Let us Africans do the talking

I found an article via Linkfilter, authored by an African who takes issue with the recent Live 8 concerts.

"We have nothing against those who this month, in a stadium, a street, a park, in Berlin, London, Moscow, Philadelphia, gathered crowds and played guitar and talked about global poverty and aid for Africa. But we are troubled to think that they are so misguided about what Africa's real problem is, and dismayed by their willingness to propose solutions on our behalf.

We Africans know what the problem is, and no one else should speak in our name. Africa has men of letters and science, great thinkers and stifled geniuses who at the risk of torture rise up to declare the truth and demand liberty.

Don't insult Africa, this continent so rich yet so badly led. Instead, insult its leaders, who have ruined everything. Our anger is all the greater because despite all the presidents for life, despite all the evidence of genocide, we didn't hear anyone at Live 8 raise a cry for democracy in Africa."

I tend to agree with that. It's been pretty obvious for decades what the problems have been, but we usually only hear about the drouts, famines, plagues and civil wars of just a few of that huge continents countries. Never mind the devastation left behind after the colonial era, that left ruined social, economic and political infrastructures in its' wake, the problem today is freedom. They don't have any, and won't, as long as more powerful countries continue to support their corrupt leaders. Sending them a little food isn't going to solve anything.

"But the truth is that it was not for us, for Africa, that the musicians at Live 8 were singing; it was to amuse the crowds and to clear their own consciences, and whether they realized it or not, to reinforce dictatorships.

They still believe us to be like children that they must save, as if we don't realize ourselves what the source of our problems is."