Hi, there. On Walter Rodney's book, I have read the book, and it is very
interesting. Being an American, I can certainly see how the "West", as we
call it, can be to blame for many of Africa's problems. But it seems to me
that at some point, people, whereever they are from, need to take control of
their own lives and countries and to gain some level of self-sufficiency. I
usually try not to comment on such things because I don't want to give the
impression that I'm some know it all American or anything.
Suffice it to say that I think that in time Africa will be able to
solve thier problems, but as some have said on this list, it is going to
take competent leadership, and someone who is willing to help the people and
not themselves.
Ihad always thought that Africa's problems could be traced back to
colonialism and the slave trade. However, when someone on this list, and
forgive me, I don't remember who, mentioned that other colonized
conteninents such as Asia and South America have managed to pull themselves
out of their respective ruts, it kind of made me wonder, and start to
rethink my position. Although, sadly, I haven't read enough to really come
up with a different view. It is just that everything I had ever read or
heard had led me to believe that although Africans could be held partly
responsibile for their situation, as long as Europe and America, to some
extent, still maintianed control of the economy of Africa, than Africa could
never better themselves.
My thinking, at this point, is that Africa's woes are a combination of
bad leadership in African nations, bad management of funds, and Africa's
dependence on the west, and the west's control, whatever it may be, of
African means of production.
However, this is my feeling based on what little I know, and I could be
wrong. I hope I don't give the impression that I am passing judgment on
anyone. I have often thought that it could just as well have been America
in Africa's position and not the other way around.
Ginny
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mansour Ceesay" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, May 17, 2000 4:12 AM
Subject: Re: Hopeless Africa?
> Madiba,
> I think the article is a good one but I entire agree with
> the salient points that Buharry raised. Civilizations come
> and go. Some of the historians will recall the glorious
> days of African civilizations in great empires like Ghana
> and Mali but also some of the darkest days of Europe and
> America. Remember the 100 years war between England and
> France and the great American civil war?
>
> It looks as though the greatest problem of Africa is
> leadership. But remember that leaders are not created from
> the vacuum but they are products of their environment (at
> least to some extent). But there have been great African
> leaders in the form of Nkrumah, Lumumber, Biko, etc.. What
> did the West do with them?
>
> I do not want to blame the west entirely for our woes but
> they certainly cannot absolve themselves from it. May be you
> should read Walter Rodney's 'How Europe underdeveloped
> Africa'.
>
> I will send you a private e-mail later to tell you what I
> doing at the moment.
>
> Asalamu alaikum
> Mansour
>
> On Tue, 16 May 2000 17:36:28 -0700 "Dr. Madiba Saidy"
> <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> > Hi Buharry,
> >
> > Yes, the racist diatribe aside, the article is a frank (excellent to
> > some) analysis of Africa's problems. I hope Tombong forwards it to the
> > despot of Kanilai and "that woman".
> >
> > With best regards,
> >
> > Madiba.
> >
>
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> >
>
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>
> ----------------------
> Mansour Ceesay
> [log in to unmask]
>
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