A few days ago, I was invited for a UCAS meeting. I had to cross – check my schedule for the
set date to be sure there wasn't any clash in events I had planned for the
day. My friend rhetorically and
sarcastically replied in these words “African like you. Do you know how to make a
schedule? Just 1 month in Holland you don dey talk schedule.” These
words were taken lightly. However, they got me thinking, scratching my bald
head and pulling the few beards I had.
Has Africa changed? Has the African remained the same?
To answer these questions, events of the past years came
rushing through my empty barrel. I had
flash backs of the Africa I knew.
The Africa filled with poverty, diseases and war. The Africa, whose dusty roads created a rain
of environmental pollutants flying through the nooks and crannies of every
home. But, this Africa had her strengths. The Africa, where lessons about life
were picked by the fire side. The Africa, where everyone was accountable not to
only his family, but to the community. The
Africa, where communal living brought the best out of everyone. ….
These notwithstanding, the African metamorphosed into a new
person, the contemporary African. The new African was a hybrid; a hybrid of a
western culture and the indigenous African culture. Although, this hybrid African learnt a lot,
he needed the right balance of these cultures. Otherwise, he forgets his
cultural heritage, which a lot have.
Fortunately, not all have been lost. The new African could
not only dance the ‘kpanlogo’ but could blend it with salsa and any form of
gesture to call it Azonto. The new African could not only sing his highlife and
palm wine music, but could fuse it with hard core raps and call it ‘Hip life’.
The new African can not only grow lime, but make it into lemonade.
The new African can do e-banking, e-learning and even send e-flowers and
e-kisses to their love ones.
So to answer, my friend's question, I could prepare a 5 yr
plan before I came to Holland.
In conclusion I will say
The African I know is inspired and challenged by his past.
The African I know is enlightened and motivated by his
present
The African I know will be victorious tomorrow.
