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Momodou
Denmark
11728 Posts |
 Posted - 18 Jan 2006 : 16:43:07
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A very interesting Editorial by The Independent. We still have a long way to go for Africa to Unite.
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Can Africa Unite?
The Independent (Banjul)
EDITORIAL
January 16, 2006
Posted to the web January 17, 2006
Banjul
Can Africa unite? This question keeps looming in the minds of patriotic Africans who are not only pushing the agenda but also sensitising people about the benefits attached to unity.
Yes, in unity we stand firm, but the question is: how we are going to unite when we have too many hurdles or obstacles blocking our very existence. It is our conviction that as long as the road to unity remains thorny or stormy, the possibility of having the United States of Africa is practically or theoretically impossible.
As a matter of fact, we should stop talking about African unity when sister countries that have been demarcated by colonial masters continue to pester each, block trade and development between them. Sometimes, we are forced to agree that the biggest threat to our progress, unity and integration is colonial legacy. The era of colonialism is gone but our colonial masters have brain washed us to the extent that we feel proud to speak or act like them. Some of our brothers and sisters feel happy when you associate them with their colonial masters, which defeat the whole spirit and letter of Pan-Africanism pattern our leaders have left for us to thread along. Some Africans even consider all non-speakers of colonial languages as uncivilised people. The speaker of Kenya at some point defended the colonial yoke when he asked Raila Odinga and other parliamentarians for not dressing in suits. Being one of the youngest democracies in the continent, South Africans have however allowed parliamentarians to walk into parliament with African attire.
If people read history, they would know that civilisation is not a new concept in Africa where colonial masters found perfect leadership structures.
Language difference is perhaps considered as one of the biggest threats to African unity. With the formalisation of Ki-swahili, our brothers in South, East and Central Africa have succeeded in breaking the language barrier, we in West Africa are still proud of defending colonial yokes to the core. While French and English facilitate easy communication among other regions, they create trouble for us. Those who attend conferences within the ECOWAS know what we mean. Instead of protecting our common interest, delegates would prefer to enter into unnecessary and unhealthy talks, geared towards creating division between Francophone and Anglophone Africans.
Wherever Anglo and Francophone African brothers meet, it would not take one a minute to spot out the damage caused by colonial differences. While the French and British that fought in many parts of Africa, The Gambia and Senegal being no exception, buried their differences, Anglo and Francophones African countries in our region still hold phobia against each other, although they speak the same local language.
The Anglo and Francophone difference surfaces mostly in lobbying and elections processes. In every regional event, the two bridge barriers.
While others call themselves Anglo, Franco or Lesophone, we are proud of being Africaphone because no matter how long a stick resides in the sea, it would never turn into a crocodile.
Copyright © 2006 The Independent.
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jan 2006 : 17:09:44
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If England, France and Germany can make a European community I still hold out hope that Africans can unite. Of course the differences still surface...but the common good is more important. The main bonus
of uniting for trade is the peace that comes from dealing with each other more.
Let shope that a common currency is the start of something bigger in the future......
Told you I am an idealist...... |
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Janyanfara
Tanzania
1350 Posts |
Posted - 19 Feb 2006 : 01:01:28
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Wel brother Momodou,
Hope is still there and one day--one day,it shall come to pass.We can't loose Hope 4 we will be doomed if hope is lost(God forbids).
Mother Africa has so many problems--It is really sad, very very sad.Such as:Killer Aids, killer Ebola,killer fermine,killer rebellion,killer civil wars,killer ethnic fighting, killer malaria,killer stervation,poverty,disease,slavery,hypocricy,unemployment, betrayal by interlectuals who refused Mother Africa instead filled European/American markets,CORRUPTION,DICTATORIAL Governments who hunt to exterminate the interlectual class as they think those poses threat to their regimes,lark of freedom....(just to name a few).
Africa can only unite if..
