An article to interest those who have ever wondered what African people really think about the west. Nigerian polymath Dambisa Moyo in her book Dead Aid reveals the truth. Links to articles by Dambisa down at the end. You may be a bit confused by the flippant tone of my article. it was written for my UK comedy blog but a serious point is being made.
It has been the big thing for fading celebrities who have an album, film or book to promote, they know it will make them look cool and right - on global champions of politically correct thinking and it is so easy and costs very little. They just get a charity or television company to send them to Africa as a "Goodwill Ambassador", have their press agents inform the media and then, having made sure plenty of paparazzi are watching they grab the nearest African and hug them
Since the election of Barack Obama of course everybody in America wants to be seen hugging an African. Never mind the ongoing problems of Israel and Palestine and Mr. Obama's failure to understand that empty words about hope and change are not going to solve them. Never mind Iran's headlong rush towards nuclear power status and Mr Obama's inability to understand that "reaching out to Iraqis will not stop them hating America. Africa is where its at. And Africa, Egypt to be precise, will be the launch pad for the next stage of Mr. Obama's bid to conquer the world with vacuous rhetoric.
Hugging an African and talking about poverty, disease, hunger and how your new album / movie / book was inspired by the plight of so many Africans guarantees front page and headline stories all around the world. All the usual suspects are doing it, Bono, Madonna, Sting, Brangelina, Kylie Minogue, Gerri Halliwell, Joanna Lumley, Robbie Williams, Annie Lennox, Billy Conolly and the list goes on. It will not be long until you next see one of them grinning desperately for the cameras of the global media as they hug a bewildered and embarrassed African.
The western guilt trip demands celebrities make these gestures of course, but are they universally welcomed in Africa?
It is bad enough the west exploited the continent and its resources and people during the colonial era without western governments and charities pouring in financial aid while politicians and pop stars pour in and offer advice to Africans on how to run their nations and lives and less well known western guilt tourists just turn up and start hugging unsuspecting Africans oblivious of the fact that in many African societies hugging strangers is a total no-no. Not that telling the average fading celeb. or determined tourist something is not acceptable will ever stop them. They are being paid or have paid good money to hug Africans and they are damn well gonna, OK? There is nothing short of a panga through the skull that will stop them.
Bono of course knows beyond doubt that being patronised by him is the greatest blessing life can bestow on a person from the third world and if he just keeps on patronising bewildered third would peasants they will come to understand how fortunate they are. It is rumoured that Madonna has bought several small African countries and passed laws compelling inhabitants to be available for hugs whenever she wants a photo-op. What is certainly true is that Madge has threatened African governments that she will play gigs there if they try to stop her hugging the locals.
Hugging Africans is not the only problem westerners cause it seems. According to a new book, Dead Aid by Dambisa Moyo, western aid and the "scientific advice" that is a condition of getting the money are counter productive. Dambisa, a Nigerian polymath whose qualifications include BSc (chemistry), M.A. PhD (economics) , MBA and being a premier league hottie claims aid and the conditions attached have stifled development and progress throughout much of Africa. If you are not convinced yet to buy the book (and for guys it is worth the price just for the picture of Dambisa on the dust jacket) read the article Everyone Knows It Doesn't Work and learn more of Ms. Moyo's ideas for solving Africa's problems.
Perhaps if we started listening to Africans about how Africa's problems could be solved rather than European politicians seeking votes and academics seeking grants and American Preacher - Politicians whose skewed view of African history is more fantastical than Lord Of The Rings we might start seeing social and economic progress in that continent.
RELATED ARTICLES:
Liberal Guilt Hurts Africa
LINKS
Everyone Knows It Doesn't Work (interview with Dambisa Moyo in The Guardian Newspaper_
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/feb/19/dambisa-moyo-dead-aid-africa
Dead Aid: 'Aid has not been able to increase growth and reduce poverty'
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/audio/2009/feb/06/aid-africa-dambisa-moyo
Dead Aid - Dambisa Moyo (Penguin Books)http://www.penguin.co.uk/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9781846140068,00.html
Info asbout the book which I don't think has been released in America yet.
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Comments: 16
I have been to Africa a few times. Yes, it's rather dirty, and yes, there is heart-breaking poverty and sickness and unnecessary subjugation of various groups. Since it was once home to a few of the most advanced cultures in antiquity, I often wonder what would have happened to it had the westerners just stayed away and let them develop societies along their own lines. I will check out the book. Thanks.
