I have learnt my lesson,
That God cares and guilt is depressing.
I have learnt my lesson,
That beauty is not in things, but is conceived in the mind that beholds it all.
I have learnt my lesson,
That who we are is not ultimately what we own , but the experiences we embody.
I have learnt my lesson,
That love is worth the hassle! Don't let the cynics depress you
I also learnt the lesson ,
That friendship can be found in the most unlikely places; and has no face, colour or religion.
And learnt the lesson,
That life's purpose is a journey as intimate and individual, as birth and death.
I learnt the lesson,
That destiny and happiness means different things to different people.
And I am still learning my lessons,
From failed endeavours, disappointments and moments that take my breath away
I know for sure to learn a lesson
Whenever and wherever life decides to teach and instruct.
Cos for every lesson, every experience, every setback
I get a gem for a lifetime; I get another part ….. of me.
EAU at 5000ft over Colorado 02/10
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Good-intentioned condescension ; What to do ?
'There is a very thin line between genuine help , good-natured condescension and pity. It is usually quite comical when you are the recipient of any of the above from people who identify with you. You most often want to correct such naivete when you come across it, but most times, you are just too plain tired of trying. Simply because you meet it ever so often out here, even among good-natured friends and well meaning educated people " EAU.
I wrote the above on my profile and got quite a couple of confirmatory nods of recognition, because it is something that I think every one of us, Africans living or studying in the Western world have encountered at one time or the other. Sometimes, it is horribly blatant, and other times, it is just subtle. However we meet it, it invariably generates a myriad of emotions - from controlled rage to mild pity . I am pretty sure this will apply to Asians and Arabs too, as we get to meet and greet with the 'learned west', only to recognise that even the most learned of them, can still have this sort of good-intentioned condescension.
For those who do not know what I am taking about, I might try to elucidate briefly. Have you ever encountered a situation where someone , in trying to 'help' you or most commonly 'identify' with you, says or does the very things that you consider both insulting to your person and amazed at the naivete being portrayed ? I know I have...many many times. Living in Europe means that you will meet those people, who while smiling at you, and have all the good intentions of offering you to come have dinner at their house do so with the thought ' Ah...he is from poor africa...where those kids are always starving -- lets welcom him in... do our part for humanity!'. Again, not everyone you meet has this myopic view of Africa, but it does suprise me how many of the 'educated' people I meet still make my toes twitch with some of their misplaced actions or comments.
Now lets get something out of the way! I am not talking about racists! I cannot dignify them with any sort of discourse; but I am talking of the sometimes well-intentioned people who still 'don't get it!". They refuse or fail to understand that , actually, you did have a really good childhood, and yes, you might wear your african top (which I find particulary sexy sometimes), but it doesnt mean you are lost and cannot read the train and bus signs on the road. These people mean well.... well, most of the time, but their basis of goodwill is somewhat distorted by the little they know...what Ngozie Adichie calls 'the danger of a single story'. We know the press and literature over the years have given them this picture , but you can only use that as an excuse for a while....atleast thats my thought. There is more than press , as a source of information. Maybe if you ask US...we might be better placed to tell you the nuances of our culture and outlook... yes, and we might tell you senegal is nowhere close to Cameroon, and Nigeria doesnt share a border with your last safari trip destination! And no! When we decide to dress african, it doesnt mean we have never been to school.... schools do actually exist in Africa you know.... and good ones too. And double no!... the fact that I am from Cameroon doesnt mean I know the barman you met on your one vacation trip to Tanzania!! And please... please dont ask me if I speak africans again!! Finally.... I am not that hungry, or starved! Have never been - and with the gifts God has bestowed on me - hopefully will never be!. In all honesty, sometimes it wants to make you pull your hair out. But most times, you know they mean well, but have a gaping hole in their information about who you are, and what you are about.
