At a book-reading event in Lagos, Nigeria, let us picture a South African
(Antjie Krog) reading from her bestseller book on Truth and Reconciliation Hearings. It was organized by a local group on the Arts.
A renowned female Nigerian journalist - Chris Anyanwu, now a Nigerian Senator - who was incarcerated during the infamous Abacha Military Government of Nigeria also paired with her on stage.
She too had her own turn to read from her book based on her prison experience.
It appeared as a truly balanced set up.
This scenario paints a recurrent picture of awaiting validation and approval outside African continent before many needed initiatives are taken.
Consider the latest fad for a product promotional show, where a multinational company invites a music star from abroad supported with very impressive local artistes.
The foreign star plays for much less time but goes back home, happy with higher fees.
(Good for the foreign artistes as many talented creative persons are accorded respect in their home countries)
It is the way they want to be perceived and they naturally get a commensurate reward for that, wherever they ate invited for such gigs.
On the other hand, the local stars are expected to count themselves lucky for the opportunity and they are treated as such by the local organizers.
This brings me to ask:
Are some Africans still mentally enslaved and if this were to be true, could this be worse than the slave trade of the past?
Let us look at another instance. After a short stay, a foreigner on being prompted would say: "Yes! I enjoyed my stay in that (African) country, they are very friendly!"
But deeply when you look amongst the people you will find it difficult to see this so-called friendly attributes in play.
So what brings about the contradiction? Are we really friendly to ourselves? Are we really friendly to a foreigner?
On the intellectual platform, we continue to witness jam packed symposia, workshops and the likes.
Attendees all clad in appropriate dresses, purportedly listening in rapt attention, coupled with the expected demeanor reserved for such events.
The scenario goes like this:
At the centre stage is a globally renowned egghead or expert, who is supported by our local African intellectual heroes. These local champions are given the chance to add few words after the main speaker.
They talk about business, corporate governance, ethics and human development.
Of late a well of motivational speakers are springing up in many African countries.
This is a new idea expected to lift up the self inflicted impoverished spirits, as we go through these challenging times.
And I cannot but agree with that.
The motivational rounds, I believe help if only they can be extended to the teeming citizens in the remote villages using their local dialects!
Then more knowledge is extended.
But where are the real wheeler-dealers within these halls?
The power brokers at the helm of affairs in governance?
Those who make things happen.
Where are those who hold the destiny of African nations within their grips?
Of course, they invite them to most of these intellectual gatherings of rhetoric, philosophies and theorems.
However, the decision makers could possibly mumble to themselves in their privacy, asking if all the postulations are needed.
To buttress this point, not too long ago, I also noticed on TV an event in Lagos.
What struck me was the large attendance of first class Nigerian intellectuals -mostly well dressed - as I could identify some of them.
As in many cases, the star attraction was not even a prominent Nigerian decision maker.
I was thinking: that the gentleman, the guest speaker and the likes of him, get listened to in his country, where his postulations are considered and some get used ; for the general benefit of his fellow country men.
His talent gets appreciated.
Over here in a typical African country, one asks: what happens after all attendants disperse from these halls?
What do the local influencers amongst the audience do thereafter?
What do they do with strategies of new knowledge that they have imbibed?
How do they make all of these become a reality for the betterment of all in the country?
On the other hand, could it be just for making an appearance and to be seen to belong?
Do they internalize what must have transpired at such events, waiting for that opportunity to persuade those at different levels of governance, in politics and business?
Lastly we need to consider our own people worthy of being celebrated, if they have done well.
I believe there are many Nigerians who can hold their own anywhere in the world, who can 'speak the language' we all understand for more fruitful results within our space.
We need to start now. We need to encourage them to come forward, stand behind the rostrum, share their knowledge.
To use such for the common good and the rest of humanity.
But there is a hope that this will happen not too far into the future.
That is, going by the quiet revolution going on amongst the young people who are getting unconsciously detached from the experience of the vestiges of the 'colonial mentality' syndrome.
The latter being the attitude of most older generation (the post-independence generation)
Young people making statements by their efforts, attitudes and utterances.
Breeding a new crop of confident partakers of this planet, who could hold their own any where in the world.
They are fast acquiring new knowledge and putting them to practice -showing positive results in many spheres of human endeavor despite the failed governance in some African countries.
And if you ask me what is mainly responsible for this?
The increased education and exposure through the Western media (mainly the TV) and the Internet, despite the misgivings about the aforementioned.
(Nothing is perfect in life)
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