EuroAfrica-Magazine Online

By Tope Oriola 
Centuries of slavery and colonialism have forcefully spread Africans far and wide. L'afrocentricité par Molefi K. Asante by africamaat
This has been worsened by the ongoing “brain drain” that has led to the exodus of highly skilled and educated Africans to every place conceivable on earth. From Europe to South America, North America to the Caribbean, people of African descent have been away from the source for too long. It would appear such individuals have been lost forever. Events of the last few weeks have, however, given room for cautious optimism. There is a new drive to return to the Motherland and make an impact. The recent two-week visit of U.S. Senator Barack Obama to countries including South Africa, Chad and his home, Kenya, indicates a new dimension in the relationship between Africans at home and those in diaspora.

His father had been part of the “brain drain” to the U.S.. Oprah Winfrey, whose primogenitors went to the U.S. during the gruesome era of slavery, has built a leadership school for girls in South Africa, reportedly spending $40 million. Not to be left out, the popular preacher T.D. Jakes has an ongoing humanitarian project in various parts of Africa.

Basketball star Dikembe Mutombo has committed millions of dollars to building a dream hospital in memory of his mother. It is exhilarating to see these worthy children of Africa taking the gauntlet to further launch their homeland on the path of development. Despite the media hype and perceived political undertones, charity must be allowed to begin at home as is being demonstrated. Rather than collecting so-called “aid” that does everything but aid African countries — because of dubious and stringent conditions that only worsen the condition of recipient nations — Africans in diaspora can do more than self-perpetuating agencies, who are more concerned with brandishing frightening scenarios to get more funding than tackling the problem on the ground.

Such efforts, however, need to be well co-ordinated, systematic and beyond the glitz of television cameras. “Outsiders” cannot and should not be expected to love Africa more than Africans. The World Bank and its subsidiaries like the International Monetary Fund and International Finance Corporation have consistently proven that they have other priorities. Waiting on a “Merchant of Venice” like the Paris Club for Africa’s development is akin to expecting snow in my hometown. It will never come. There is wisdom in looking inward to those who have more than an ephemeral statistical interest in African affairs

Africans in diaspora have contributed immensely to their host nations. Nigeria’s Philip Emeagwali, for instance, was described as “a father of the internet” by CNN and “one of the great minds of the information age” by Bill Clinton. An individual of Emeagwali’s phenomenal status needs to make his impact felt in his roots. The likes of Andrew Young and the organizers of the annual Sullivan Summit should not limit the locus of their concern to business opportunities and bourgeoisie partnerships. Besides, conferences and workshops alone are grossly insufficient to effect the desired change.

Many African-Americans like former U.S. ambassador to Nigeria Walter Carrington (renamed “Omowale,” meaning the child has come home) have begun tracing their genealogy and identifying with the source. Carrington supported pro-democracy groups to crush military dictatorship in his newfound homeland. Such collaboration is greatly needed among all Africans — there can be no room for purebred or half-bred.

The Winnipeg Sun reports the involvement of celebrities like Madonna, Alyssa Milano, George Clooney and Matt Damon in various causes in different parts of Africa, and Bill Clinton should be added to that list. Quite characteristically, the media outlets are labelling such efforts as public relations stunts. While this may not be completely wrong, it is a greater evil to dissuade celebrities from so to speak “adopting a country.” Such crass pessimism or “damaging cynicism” as the Winnipeg Sun article puts it should not deter those individuals. It is healthy for humanity that those critics do not have such money at their disposal.

Africans in diaspora will earn greater respect when reports of steady progress receives coverage in the media. For instance, you may not like the antics of the Chinese government, but the unprecedented growth of the Chinese economy indirectly makes you respect the average Chinese- Canadian despite lop-sided resource distribution in China.

This is a call on all people of African descent to join in this historic effort. Your participation is necessary so that western parents will stop frightening their children with the threat of taking them to Africa, where they think the entire populace is in one danger or another. The mountain beckons on Moses.

Tope Oriola is comment editor of the Manitoban.