Then came this video I was sent to via WhatsApp, it had taken few days unwatched! Not that I was not interested in it, but due to the fact that there has been a lot going on throughout the entire week, I never got ample time to view it. When I finally had a look at it, it invoked some serious emotions in me. It kept me wondering why people have to be so cruel to their fellow human being. This was a TEDx Talks Berlin video, and the speaker was a young and beautiful black lady. I can’t really tell her name but one thing for sure, she was doing her presentation with a lot of emotional strings attached. It was like the emotional strings run deepen to her soul, I don’t judge her-I would have felt the same way with all that information she had.
With an authoritative and emotional voice, she started by saying,”… despite studying Finance and Economics in one of the World’s best Universities, one thing that kept me puzzled is why the following question remains unanswered; Why is it that 5000 units of our currency (African) is worth 1 unit of your currency (Western countries), when we (African) are the ones with the actual Gold Reserves?” She continuous to say,” …it’s quit evidence that aid comes from Africa to Western world, not from Western World to Africa. The Western world depends on Africa in every possible way because alternative resources are scares out here (Western countries).” She goes ahead and ask herself that how do the western countries make sure that the free aid keeps coming? (This is a very good question). She answers that question by saying, “they (Western countries) systematically destabilize African Countries and their systems, and all this backed up by huge PR campaigns, leaving the entire world under the impression that Africa is poor and dying and merely surviving on the mercy of the West…” (This is not surprising at all- they have been doing this for centauries.
The lady then goes ahead to sarcastically applauds Oxfam, UNICEF, Red Cross, Live Aid and other organization that continuously that run multi-million dollar advertising campaigns depicting charity porno to sustain that image of Africa Global ( and here I have been wondering why despite all these ‘noble’ charity organization in African for years, there hasn’t been any serious impact! Is there aim to maintain Status quo?). What really provoked my thinking, it was an eye opener that is when she went ahead and said, “…when one hand gives under the flashy lights of cameras, the other one takes under the shadows.” This strong statement is backup by a cartoon drawing of a Rich ‘European’ with a huge smile on his face -on a ship- handing over aid to a rather surprised and unwilling African. Underneath the European’s ship, they are secretly and massively mining away African’s natural resources. (That is the state of Global Economy- steal from Africans and get rich then donate to the extras because they are ‘poor’ and dying- how ironical.
The beautiful lady was not finished yet, she goes on to say, “we all know that the dollar is worthless and the euro is merely charged with German’s intellect and technology and may be some Italian Pasta….” (Hahaha she was getting savage and a little angry at this point- I don’t know but it looked like it). She then asks, “…how can one expect donations from nations that have so little?” And goes on to say with a sarcastic tone, “It is super sweet for you (western countries) to come with your colored paper in exchange for our gold and diamonds…” (That makes lots of sense-how dare they), “…but instead you (western countries) should come empty handed filled with integrity and honor.” After a moment of tense silence in the room full of Western people, she continues to say, “We (Africans) want to share with you (western countries) our wealth and invite you to share yours.” (This would be a fair game, a win-win situation for both parties.)
She was putting everything in plain back and white, the way it is, without sugarcoating or cherry-picking anything. This was very bold of her. And she was just getting started. After talking a deep breath, she goes on to say,” the perception is that a healthy and striving Africa will not disperse its resources as freely and cheaply- which is logical- of course, it will instead sell its resources at world market prices. Which will in turn weaken and destabilize western economies established in the postcolonial ‘free’ pillage system!!!” (She was looking at the crowd with a straight face as she said this statement then she took a pause to let it sink- yah! It should really sink in!)
A good talk or presentation cannot end without some convincing statistics, numbers don’t lie you know! With that said, she then goes ahead to say, “last year the IMF reports that 6 out of 10 of the fasted growing economies are in Africa measuring by their GDP growth. The French treasury for example, is receiving about 500 billion dollars, year in year out for exchange reserves from African countries based on colonial debt they forced them to pay. Former French president Jacques Chirac, stated in an interview recently that: we (French) have to be honest and acknowledge that a big part of money in our banks comes precisely from the exploitation of the African continent. In 2008 he stated: That without Africa, France will slide down in the rank of a third world power.’’
Honestly speaking, I think at this moment the room was already too hot for some people to bare (In simple slang terms-when you cannot take the heat, get out of the kitchen). Just before she went on, she paused but for a little longer this time as she rearranged her power-point cards. Then she continued, “…This happens in the human world. The world we have created. Have you ever wondered how things break in nature? One would assume that in evolution the fittest survives, however, in nature any species that is over hunting, over exploiting resources they depend on as nourishment, natural selection will sooner or later take the predator out. Because it offsets the balance…’’ (Ouch!!) And that was the end of the presentation. Her closing remarks was a little scary.
It’s important to note that in all the TED and TEDx Talks I have ever watched, in this particular one the audience never at any point during the presentation applauded. This is not surprising judging from the nature of her topic! The courage this lady possessed is just admirable. She had the guts to throw the facts without fear, and I couldn’t agree with her more.
The exploitation of African countries has taken up different forms over the years- and has it is always said, same feces just a different toilet (excuse my terminology, there was no better way to put it) – From Western countries (European and United states), now China has also joined in and catching up real fast in sucking Africa dry, in fact they have made it a competition. They come with different strategies to exploit Africa. In the name of aid, they quickly formulate policies to take control of our resources using big corporates which spread fast like a virus.
We need to wake up as Africans, with unity we can draft our own future. Our leaders should also open their eyes and stop accepting unnecessary aid and signing exploitative pacts and contracts with these countries. For it is a rule of economics, nothing is for free- no one invest all that money in your country for free! There must be huge returns, it’s just business- Africa stand up!!!
belinenyangi'sdiscussion#oursociety# 