(1) Every country addopts the presidential term limit with out condition,
(2)When citizens are recognised as citizens(Problems in countries like Zimbabwe,Zambia,South Africa,Sudan(Daffor region-state sponsored massacres) ect could be settled.Immagine how can presidents like fedrick Challuba(then president) consider the founder of the republic of Zambia as a non citizen who infact let him to stand 4 election.But we've all seen it haven't we?..D EVIL THAT MEN DO...)How can Muggabe thought of the white Zimbabweans as non citizens?How about Black Britishs,B.Americans,and Black Europeans ect?.Some even claimed Yahya Jammeh(President of the Gambia) rto be from Cassamance(which I doubt very much despite I don't support His regime... but even so,is Cassamance not in Africa? As human beings,we got to accomodate each other-- D world is too tight to start pushing,
(3)Countries like DRC and Togo to abolish the succession system imposed on them by their late brutal dictators(J.Kabila and N.Eyadema) and return the countries to true/real democracy,(Libya is also aiming 4 that kind of approach).
(4) Wipe out all Her dictatorial regimes and resture true democracy(with presidential powers very limited(power verted in the elected representatives assisted by the courts each independent of the other)
(5)Taking proper and viable care of Her resources by accepting no conditionalities from outside,
(6)Try to show the outside that we can do it though with advise but not forced influence or conditions.
(7) Make the good use of our interlectual class(by creating a conducive environment 4 them to stay) so as to encourage them to share with the rest what they have,thus detering them from moving abroad to seek 4 greener pastures.
(8) lastly but not the least to set up structures where corruption will be a thing of the past and no body or group of bodies with the intention of it,will have the ground to bread corruption again
With these pillars strongly built,Mother Africa will be on her steady feet and shall not fall again.
Africa mother Africa with your beautiful smile on ALL your childreen despite your sufferings done to you by them (your childreen),God will redeam you one day..One fine day,you shall get up fresh free of all your problems and UNITED YOU SHALL BE FOR SURE.
God bless Mother Africa
Peace.x.
Mankajang Janyanfara. |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 02 Mar 2006 : 19:57:05
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| The simple answer is No. |
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.” |
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medotech
42 Posts |
Posted - 02 Mar 2006 : 20:52:21
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| may be if Gambia and Senegal could get along,there will be hope but thats not really feasible.we are all divided.Gambia and senegal cant get alon,Sierra Leone and Liberia cant get along,Congo and its neighbours cant get along,bukinafaso and Ivory cosat,Nigeria and Cameroon,the list will go on and on.I think we should start step by step.country level,regional,subregional and may be continental.It is a good idea though but I have no faith in it. |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 02 Mar 2006 : 21:48:37
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i think we should start at individual level, then family, commuinty, village, district, division, then country. The reality is it is impossible. May be if there is going to be a second come back to earth.
It was suggested by the United Nations that Gambia should become part of Senegal in the days leading to Independence. A team of experts were dispatched to gambia and Senegal but it met with opposition.
The Gambia was so poor that we had to have a grant from the British Government to pay our salaries.
I do not want to be seen to be supporting Jawara or any other person for any other reason other than commitment. Gambia was in the dark ages at the time of independence. No roads, telecommunications was at a bare minimun. Westfield was a jungle forest and getting to Bakau in the eveing was only ventured by the brave. the remnants of those trees could still be found around pipeline. Those many mango trees were not planted by anyone.
They grew in the wild. Serrekunda was just up to Bambo and London Corner was a tiny scattered back yard farm.
Travelling from the provinces was a one week walk for the strong. No cars. The only cars on the road were that of the travelling magistrate or the commissioner. If gambians chose to be different in the face all the above i do not see how we could be united with Senegal now.
The AU should be disbanded rather than wasting our meager resources on pointless adventure. |
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.” |
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Janyanfara
Tanzania
1350 Posts |
Posted - 04 Mar 2006 : 22:54:36
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Hi fellas,
I think you all might forgot but even b4 colonisation,we had our own system of administration from sections to section.e.g
We had, like in the Mandingo communities(and likewise other tribes throughout Africa),peer groups who lived respecfully with their upper peer class and people give unquestionable respect with unity and strenght.
Africa has always lived in Unity since pre-historic c.11180 BC. until late after christ in the seventeenth century when we started disintigrating.Also we fell appart further when we were partitioned by different western powers.This shows you what colonisation can do to a nation.As people learnt western education, they see themselves as kind of superior inteligent to the ones they called "the illiterates".Thus those not educated in the western languages were termed as premitive stupid while the educated ones are the inteligent and westernised ones..They started speaking the whiteman's language,thus Africa became confused.Everybody flocked to send their childreen to the whiteman's school to learn the western language as that was meant to lead to murdernisation and development.
