Miss Jobarteh:
Are you by any chance insinuating Neo-Colonialism? If you are I suspect
that your sister's comments are not directed towards that, but rather
refers to a disgruntle mass that does not see the need to celebrate
independence due a shift in the country's social discourse.
I personally hold the belief that regardless of which regime is running the
affairs of the country, Independence Day should be celebrated.
Nevertheless you made a very clear and good observation.
You wrote:
When African countries attained political independence, or rather "flag
independence," they found themselves trapped in the existing capitalist
world economic order. Instead of disengagement from an exploitative system,
many African countries embarked on development strategies based on that
system, combining export promotion of primary products and
import-substitution industries largely dependent on western markets with
financial and technological inputs. While serving the interests of local
elites and western multinationals in the short-term, this approach widened
social and regional inequalities and bankrupted many African economies.
This mal- development is a prime source of Africa's indebtedness.
Best Regards,
lekbi
Ndey Jobarteh
<jobarteh_ndey@HOTMAIL To: [log in to unmask]
.COM> cc:
Sent by: The Gambia Subject: Re: The Myth of Independence
and related-issues
mailing list
<[log in to unmask]
JOHNS.EDU>
02/19/02 07:40 AM
Please respond to The
Gambia and
related-issues mailing
list
I did not even remember that it was independence day. All along i was
calling home, it was about the tobaski activities. It was this morning i
told my sister that, i did not remember independence day. The reply she
gave was "what independence", i thought she was trying to be funny. I
repeated "home independence". She repeated, "what independence, what is
there to celebrate"? She continued by saying, "you won't remember it
because it does not exist". This kept me quite for a while and i asked
myself, what is this myth about independence?
We all loved it during school days, when we have to buy new shoes,
uniforms, go to the hairdressers, attend the parade, compete with other
schools for the best performance etc etc. But we never asked the question
are we really independant?
While both western and African leaders regularly invoke the concepts of
interdependence, mutual interest and solidarity, the condition of the poor
in Africa continues to deteriorate.
Africa's underdevelopment and indebtedness both are historical phenomena.
After the partition of Africa in 1884, the colonial powers (Britain,
Germany, France and Belgium) turned the continent into a site for the
production of raw materials by exploiting cheap African labor. The raw
materials were very important for the industrial revolution of Europe. At
the same time, Africa became the dumping ground for European industrial
products.
When African countries attained political independence, or rather "flag
independence," they found themselves trapped in the existing capitalist
world economic order. Instead of disengagement from an exploitative system,
many African countries embarked on development strategies based on that
system, combining export promotion of primary products and
import-substitution industries largely dependent on western markets with
financial and technological inputs. While serving the interests of local
elites and western multinationals in the short-term, this approach widened
social and regional inequalities and bankrupted many African economies.
This mal- development is a prime source of Africa's indebtedness.
So i asked myself the same question my sister asked me.
The Struggle Cointinues!!!
Ndey Jobarteh
>From: malik kah
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Happy Independence Anniversary
>Date: Tue, 19 Feb 2002 07:26:30 +0000
>
>>From: malik kah
>>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
>>
>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>Subject: Re: Happy Independence Anniversary
>>Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2002 17:42:10 +0000
>>
>>Beran, I can understand the sentiment you trying to espouse, I wish
>>I could
>>sincerely reply and say happy independence day, but I am sorry I
>>can't for
>>obvious reasons. Instead of independence it is acute dependency and
>>Gambia
>>is sadly is not the exception.
>
>I hope there comes a time in the
>>future
>>when the African people can genuinely wish each other a happy
>>independence.
>>The meaning of independence then would be for real and not just the
>>flying
>>of flags and riding on a cascade of limousines queuing to to
>>welcome the
>>president
>>when conversly the national debt is spiralling beyond control.
>
>I
>>hope a
>>time comes when the true meaning of independence is inclusive and
>>not just
>>confined to dark suited, kaftan, folks with cigars.
>>
>
>Beran allow me not to spoil the spirit of the well intentioned wish
>>and say
>>happy DEPENDENCY DAY!!!!!!. I do not wish to be a kill joy have a
>>nice one.
>>
>>>From: Beran jeng
>>>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
>>>
>>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>>Subject: Happy Independence Anniversary
>>>Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2002 11:43:40 -0500
>>>
>>>G-L,
>>>
>>>I like to take this opportunity to wish all Gambians a happy
>>>independence
>>>anniversary particularly, the president and his government.
>>>I pray that progress,prosperity,and good governance continue to
>>>guide and
>>>hunt our dearest motherland for The Gambia our homeland we strive
>>>and work
>>>and play that all may live in unity.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>Beran
>>>
>>>_________________________________________________________________
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>>>
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>>
>>_________________________________________________________________
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