The truth is , you can't educate everyone who throws things like that at you... it gets tiring because they are too many. From professors, to co-workers. From ministers trying to campaign for charity for hungry africans (and how they always throw an affirmatory nod in your direction if you are seated in the audience, you know, as if to say, " you know what I am taking about right ? This is for you... I know how you feel and where you come from, and I am doing this for you--- hakuna matata!"). It can make you sick in the stomach that those who are supposed to be so much more knowlegeable still fall prey to the very things they seem to loathe about 'other people'.
What to do ? I leave you to answer ?
Arent we all guilty of this at one time or the other ? I think we are, but with a little caveat! Our cultural background and upbringing teaches us alot of intrinsic humility, such that , though we might assume a single story, we usually do not approach it with a 'know all' mentality. That is the difference. I guess it is an advantage borne as a result of the sad fact of having been lorded over for a large part of history, but nonetheless, it makes us have a little doubt in things we say; like 'maybe I am not that accurate about them after all'. It leaves room for doubt in dealing with humanity, which I propose is a good thing. Room to doubt our own knowledge and question our conclusions is probably what alot of the world needs now, in our dealings with people from different tongues , creeds, and cultures. Because out of this doubt is borne a deference and an eagerness to learn; out of this deference is borne a humility in taking people at face-value, and asking THEM about THEIR story, and not clinging to what we saw on BBC or CNN. I am actually still waiting for that day where such news media will run positive programs about my continent like ' enjoyin life as a cameroonian university youth', or ' happiness from a nigerian musical perspective'. Maybe such will make the world know that happiness does mean different things to different people in different circumstances, and we are not all starving or infested with HIV.
I will conclude with two instances in my life that personified what I have been trying to say. I reacted differently in both instances, but I guess I got the best results too -- you be the judge;
Instance 1: I was eating lunch with my colleagues a few months ago, and I think I had more than was necessary for me that day, and so I tossed some of my food into the garbage bin. I had a colleague (who I must confess hates waste of anything) tell me ' why are you throwing that food ? You of all people should know how valuable it is, given where you come from --- you know, there is alot of hunger in Africa '. Now, in this instance, I couldnt remain christianly calm, so I blew my top (moderately), and gave a piece of it to him in the most holy way I could (well honestly, it wasnt that Holy). I made him know in no uncertain terms that he probably grew up hungrier than myself because I did grow up in a really well-fed house (I have the jaws and the butt to prove it!). And the fact that some parts of Africa had hunger issues doesnt mean I am any more knowlegeable of the concept than he was ? Newsflash - It is a continent, not a country! I told him I was sure that where he grew up, (Poland), there were more hungry people in his neigbourhood than mine. Now, I said all this in the most measured scientific calm I could muster given that we were surrounded by other 'elite' thinkers who had not seen anything wrong with his statement. I left with a good result, as they were stunned to silence, and I got an apology after. It was well-intentioned, but the basis of information and conclusion was pitifully hollow .
Instance 2 : I live about 25 mins walk from my lab, which is smack in the city centre. Hence more often than not, I prefer to walk or take a bus instead of drive. This fateful morning a few weeks ago, I decided I had not worn my recently bought designer african top (yes, it was top Cameroonian designer kirette couture!). I knew I was looking good, but again, I knew I was also looking different for a spring morning. I realised I had an early morning meeting so I walked to the bus stop to see whether I could take a bus. The bus times were like 15 minutes off, and I was running late, so I decided to walk home and drive to work instead!. All this while, there was this homely old woman who was walking to the bus stop too, and had seen me looking at the bus details and walking away. She came up to me with this really nice smile and said very warmly ' Dont be bothered... the bus goes round and round , and comes back right here!... you can wait'.. and again the 'knowing' nod! I was slightly amused because I was sure she didnt do this to any of the other people standing at the bus stop, but somehow thought it worthwhile to help this man to know EXACTLY how a bus route functioned!. Well in this instance, I looked straight at her and mustered the most heavy african accent I could and deadpanned ' Thank you so much ... we love women who are kind like you in my village. I will like to marry you as my 14th wife,--- I have big farm! " . heheheheeh..... I still laugh when I remember the look on her face as she scurried off past the bus stand, in absolute horror!.
