I feel HATE

Why do people want to kill me? Why must I have two hands to be appreciated? Why? my lady? Why are all these two legged people walking always staring at me? Must I be disgusted and laughed at by these small children who I have never met? Why does is look like I am a burden? Am I even human? I wish to bury my face under the surface of the earth, and die.

I remember a conversation I had with three of my friends in my room in high school. We spontaneously started talking about how we came to be where we are. Spontaneity led us to understand that one of my friends was supposed to be killed in his childhood.

Let us call him Kofi. He was born in Northern Ghana and during his birth, his mother died. A child born to this reality is believed to be a curse and hence he deserved to be killed before it brings troubles to the community. He was rejected by his father and he was left there alone to the mercy of the myth makers. He was rescued in the night by a sister who worshiped nearby. Now we are sitting here, such a man with a wonderful character deserving of death, absent.

Death is a crime in Ghana but not death from a cultural perspective until the past few weeks.

I remember the first time I met a man who fits partly the dictionary definition of a cripple. Tinges of fear rose in me and all these thoughts occupied my 5 year old mind. Then I disliked the man without even talking to him because he was, as my kindergarten teacher said, abnormal.

I was taught with a cane, occasionally, to repeat that a normal person had two feet, two hands and he/she walks with his legs. When he grows up he is independent from his parents and should get out of the house. There was never an “abnormal” person in my school only outside and I leaned to believe that we are inherently different from them.

Do you know why most of the “abnormal” people are thought to be detestable and dirty by our children and ourselves? It is because we are teaching them this and then go ahead to exercise it. We therefore end up giving ourselves an upward mobility and denying the so called abnormal school and other resources, it is logical. I feel hate.

I feel hate but I do not know who to direct it to. Must I go through all the hustle just to convince you that I am a human being. That I am capable of thinking, breathing, and being clean? Who are you anyway to judge? This language of hate should be crucified, pierced and laid in a heavily guarded tomb. In order for Africa to prosper we have to learn to appreciate each other and desist from discriminating against fellow humans. Rise up and talk about it, at least.

I do not intend to create a perfect world but a world where we are sane. I feel hate mostly because I feel the same about you too and that you made me feel this way.

Send in your stories on same subject at dkdkariuki3@gmail.com

by Dennis Kariuki 

- See more at: http://awakeafrica.org/archives/910#sthash.tt2LWRCR.dpuf

Rebirth: Poverty in the African Kingdom

Happy birthday. As we commemorate 50 years of the African Union we should also evaluate how we have survived in the years. It will be justified to be happy on this day if happiness is what we have sought for and achieved through the years. I know I might be wrong in my logic, but lets assume this logic is undisputed. An Africa independent, self functioning economically and politically is what they foresaw. Are we there yet after 50 years of an idea and a dream? Let us look at politics.

I am right in my conclusion that we are still running the politics of the 20th century, the politics of the 1980′s to be precise. It is not as beautiful as it sounds. The leadership has managed to drive us into the worst of economic positions since its installment.

Most of the leaders are still in power and are still holding onto it despite the undeniable fact of old age. These countries claim the brand democracy as part of their standing. I hate asking the wrong questions, so I am going to ask “How have they been able to stay in power for so long? Are they so loved that the people think these should be their leaders for over 40 years?” I hope to answer later.

Dambisa Moyo, a renowned Zambian economist said in her book Dead Aid that Africa is going to house 75% of the worlds poor in 2050 and we have doubled our poverty rates. She also explicitly sates that Africa was doing twice better economically in the 1980′s than what it is doing right now. She says that aid from the west is the problem to all this downfall.

I remember being told in a history class that in the 1980′s Kenya’s economy was, in our language today, an emerging super power. I agree with Moyo and as much as she blames aid I blame the leadership. This is not a blame game, however, it is all about the truth and so we shall be free.