Along those lines, though....I belong to Rotary and they often have groups that go over to Africa to assist in mass innoculations for polio (that being a particular cause for Rotary - the eradication, I mean). A member of my club recently came back from just such a trip to Nigeria and is retired, but a pro-photographer. He gave a talk about his trip along with stunning slides of the people. And one thing that he kept repeating over and over...these people have nothing, these children have nothing, but they are so happy, so full of joy.
Might we take a lesson or two from them instead? I would like them to come over and give some seminars to our snotty school children who whine and cry if they don't get the lastest cell phone or sneakers. Perhaps they could teach them the real meaning of life..and how to be happy, even when you have very little material goods and aren't always sure where your next meal is coming from.
Yeah slavery. What a terrible crime you would think to hesar those American preascher politicians talk. And if you listen to them you would think it was a trade only carried on by whites. Unfortunately there is still widespread slave trading in Africa though the European slave traders were forced out of business almost 200 years ago.
I'll bring you a link tomorrow.
I've been runing by far the UK's most popular satirical blog and getting nice goodies from Penguin Publishing for writing puff pieces like this on their new output.
I remember a Tanzanian student teacher saying on British TV last year the impression of Britain he would take home was of children who had everything but were not happy. In Tanzania people often did not have enough to eat but if the boys had a ball to kick around and the girls had a rope for skipping they were delighted to play all day all day because they had the security of their home and the love of their (extended) families.
Congrats on your blog and cushy Penguin job. I hope you don't have to put on a Penguin suit to work there.
And while googling for the article, seems that similar articles were published every year for the past few years. It does not seem to be getting much attention, or if it is no one seems to care enough to do anything about it. Same here.
Thank you for posting to this group whose only purpose is to thank you for posting to this group and I hope to see you here more often.
Unfortunately, the problems of of the countries in Africa are compounded by the lack of natural resources and the cartel dictatorships. Fix one problem and another one replaces it. Until there is a major breakthrough in solar/wind/power technology, the problems of famine, murder, lack of education, and poverty will continue. It is just too big for one country to try and "solve" so many issues.
I think if the world, which cant afford to do it at this point, would take ONE country at a time and give it infrastructure and support and then move to the next one, we might have a chance. Of course the costs would be in the tens of trillions which no one has at the moment.
~M
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Laptop_per_Child
I think we need to abandon the old model of providing money to countries who do not have the infrastructure in place to make good use of it, and often has corrupt leaders. When we find good partnerships with leaders, as in Rwanda, we should seriously partner with them, and target the education, infrastructure and healthcare systems first. Forget forcing democracy, forget forcing culture or values. If you can develop a nation from the grassroots, through their children, and create a culture of learning, then they will strengthen themselves in a generation.
(*Ok, it's more like disdain...with a pinch of condescension)
The countries I visited are doing fine. They are all stable democracies, and most of the people are not in poverty. Well, South Africa has their shack cities around Joberg and Cape Town, but we have the same thing here. I know that Zimbabwe is in big trouble because of the lunatic Mugabe. That's a real tragedy. They were doing well until he went beserk. Of course, many countries in the north are in serious trouble, but I don't have any special knowledge of them, so I won't comment.
Regarding the overbearing charitable do-gooders, I recommend a very good book by a guy who really knows Africa. The book is "Dark Star Safari," by Paul Theroux. If you want to get some real insight into Africa and the charity-driven do-gooders who go there and screw up the countries, read it. It's also a wonderful read by a great writer, so you will be entertained as you gain insight into Africa.
I wrote an article for Gather a couple years ago about an incident that Theroux recounted in his book. It's a good example of what is going on there.
An Interview with a Missionary on a Train
Even a link from a gather article has little value in temporarily boosting traffic. Its a pity, there is a lot of good stuff here, the site managers just don't know how to exploit it.
Dame Ruth - Unfortunately the ignorance does not stop at Sarah Palin. Those preacher - politicians talk of Africa as if it is one nation.
E.M Unfortunately George's reports from Sudan, though well intentioned, only tell one side of the story.
Sarah You're right. Archbishop Tutu, the first Black leader of an Anglican natuonal chuch puts it this way: When the white men came we had the land and they had the Bible and they said to us "close your eyes, bow your heads and pray." And we did. And when we opened our eyes and looked up they had the land and we had the Bible.
I'm amaze by the fact that everybody want to help us but we still poor. Just say it we don't get, a lot of laxism actually is to Blame. And like and I apply this quote: foul me once shame on you, foul me twice shame on me.
Guinee bissau just kill their president to just show you why they call the african savages. It's about time that The United Nations(if they still credible) help the people of our nation
by making sure first that wherever there elections, they trasparant and without "bavure"
I'm amaze to see 300m people elect one president without a problem but 10m have always the trouble to do same