I know from all such instances I have reacted differently , and in some, I have had no reaction at all. I think my righteous anger has been dulled somewhat by the frequency of such events. My question is...is there a better way to treat such instances ? I know you have encountered one of such. If you have, do share with me your wisdom on how you dealt with it. For all I know condescension IS condescension.... good-intentioned or not. Infact, I do think good-intentioned condescension is tautology... I will prefer to say ' ignorant condescension'. What about you ?
I wrote the above on my profile and got quite a couple of confirmatory nods of recognition, because it is something that I think every one of us, Africans living or studying in the Western world have encountered at one time or the other. Sometimes, it is horribly blatant, and other times, it is just subtle. However we meet it, it invariably generates a myriad of emotions - from controlled rage to mild pity . I am pretty sure this will apply to Asians and Arabs too, as we get to meet and greet with the 'learned west', only to recognise that even the most learned of them, can still have this sort of good-intentioned condescension.
For those who do not know what I am taking about, I might try to elucidate briefly. Have you ever encountered a situation where someone , in trying to 'help' you or most commonly 'identify' with you, says or does the very things that you consider both insulting to your person and amazed at the naivete being portrayed ? I know I have...many many times. Living in Europe means that you will meet those people, who while smiling at you, and have all the good intentions of offering you to come have dinner at their house do so with the thought ' Ah...he is from poor africa...where those kids are always starving -- lets welcom him in... do our part for humanity!'. Again, not everyone you meet has this myopic view of Africa, but it does suprise me how many of the 'educated' people I meet still make my toes twitch with some of their misplaced actions or comments.
Now lets get something out of the way! I am not talking about racists! I cannot dignify them with any sort of discourse; but I am talking of the sometimes well-intentioned people who still 'don't get it!". They refuse or fail to understand that , actually, you did have a really good childhood, and yes, you might wear your african top (which I find particulary sexy sometimes), but it doesnt mean you are lost and cannot read the train and bus signs on the road. These people mean well.... well, most of the time, but their basis of goodwill is somewhat distorted by the little they know...what Ngozie Adichie calls 'the danger of a single story'. We know the press and literature over the years have given them this picture , but you can only use that as an excuse for a while....atleast thats my thought. There is more than press , as a source of information. Maybe if you ask US...we might be better placed to tell you the nuances of our culture and outlook... yes, and we might tell you senegal is nowhere close to Cameroon, and Nigeria doesnt share a border with your last safari trip destination! And no! When we decide to dress african, it doesnt mean we have never been to school.... schools do actually exist in Africa you know.... and good ones too. And double no!... the fact that I am from Cameroon doesnt mean I know the barman you met on your one vacation trip to Tanzania!! And please... please dont ask me if I speak africans again!! Finally.... I am not that hungry, or starved! Have never been - and with the gifts God has bestowed on me - hopefully will never be!. In all honesty, sometimes it wants to make you pull your hair out. But most times, you know they mean well, but have a gaping hole in their information about who you are, and what you are about.
The truth is , you can't educate everyone who throws things like that at you... it gets tiring because they are too many. From professors, to co-workers. From ministers trying to campaign for charity for hungry africans (and how they always throw an affirmatory nod in your direction if you are seated in the audience, you know, as if to say, " you know what I am taking about right ? This is for you... I know how you feel and where you come from, and I am doing this for you--- hakuna matata!"). It can make you sick in the stomach that those who are supposed to be so much more knowlegeable still fall prey to the very things they seem to loathe about 'other people'.
What to do ? I leave you to answer ?