The following list substantiates my claims;

1. Teodoro Obiang- President of Equatorial Guinea since 1979 to present(age 70)
2. Denis Sassou Nguesso – President of Congo from 1979-1992 again from 1997 to present (age 69)
3. Paul Biya – President of Cameroon since 1982 to present (age 80)
4. Jose Eduardo dos Santos – President of Angola since 1979 to present (age 70)
5. Blaise Compaore – President of Burkina Faso since 1987 to present (age 62)
6. Idriss Derby – President of Chad since 1990 to present ( age 61)
7. Robert Mugabe – President of Zimbabwe since 1987 to present (age 89)
8. Yoweri Museveni – President of Uganda since 1986 to present (age 69)

This is just a small list of a continent with over 45 nation states, the list is actually longer. I agree that different states have their own ways of ruling and have different interpretation of the rule of law and of democracy. I also implore you to look at this list in the light that I have not presented to you the economic outlook of the commanders of the listed countries.

The facts show that we are still playing by the same old rules in a world that is changing. Our leaders are worn out and those of the old, we need fresh blood to govern us into a future that they will be physically present in at least. The politics of the old are dirty, full of bad deals and there is the dire need for rebirth. We need to imbibe laws that govern our people better, eliminates poverty and makes each and every citizen prosper.

If this is out of our grasp we desire, at least, a happy birthday and many more to look forward to. In order for Africa to improve, we need to change the way we are governed.

by Dennis Kariuki

- See more at: http://awakeafrica.org/archives/593#sthash.4M6KrKtF.dpuf

Rejecting the Western narrative

The person or group of people who came up with this expression must have just said what we all wanted to hear. They nailed it. This group of words were neither rehearsed nor intended for the use that they have acquired. I do not dispute that words evolve and they change their shape and forms to mean things different from what their birth outlined. Some words, simply, cannot be compromised to pass through this little fate. Africans need to understand that there is nothing like a “Western Narrative”. This was just a quick formation of words that should remain so else be left out to disperse into the air.

It is important that we understand the the West can be likened to capitalism and this means that most of the things that they engage are for profit maximization. This means that all the stories that they post about the continent are just for their benefit.

They seek to define us in areas where they have market and then continuously repeat this concepts to the people so as to brace them to take their money away. We are that thing in between and if at all this protest should be for the west against the imprisonment of their minds.

International media does not represent the views of the majority. They want our attention and once they have acquired it, that is a possibility for making a profit. Silence is golden, too. This is lesson that the young African needs to learn. Nobody can make you feel inferior without your own approval.

What about the investors image about us? What about the money that could have improved our economy but the stories have dimmed this possibility? What about our children’s future? Will they get jobs?

I will answer a question at a time.

It is flawed to think that an investor first reads some newspaper stories in order to understand how he is going to make it in the country of interest. There is a shortage of this kind of ignorant entrepreneurs and that is the truth.

The reason why investors will be attracted to your country will be when you, friends and family work hard and elect sensible policy makers who will ensure the country is improving its economic outlook. Stories do not improve the economy and are not accountable for bad decisions made by investors. Misinformation on itself is not a crime but I am sure somewhere manipulation is outlawed.

The view that we ought to blame ourselves for the bad economic performance is in order. We have elected leaders that have corrupted us since they were elected but they are still in power. This will surely be an issue for scrutiny later. Let us seek profits too if it agrees with our cultures and morals else do the things that will better ourselves. Let us fight for our voices at the top of the table otherwise we will just be the old us, bogged down with questions thinking that there is a narrative that holds us captive.

It is fine for a western friend or acquaintance to be unaware that Africa is a continent made of many countries. It is fine. It is not appropriate to think that you are the only person in the world that desires the attention and is in the position that you need to understood by everyone. It is wrong to even harbor such thoughts even about an enemy. The fact is knowledge is infinite and there is a lot we do not know.

People expect of us to be more accepting and understanding. This should be coupled with hard work and positivity then we will invest in our own economies and our children will benefit. We are the makers of tomorrow, if there is to be one.

by Dennis Kariuki

- See more at: http://awakeafrica.org/archives/513#sthash.bmIZkemO.dpuf