20, 1964
What do you think could have happened if Mandela and his associates never had thoughts or ideologies like that? What could have happened if they cling to what they had then?
Today more than the great footballers in Nigeria, the Arts and rich culture, if one says or call "NIGERIA" to the a non-African the first thing that comes to ones mind is "corruption and fraud”.
It will amount to disillusion for the upcoming generations not to identify the challenges ravaging our society, to address as well as tackle it; unless that is done believe me the heritage and what we have achieved as Africans and as a race will dwindle to nothingness.
