Africa must be selfish. It's the natural law of the game.
Some say Africa is not able to add value to it natural resources, , the leaders are selfish, no valeu for its human resources and others say christianity is not good for the continent etc. Are those mere opinions or truths? Opinions are like noses, what about truths?
What about the ideologies? what about how people think? what about the natural struggle between sisters and brothers? what about our egoistic nature as human beings?
Africans have not yet understood that If people could have what they wanted at the time they wanted, there wouldn't be struggles, competions, fight and above all inequalities.
Its about time we understand the game from the very basic truth about human beings; we are all egoistic so are countries and continents. Each country and continent wants the best for its people. Its natural and we cant change it, we just have to play smart along with it.
As humans, our experiences never give us everything we want. Its the reason why there are competitions, clashes, and sometimes the need to make concessions, and fight for things.
The tension between the United State of America and Russia is natural: each of them is selfish by nature and wants the best for its people. We can try to controle it but try wiping it away is fetching water with a crochet basket, you may fetch it but be mindful you are just wetting the basket.
The english philosopher Thomas Hobbes made it clear in Leviathan (Leviatã) that wealth, knowledge and honor are but different forms of power. Thus, the main inclination of all humanity is a perpetual and incessant zeal for power, which ceases only with death. ”
Africans need to understand this, and develop from the individual egoism to a collective egoism: It is only then that those chosen to lead the continent can fight and defend what are for africans and not individual interest.
As we fight, clash and compete with other continents and countries, we should develop a language (ideas) to explain and justify our demands and to challenge and contradict the demands of other continent and countries.
Donald Trump will say America first, Emmanual Macron will promise some African countries a better economy upon adopting Eco as their currency, because they are looking for the best for their people. At the end if you are smart you always survive.
We individually or collectively develop a language of interests and values such as rights, freedoms and justice. The 20th century Pan-Africanist Kwame Nkrumah with the slogan self government and independece now against independence within the shortest possivel time was exemple of a smart move. Understand the game and play smart.
The 1945 Pan-African congress in Manchester which eventually led to the indenpendece of over 17 african countries was smart action backed with "radical and egoistic" ideas channeled by vibrant african diasporas. It has to be about us not about them. Its all about politics, its all about game, it all about who survive.
Its has to do with ideas and concepts. These ideas will help Africans to establish what we want and to defend our interests. Its all about who gets what? where? when and how?
It not about "it shall be well, its not about let pray to GOD, it not about titles like "we are the most friendly continent, its not about Africa got the youngest population, its not about Africa is the hub of spirituality, its all about palying smart games, its all about competing and contradicting the demands of other continent and, its all about radical Africa beyound dependency, and above all, it about Africans. What is your truth?
"If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor": Desmond Tutu.
By Stephen Amanor
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