Families started falling appart,tribes then followed suit,then regions and eventually the bush fire spread everywhere. accross the entire continent.
As professor Akindaze during one of his lectures at the great university of makarere(Uganda) said when the western language came,it brought confusion to the people who found it hard to resist as seing with their own eyes,people who learn the western language got good jobs and live better lives so every body abandoned any thing African to follow the whiteman system as only those can find favours with the colonialists and can communicate with them thus becoming their interpreters,messengers,and were the first to have high posts when the whiteman started leaving eventually becoming the mordern African first rulers.
They learnt all the curruption not from their masters but due to their influence with the whiteman and the unwestern educated people gave them respect due to their position in the then society that has turn in to confusion.Thus our first werternised educated people became more and more greedy thus lying between the people and the colonial masters.When they eventually took over, they continued their practice no doubt forcing us into rebellions,civil wars and mass killings.
But if we can try hard and go back 4 what we had abandoned,Africa can stand upright as world champions of democracy.
Peace and Love,
Mankajang Janyanfara.
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kassma
334 Posts |
Posted - 05 Mar 2006 : 11:04:12
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| i think it is more than possible to unite. for example, Gambia and Senegal, we could unite if we wanted to, Gambian people in general don't have problems with Senegalese, we each have family across the border.however it is policies and official rules that bring problems. to me, it seems that the main problems we have the the governmental policies against each other and the tribalistic ways of some people. but its possible if we really want it. |
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Janyanfara
Tanzania
1350 Posts |
Posted - 05 Mar 2006 : 23:15:50
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Brother kassma,
we had never used borders b4 colonisation.Every Gambian ,has a relative in Senegal and visa-visa.Africa generally had be one.
Any way I agree with you now that all has passed and we think of the future,Like 4 example we could have a federation with french and english tought in both countries,Yes its possible because we have a lot of french schools in Gambia and likewise loads of English institutes in Senegal.
I only wish Africa could addopt a common language so as to encourage communication within her member states easier.That would lead to a common understanding.But if not ,no way as outside influence has more power than Africa's strength it self.Think 4 instance Gambia/senegal outside influence broke up the senegambia confideration and some elements will confuse Gambia that Senegal is trying to dominate her and take over her sovereignty,thereby Gambia feeling treatened and insecure.But WE filled our ears with wax and commit ourselves to unity,with fairness to all memberstates,we can make it happen.
Peace 4 Africa
Mankajang Janfara |
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kassma
334 Posts |
Posted - 06 Mar 2006 : 02:18:30
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quote:
Originally posted by Janyanfara
Brother kassma,
we had never used borders b4 colonisation.Every Gambian ,has a relative in Senegal and visa-visa.Africa generally had be one.
Any way I agree with you now that all has passed and we think of the future,Like 4 example we could have a federation with french and english tought in both countries,Yes its possible because we have a lot of french schools in Gambia and likewise loads of English institutes in Senegal.
I only wish Africa could addopt a common language so as to encourage communication within her member states easier.That would lead to a common understanding.But if not ,no way as outside influence has more power than Africa's strength it self.Think 4 instance Gambia/senegal outside influence broke up the senegambia confideration and some elements will confuse Gambia that Senegal is trying to dominate her and take over her sovereignty,thereby Gambia feeling treatened and insecure.But WE filled our ears with wax and commit ourselves to unity,with fairness to all memberstates,we can make it happen.
Peace 4 Africa
Mankajang Janfara
please tell me, what outside influence led to the break up of the federation. i feel like i know the answer but still who, what, how? it bothers me the fact that we're one people but still allow colonialism to separate us. i feel like we have to show that we're not so easily manipulated and divided. plus it would make it so much easy to see family members. |
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medotech
42 Posts |
Posted - 06 Mar 2006 : 21:27:05
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I think the main opponents of union with Senegal will be the rulling elites who will feel their powers will be usurped.The idea is good but I dont think it will work.The time has passed and the opportunity had long been missed.
