Have you already heard of the expression “This is Afrika”?
Meaning, the mess you see out there, the corruption, the irresponsibility, the mediocrity and the failure of our current institutions and leaders represent the real Afrika; and You, outsider or visitor, have to accept it, adapt to it or die!
Let me tell you something. The Afrika you are seeing or reading about IS NOT Afrika but a weak, sick, broken continent: the legacy of 5 centuries of destructions and aggression.
You don’t call a sick person by the name of his disease.
After a girl got raped and got depressed and down, you don’t go around calling her “The depressed girl” or saying “That girl is like that”.
If a member of your family is sick, you don’t go around saying to anyone who wants to hear you “This is who he is”, no, you want to find ways to cure the sick member of the family, because you know “This is not him”.
People who are saying “This is Afrika” are the enemies of the continent.
The same people would call their deranged or disturbed father or mother “Ok” and go on doing their business as usual because they don’t care.
They would say without hesitation “This is my father”, because – you know what- they don’t feel belonging to the family anymore or don’t care to deal with the sick member.
Please never say again “This is Afrika”.
Corruption is not normal. Irresponsible leaders are not normal.
Unprofessional people are not normal.
Carelessness is not something normal.
We don’t have to get used to them. Never get used to injustice and poverty.
Now, say “This is not Afrika!” A sick, weak, and occupied continent has nothing we are proud of. We are ashamed of what is happening to our continent. Again say “This is not Afrika”.
The Afrika we want is the one of our glorious ancestors, empire builders, Kings and Queens, proud and glorious warriors, resilient and affirmative, respected and feared. Unstoppable in their Intent.
We have to learn what brought them to the excellency they have achieved, and like little children sitting on their shoulders we’d use the lessons we have learned to built a powerful continent where we the Afrikans are in control, not the foreigners.
Afrikans are not poor. They have been made poor! It’s not a permanent status.
Jowhr Yagoup
OAF Chairman Sudan
Eze Afrika
