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Momodou
Denmark
11640 Posts |
 Posted - 25 May 2006 : 15:09:54
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ALIENATION
ALIENATION: It means to isolate or to separate from and it is a word that concerns Africans more than anybody else in the whole world.
In Africa one can dearly see the drastic affects of alienation, a by-product of capitalism. Africans are being colonised and assimilated so much that they look down on their culture or their ancestors while uncritically adopting the Western way of life. Africans have their own culture or way of life suitable to Africa as well as the people of Africa.
What makes matters worse is that all the resources that Africa is endowed with go out to foreigners as exports. The gains from these exports are also invested or spent on foreign cultural products as imports. In this sense, Africans help in the enrichment of these industrial proprietors. Africans help to feed these industrial proprietors with their resources, both natural and human.
Africans have to appreciate and make very good use of their endowments, rather than allow Westerners to enrich themselves with them at their expense. The dependence on foreign imports in virtually every aspect of life, including key areas such as agricultural and cultural sectors is weakening not only their economic prosperity but also their sense of self confidence.
Nowadays, Africans are just like those talked about in holy books, who were always awaiting for “manna salwa” from heaven. Considering the billions of dollars siphoned from Africa annually, one can see that Africans are more of consumers than producers. Africans are under mental slavery and nobody but ourselves can free our mind. Culture is something that can neither be exported nor imported but it is to be institutionalised according to the realities of that particular society. This imitation of foreign life style will take us nowhere and is unnecessary.
Africa has been and is being robbed of it’s wealth and resources since the advent of Europeans and the beginning of slavery. Not only were human beings taken away from Africa, but also other natural resources like gold and diamonds and many other mineral resources. Independence is Africa is a sham. Ever since the end of Colonialism, Africans are becoming more alienated and dependent on foreign industrial cultural by-products. The exploitations became so severely felt that there exist the rural and urban drifts. All that Africans give away as exports in exchange for foreign industrial products can be used to develop the productive base of their economy such as agriculture and fisheries in order to reduce hunger and to eradicate poverty. The local industries have to be protected.
A concerned citizen.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No.39/2006, 22-24 May, 2006
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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serenata
Germany
1400 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jun 2006 : 17:17:42
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| An excellent article; thanks, Momodou. |
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njucks
Gambia
1131 Posts |
Posted - 14 Jun 2006 : 19:15:08
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its a classic Foroyaa article and a bit to the extreme left. i guess if they had their way they would circle the wagons. but the article is a good one and i blame Globalisation for this increasing poverty.
on the other hand its important to understand the ''westernization'' is not a bad thing and doesnt mean people will loose their culture or look down on themselves. Japan is a classic example of Westernisation.
at no one is more conservative culturally than the Japs.
For me it boils down to Education and accumulating Know how. Resource Resource Resources. Resource are meaningless unless you have the know how to turn them to products you need?
Nobody is stealing anything from Africa without Africa's permission. thats not the problem. Africans are destroying any institution they built. Take Forabay College built in the early 19th century. almost 200yrs of learning tradition destroyed.
wee need to accumulate the know how first if you want the scientific route.
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serenata
Germany
1400 Posts |
Posted - 16 Jun 2006 : 13:25:24
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Njucks, I partly agree, but we shouldn't whitewash it: African leaders are making a lot of terrible mistakes, but Africa, as any other poor region rich in resources, is under constant threat. When the West stopped concentring its missiles at the East, they turned them south. This was not at all meant to guarantee the fair trade of resources. 
In Germany there is a (much too small) discussion now about the Congo peacekeeping mission of our army. German politicians talk openly about the military task of safeguarding resources and ensuring free access to resources for our industries all over the world; some of them even favor preemptive strikes. Don't forget the NATO armies where transformed into aggression forces who are able to reach every corner of the earth within one, two days. Regarding this, and the examples the USA and there allies gave and give in Afghanistan and Iraq (not to mention their bases in several neighbouring countries) I don't think you have to be 'extreme left' to realize what is going on. |
Edited by - serenata on 16 Jun 2006 13:29:53 |
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njucks
Gambia
1131 Posts |
Posted - 16 Jun 2006 : 13:42:16
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| serenata you're absolutely right. |
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serenata
Germany
1400 Posts |
Posted - 16 Jun 2006 : 14:02:44
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Thank you, njucks, though for the facts I really regret being right...  |
Edited by - serenata on 16 Jun 2006 14:03:51 |
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jun 2006 : 09:33:20
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Radical changes for the better in Africa will come about when African leaders themselves are no longer mentally enslaved. When Africa has an appropriate education geared to progressing the continent and Africans no longer think of themselves as geographic segments entrapped with artificial limited borders carved up to serve outside interests. But as one people with a collective history working in unison to raise Africa by emulating her standing in the ancient world and surpassing those results in 21st Century and beyond. United we stand divide we fall, It's time for Africans to hold their heads up and walk tall!
Peace
Sister Omega
S.Ba copyright 2006.
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Peace
Sister Omega |
Edited by - Sister Omega on 27 Jun 2006 17:29:08 |
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