For now,I think the Gambia staying alone is better because it is more advantageous.We dont wanna be another Cassamance to suffer neglect and under-development from the central government.Infact,it is more easier to develop a small country like ours as opposed to a larger one where we will have competing regions vying for prominence.The sad thing is we did not take advantage of our size and be among the most developed.I think the smaller the better,if we could only seize the advantage.
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kassma
334 Posts |
Posted - 06 Mar 2006 : 21:47:33
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quote:
Originally posted by medotech
I think the main opponents of union with Senegal will be the rulling elites who will feel their powers will be usurped.The idea is good but I dont think it will work.The time has passed and the opportunity had long been missed.
For now,I think the Gambia staying alone is better because it is more advantageous.We dont wanna be another Cassamance to suffer neglect and under-development from the central government.Infact,it is more easier to develop a small country like ours as opposed to a larger one where we will have competing regions vying for prominence.The sad thing is we did not take advantage of our size and be among the most developed.I think the smaller the better,if we could only seize the advantage.
hey thanks for the reply, i thought that the prominent government officials wouldn't want it but i don't know, i'm hoping that some of them would have enough pride and concern to put their selfish feelings aside ( i know i'm being naive). but what do you think of the current wave of immigrants from other parts of Africa. my aunty was telling me that 10 years ago, when she went to the market, she knew and recognized most people. but now, there are sooo many other people like nigerians and such. cause when people come to a new place, they do bring their own ideas and attitudes but in a place like africa, that can bring conflict. |
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taalibeh
Gambia
336 Posts |
Posted - 06 Mar 2006 : 23:05:02
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| However complicated it may be, there is nothing that is impossible. Where did Europe start? We must always be optimistic and develope love for one another and move on from there. I pray and hope that Africa unites some day. |
Taalibeh |
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medotech
42 Posts |
Posted - 06 Mar 2006 : 23:07:55
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| Its just a natural human nature i think to be suspecious with strangers.I think we should get passed that cos I dont see any problem with it cos I was leaving in another country too but we were able to get along fine.My father for example was a serahule who went to Sierra Leone and he lived there for over 30 yrs and never had any problems.There were more Gambians in Sierra Leone during the 70s and 80s than anywhere in the world predominantly serahule and mandinka and they will tell you how they were treated. so I will expect us in Gambia to be able to deal with that and accept other people and their differences.I know there are a lot of Nigerians,Sierra Leoneans in Gambia now but thats how the world is now and this is the case in all open societies.Although there will be some ills,this is infact good for the country because they are contributing to the development of the country.Such is the way of globalisation,the world is getting smaller and smaller and people are migrating everywhere. |
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kassma
334 Posts |
Posted - 07 Mar 2006 : 02:07:04
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Taalibeh, i'm with you, i think a little bit of positivity goes a long way. we all know Africa has issues (noone is that blind or naive to think otherwise) but i think if more of Africa's children were optimistic and passionate about africa, well, our situation would not be so bad.
medotech, you're right. actually my maternal grandparents are from Guinea Bissau, they're Manjaku. i don't like to discriminate but i have to admit that i always have nigerians on my radar simply because i have soo many nigerian friends who tell me things about nigeria that simply scare me. that is the main reason why i'm so concerned. as a child in Gambia, i was able to do everything without supervision and i would hate for Gambia to turn into a place where kids would not be roaming everywhere having fun being kids. i think Gambia, if we don't have anything, when i was back at home anyways, 10 years ago, we have peace of mind and safety. |
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medotech
42 Posts |
Posted - 07 Mar 2006 : 03:53:20
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| we should be careful not to be stereotypical here cos tha will be a dangerous precident especially in a global oriented world now.There are so many influences in the world now that we just cant remaine the same as we were 10 years ago.Times do and always change and they come with both their benefits and ills.I know its a very common practice in Gambia to blame anything terrible that happens on foreigners.Im not saying they are angels but we should try to look at the big picture and not encourage xenophobia wether knowingly or unknowingly.We have seen how dangerous and divisive this could be,a perfect example now is the ivory coast.I know majority of us Gambians (99%) are accomodating and love other peoples and diversity in cultures which is the way of the world now. |
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