Arent we all guilty of this at one time or the other ? I think we are, but with a little caveat! Our cultural background and upbringing teaches us alot of intrinsic humility, such that , though we might assume a single story, we usually do not approach it with a 'know all' mentality. That is the difference. I guess it is an advantage borne as a result of the sad fact of having been lorded over for a large part of history, but nonetheless, it makes us have a little doubt in things we say; like 'maybe I am not that accurate about them after all'. It leaves room for doubt in dealing with humanity, which I propose is a good thing. Room to doubt our own knowledge and question our conclusions is probably what alot of the world needs now, in our dealings with people from different tongues , creeds, and cultures. Because out of this doubt is borne a deference and an eagerness to learn; out of this deference is borne a humility in taking people at face-value, and asking THEM about THEIR story, and not clinging to what we saw on BBC or CNN. I am actually still waiting for that day where such news media will run positive programs about my continent like ' enjoyin life as a cameroonian university youth', or ' happiness from a nigerian musical perspective'. Maybe such will make the world know that happiness does mean different things to different people in different circumstances, and we are not all starving or infested with HIV.
I will conclude with two instances in my life that personified what I have been trying to say. I reacted differently in both instances, but I guess I got the best results too -- you be the judge;
Instance 1: I was eating lunch with my colleagues a few months ago, and I think I had more than was necessary for me that day, and so I tossed some of my food into the garbage bin. I had a colleague (who I must confess hates waste of anything) tell me ' why are you throwing that food ? You of all people should know how valuable it is, given where you come from --- you know, there is alot of hunger in Africa '. Now, in this instance, I couldnt remain christianly calm, so I blew my top (moderately), and gave a piece of it to him in the most holy way I could (well honestly, it wasnt that Holy). I made him know in no uncertain terms that he probably grew up hungrier than myself because I did grow up in a really well-fed house (I have the jaws and the butt to prove it!). And the fact that some parts of Africa had hunger issues doesnt mean I am any more knowlegeable of the concept than he was ? Newsflash - It is a continent, not a country! I told him I was sure that where he grew up, (Poland), there were more hungry people in his neigbourhood than mine. Now, I said all this in the most measured scientific calm I could muster given that we were surrounded by other 'elite' thinkers who had not seen anything wrong with his statement. I left with a good result, as they were stunned to silence, and I got an apology after. It was well-intentioned, but the basis of information and conclusion was pitifully hollow .
Instance 2 : I live about 25 mins walk from my lab, which is smack in the city centre. Hence more often than not, I prefer to walk or take a bus instead of drive. This fateful morning a few weeks ago, I decided I had not worn my recently bought designer african top (yes, it was top Cameroonian designer kirette couture!). I knew I was looking good, but again, I knew I was also looking different for a spring morning. I realised I had an early morning meeting so I walked to the bus stop to see whether I could take a bus. The bus times were like 15 minutes off, and I was running late, so I decided to walk home and drive to work instead!. All this while, there was this homely old woman who was walking to the bus stop too, and had seen me looking at the bus details and walking away. She came up to me with this really nice smile and said very warmly ' Dont be bothered... the bus goes round and round , and comes back right here!... you can wait'.. and again the 'knowing' nod! I was slightly amused because I was sure she didnt do this to any of the other people standing at the bus stop, but somehow thought it worthwhile to help this man to know EXACTLY how a bus route functioned!. Well in this instance, I looked straight at her and mustered the most heavy african accent I could and deadpanned ' Thank you so much ... we love women who are kind like you in my village. I will like to marry you as my 14th wife,--- I have big farm! " . heheheheeh..... I still laugh when I remember the look on her face as she scurried off past the bus stand, in absolute horror!.
I know from all such instances I have reacted differently , and in some, I have had no reaction at all. I think my righteous anger has been dulled somewhat by the frequency of such events. My question is...is there a better way to treat such instances ? I know you have encountered one of such. If you have, do share with me your wisdom on how you dealt with it. For all I know condescension IS condescension.... good-intentioned or not. Infact, I do think good-intentioned condescension is tautology... I will prefer to say ' ignorant condescension'. What about you ?
To be or not to be...African !?
The Dilemma of the post modern African in the Diaspora
To be or not to be-African !?
How do I jive to Tupac and still gyrate to 2face ?
How do I appreciate hors d'oeuvres, and still salivate for Garri ?
How can I be modernly western , and yet wholly African ?
How do I identify with the 'Obama dream' and still hold on to the Pan-African ideals of Nkrumah ?
