The significance of the African Diaspora (AD)is undeniable and should not be underestimated in any way. The relationship of the AD to Africa is not black or white it is very complex.
Many argue that without the AD there would have been no self-consciousness, without which no independence would have been possible; at least at that particular point in time and without independence no self-determination.
Yet others argue that those ideas that led to self-consciousness and gradually to independence are reactions and not ideas derived from the African context on the ground and therefore are not inclusive. Therefore the majority of Africans at home are not only left out of governance but also out of the very politics to give them freedom, liberty and equality.
The aspect of REACTION permeated not only the state apparatus, as such but also everyday life of the politicians, bureaucrats and other state functionaries. This in turn created a distance between the people and the regents who now reside in the governor-general’s house and occupies his chair in his office. Interestingly the distance between these new regents and the electorate is even wider than that between the governor-general and the people/subject.
What has been the role of the African Diaspora in the failure of governments and governance across the continent and what should be the role of the diaspora in African politics? The other day I was conversing with a friend about the role the AD has played in the independence of Africa, we touched on the role of the Negritudian literature, Black Power movements, Pan Africanism and many other influential ideas that came from the AD to the continent. But when we came to the question of which role AD should play in feature politics he said something provocative but at the same a wakeup call. He said; “we in the diaspora have to accept that Africa has sacrificed us for her modernity”. How?
Clean your house before pointing a finger ... Never be moved by delirious Well-wishers in their ecstasy
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Posted - 10 May 2011 : 22:17:11