To be or not to be ? "Hmm... I can't say "
How do I integrate into where i live (or was born) and not sacrifice who I am and where I come from ?
How do I to portray my 'civilised western expression', and not forsake my intrinsic African connection?
To be or not to be ? "Hmm...I really cant say! "
In my wanderings and encounters with the younger generations of Africans, especially those in the diaspora, I have heard, noticed or deduced this inner struggle with who we are, what we are , and ultimately how we want to be seen or identified. Some will call it an identity crisis ; others will term it forsaking your roots. Whatever name it is called, this conundrum runs from Berlin to Los Angeles; from the Mediterranean to Moscow . It is the dilemma the young African generation face in defining themselves , and finding the right balance between where they come from, and where they ultimately are headed. The issue only gets more complicated with second and third generations - those who were born of African parents but have never really known what their heritage is, or had the attachment to Africa that some of the older generation possess. These younger ones face an even more difficult task - their names betray their ancestry, but their personalities have no resemblance to the continent to which they are identified with by society. This younger generation i presume, have the option of being defined by how comfortable they are with their place of birth or ancestry. I think it will serve you well to learn about where your parents come from, and that might help you choose how you want to represent yourself.
The abiding question is ; Why the confusion ? If you were born in Africa , then why try to be something else? And in all truth , there is no simple answer to that question. But the closest answer is the fact that you simply are not the 'African' as defined by our parents and our past. The new generation do not identify with the mediocrity and failures of the past generations because they themselves have come out and succeeded in chasing their dreams. So in as much as they are African, it is hard to identify with that tag, because it simply is not who they are! The naked uncivilized African; the blood thirsty African ; the not-so-smart or cool African; the ever-warring African ; The African as defined by the John Lockes of the western world, and the Africa perpetrated by the Mubutus and the Idi Amins. Yes, they identify this as their history but refuse to accept these people and their principles as representative of who they have become. At the same time, they do feel inherently different from those around them, even though they might speak fluent German or articulate like the Scousers or Yankees. In the end, we find ourselves not belonging here and not accepting to belong 'there'.
What to do ? A classic case of a generational multiple personality disorder, where you seem to behave completely differently when you are in the presence of Westerners or Africans. We find ourselves being second best and pitiful knock-off versions of who we want to be, as we try to be something we are not. Because in reality we cannot beat African-Americans at being African-American !? Or the Jamaicans at being Caribbean !? We are not African-American , or Brit or Caribbean..No! We are simply ' African'. Try any other way and you will come off as fake and phony, and miss out on the enormous personality, potential and prestige that can be, if we become the best version of us! The good thing is - you don't have to be phony to be accepted! There is a niche out there just for you, and nobody else does it better!
First off , I believe it is not a question of 'this' or 'that'. I think we should be allowed to have the best of both worlds, because we belong to both (because, face it; we wont be having this discussion if either of these separate cultures and worldviews were intrinsically appealing to our entirety)! That is who we are ! And yes, this is what we define as African. We do not have to avoid the subject - we instead need to change the terms and definitions. For us, Africa is described by a knowledge of our rich culture , but also a western influence ingrained in our music and our intellect. Being African now means being a master of more than one language and more than one accent. We can quote J. P. Sartre as easily as we can rattle the words of Soyinka, Achebe, and Mongo Beti. Our heros as as much Mandela and Biko as they are Obama. We are unapologetic about the fact that we can speak impeccable English but then rattle pidgin and broken in the same breath! Today's African is defined as the multi-talented and multi-cultural black and brown beaus/beauties, who know the different vintages of wine, but will never forget the taste of palm wine. We like the white marriage robes, but we still give prominence to our colourful traditional wedding ceremonies! Family and community still matter alot to us, but we try to be as self-reliant as possible. We have become versed in both YOUR history and OUR history...and we make no apologies for knowing so much , seeing so much, and being so much.
It is a pity you cannot categorize us into this and that anymore...because in all truth, we are no longer that easily lumped into those stereotypes. We should celebrate our uniqueness as a continent ,and diversity as individual countries in the whole; giving full reverence to our ancestry and heritage, but also accepting the western components of who we have become. It is ok to rap along with Jay-Z in flawless 'flow', and still be able to 'Ginga your swagga'. We can recite Shakespeare and Tennyson, but still discuss the literary nuances of Ngugi and Senghor.We grew up listening to both Micheal Jackson and Prince Nico; Kofiu Olomide. We are unapologetic about our plurality. don't hate… appreciate! ...uhuh! we can say it like that too! Let nobody tell you otherwise...IT IS OK! If they can't handle your multi-dimensionality...that's their loss, but this is how we define 'African' now. We are a product of our history and our politics; of our past and our present;We are a generation with influences from every country we have settled in seeking a better life ; We are African and couldn't be any prouder!
But for us to be able to change the existing paradigm ; for the prevailing perception to shift from the 'old African ' to the 'new African', we have alot to do, and a long way to go. Some things we have to do to ourselves first, before the rest of the world can believe our new definition of being African. We have to :
Learn. Represent. Educate.
We have to Learn. Know about where we come from. Know where your parents come from.' My people die for lack of knowledge' the Bible says ; our identity will die principally from lack of knowledge, not only by the rest of the world but also by us. Learn about the mistakes the triumphs and the rich culture of your country and Africa as a whole, that makes you so uniquely different from every other black person in the world. Learn about Guinea and Ghana ; the Zulu and Kanem Bornu empires . About Kenyatta and Nyerere. Remember the languages you use back home (I daresay especially pidgin due to its near universality for the English speaking countries), and strive to make your kids know them too. You can only be proud of something you know.
We have to Represent . Show where we come from. Be the best of the best where ever we are, and recognise our African heritage at every possible turn. We should suit up and dress up in the very best there is out there, but not fail to include the astounding variety and class of our African designs and designers. We should listen to our music in the same playlist as the rnbs,souls and hiphops of this world, and communicate our coolness to one another and our progeny. We need to 'hype us up' , because no one else will!
We have to Educate. We have to introduce the world to the new African. Teach your friends, colleagues, and contemporaries about the Africa you know. Tell them about the good, the bad and the ugly; make them know the truth about that reality which has been skewed over time by the media and the press. Tell them a different story of Africa - as Chimamanda will put it- our really happy childhoods (we didn't have Nintendo , but how we jumped rope and played football!), our communal and infectious singing and dancing, our courteous neighbours. Don't hide the pain and the suffering either, but let them know that despite all the doom and gloom, we could always find a way to smile and be one of the happier continents in the world. Tell them the story of the doctors and nurses who made it from lowly beginnings in Africa and are living the American dream; introduce them to the lawyers and bankers in Britain who barely made it through secondary school but now are living and achieving their dreams; let them know of the engineers in Bavaria who despite the inaccessible lab resources have become the go-to men and women of their companies. Introduce them to YOU and ME.
Make them see the intellectual , classy, and diverse African. And do not apologize for having a slightly different accent....they do have an accent too you know! Ultimately , living in the western world, you have to be able to sell your identity. Its all about the packaging, and the confidence with which that packaging is presented.
Methinks we are in a defining era wherein if we succeed to change the terms on which we as Africans are defined, then we would have done a service not only to ourselves, but the our children and our childrens children. They no longer will face the everlasting question of 'to be or not to be' ?. Our redefinition of what it is to be African will foster confidence and camaraderie amongst us, and ultimately, the hope and potential we have shall flourish and blossom as we re-introduce Africa to the world. We would have succeeded in stopping ourselves from asking these questions, and letting others do the asking and wondering. But this time around when the questions come , we will be ready with the answers, because we have it all sorted !
To be or not to be ? "Hmm! Not really.... lemme introduce you to Africa; let me introduce you to ME!"
EAU --- 27/10/10
To be or not to be-African !?
How do I jive to Tupac and still gyrate to 2face ?
How do I appreciate hors d'oeuvres, and still salivate for Garri ?
How can I be modernly western , and yet wholly African ?
How do I identify with the 'Obama dream' and still hold on to the Pan-African ideals of Nkrumah ?
To be or not to be ? "Hmm... I can't say "
How do I integrate into where i live (or was born) and not sacrifice who I am and where I come from ?
How do I to portray my 'civilised western expression', and not forsake my intrinsic African connection?
To be or not to be ? "Hmm...I really cant say! "
In my wanderings and encounters with the younger generations of Africans, especially those in the diaspora, I have heard, noticed or deduced this inner struggle with who we are, what we are , and ultimately how we want to be seen or identified. Some will call it an identity crisis ; others will term it forsaking your roots. Whatever name it is called, this conundrum runs from Berlin to Los Angeles; from the Mediterranean to Moscow . It is the dilemma the young African generation face in defining themselves , and finding the right balance between where they come from, and where they ultimately are headed. The issue only gets more complicated with second and third generations - those who were born of African parents but have never really known what their heritage is, or had the attachment to Africa that some of the older generation possess. These younger ones face an even more difficult task - their names betray their ancestry, but their personalities have no resemblance to the continent to which they are identified with by society. This younger generation i presume, have the option of being defined by how comfortable they are with their place of birth or ancestry. I think it will serve you well to learn about where your parents come from, and that might help you choose how you want to represent yourself.
The abiding question is ; Why the confusion ? If you were born in Africa , then why try to be something else? And in all truth , there is no simple answer to that question. But the closest answer is the fact that you simply are not the 'African' as defined by our parents and our past. The new generation do not identify with the mediocrity and failures of the past generations because they themselves have come out and succeeded in chasing their dreams. So in as much as they are African, it is hard to identify with that tag, because it simply is not who they are! The naked uncivilized African; the blood thirsty African ; the not-so-smart or cool African; the ever-warring African ; The African as defined by the John Lockes of the western world, and the Africa perpetrated by the Mubutus and the Idi Amins. Yes, they identify this as their history but refuse to accept these people and their principles as representative of who they have become. At the same time, they do feel inherently different from those around them, even though they might speak fluent German or articulate like the Scousers or Yankees. In the end, we find ourselves not belonging here and not accepting to belong 'there'.
What to do ? A classic case of a generational multiple personality disorder, where you seem to behave completely differently when you are in the presence of Westerners or Africans. We find ourselves being second best and pitiful knock-off versions of who we want to be, as we try to be something we are not. Because in reality we cannot beat African-Americans at being African-American !? Or the Jamaicans at being Caribbean !? We are not African-American , or Brit or Caribbean..No! We are simply ' African'. Try any other way and you will come off as fake and phony, and miss out on the enormous personality, potential and prestige that can be, if we become the best version of us! The good thing is - you don't have to be phony to be accepted! There is a niche out there just for you, and nobody else does it better!
First off , I believe it is not a question of 'this' or 'that'. I think we should be allowed to have the best of both worlds, because we belong to both (because, face it; we wont be having this discussion if either of these separate cultures and worldviews were intrinsically appealing to our entirety)! That is who we are ! And yes, this is what we define as African. We do not have to avoid the subject - we instead need to change the terms and definitions. For us, Africa is described by a knowledge of our rich culture , but also a western influence ingrained in our music and our intellect. Being African now means being a master of more than one language and more than one accent. We can quote J. P. Sartre as easily as we can rattle the words of Soyinka, Achebe, and Mongo Beti. Our heros as as much Mandela and Biko as they are Obama. We are unapologetic about the fact that we can speak impeccable English but then rattle pidgin and broken in the same breath! Today's African is defined as the multi-talented and multi-cultural black and brown beaus/beauties, who know the different vintages of wine, but will never forget the taste of palm wine. We like the white marriage robes, but we still give prominence to our colourful traditional wedding ceremonies! Family and community still matter alot to us, but we try to be as self-reliant as possible. We have become versed in both YOUR history and OUR history...and we make no apologies for knowing so much , seeing so much, and being so much.
It is a pity you cannot categorize us into this and that anymore...because in all truth, we are no longer that easily lumped into those stereotypes. We should celebrate our uniqueness as a continent ,and diversity as individual countries in the whole; giving full reverence to our ancestry and heritage, but also accepting the western components of who we have become. It is ok to rap along with Jay-Z in flawless 'flow', and still be able to 'Ginga your swagga'. We can recite Shakespeare and Tennyson, but still discuss the literary nuances of Ngugi and Senghor.We grew up listening to both Micheal Jackson and Prince Nico; Kofiu Olomide. We are unapologetic about our plurality. don't hate… appreciate! ...uhuh! we can say it like that too! Let nobody tell you otherwise...IT IS OK! If they can't handle your multi-dimensionality...that's their loss, but this is how we define 'African' now. We are a product of our history and our politics; of our past and our present;We are a generation with influences from every country we have settled in seeking a better life ; We are African and couldn't be any prouder!
But for us to be able to change the existing paradigm ; for the prevailing perception to shift from the 'old African ' to the 'new African', we have alot to do, and a long way to go. Some things we have to do to ourselves first, before the rest of the world can believe our new definition of being African. We have to :
Learn. Represent. Educate.
We have to Learn. Know about where we come from. Know where your parents come from.' My people die for lack of knowledge' the Bible says ; our identity will die principally from lack of knowledge, not only by the rest of the world but also by us. Learn about the mistakes the triumphs and the rich culture of your country and Africa as a whole, that makes you so uniquely different from every other black person in the world. Learn about Guinea and Ghana ; the Zulu and Kanem Bornu empires . About Kenyatta and Nyerere. Remember the languages you use back home (I daresay especially pidgin due to its near universality for the English speaking countries), and strive to make your kids know them too. You can only be proud of something you know.
We have to Represent . Show where we come from. Be the best of the best where ever we are, and recognise our African heritage at every possible turn. We should suit up and dress up in the very best there is out there, but not fail to include the astounding variety and class of our African designs and designers. We should listen to our music in the same playlist as the rnbs,souls and hiphops of this world, and communicate our coolness to one another and our progeny. We need to 'hype us up' , because no one else will!
We have to Educate. We have to introduce the world to the new African. Teach your friends, colleagues, and contemporaries about the Africa you know. Tell them about the good, the bad and the ugly; make them know the truth about that reality which has been skewed over time by the media and the press. Tell them a different story of Africa - as Chimamanda will put it- our really happy childhoods (we didn't have Nintendo , but how we jumped rope and played football!), our communal and infectious singing and dancing, our courteous neighbours. Don't hide the pain and the suffering either, but let them know that despite all the doom and gloom, we could always find a way to smile and be one of the happier continents in the world. Tell them the story of the doctors and nurses who made it from lowly beginnings in Africa and are living the American dream; introduce them to the lawyers and bankers in Britain who barely made it through secondary school but now are living and achieving their dreams; let them know of the engineers in Bavaria who despite the inaccessible lab resources have become the go-to men and women of their companies. Introduce them to YOU and ME.
Make them see the intellectual , classy, and diverse African. And do not apologize for having a slightly different accent....they do have an accent too you know! Ultimately , living in the western world, you have to be able to sell your identity. Its all about the packaging, and the confidence with which that packaging is presented.
Methinks we are in a defining era wherein if we succeed to change the terms on which we as Africans are defined, then we would have done a service not only to ourselves, but the our children and our childrens children. They no longer will face the everlasting question of 'to be or not to be' ?. Our redefinition of what it is to be African will foster confidence and camaraderie amongst us, and ultimately, the hope and potential we have shall flourish and blossom as we re-introduce Africa to the world. We would have succeeded in stopping ourselves from asking these questions, and letting others do the asking and wondering. But this time around when the questions come , we will be ready with the answers, because we have it all sorted !
To be or not to be ? "Hmm! Not really.... lemme introduce you to Africa; let me introduce you to ME!"
EAU --- 27/10/10
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