Makewetalknow

When the word “Africa” comes to mind, I think of a continent rich in diversity but struggling for unity. This is due to internal tribal divisions and external rivalries that cause us to prioritize supremacy over collective progress.

All over Africa, from east to west and north to south, the same story plays out: we are not united. We are repeating the past’s mistakes because we have not learned from it. Africans were made into strangers by colonialism, which ripped us apart. We keep going through this cycle because we don’t know enough about our shared history.

Throughout the post-colonial era, Africans were united by our collective resistance to colonial oppression, which fostered a strong sense of unity. We were all united in our pursuit of freedom, and the news of resistance in one country served as a source of inspiration for solidarity in another.

Even though we were still in the process of recovering from the repercussions of colonialism, our shared experiences fortified us and facilitated our bond of affection and friendship. Military takeovers of governments became common as a result of poor governance. This could have distracted us, but it instead made us more aware of each other because we all had the same problem: abuse of power.

At that time, not all African countries were free yet. We had to wait for South Africa to be free from the oppression of white Afrikaners when Nelson Mandela was in jail. We were all connected by Mandela’s dilemma, as his struggle became the struggle of every other African.

The era of resistance against apartheid in South Africa was a pivotal moment in African history. As black Africans united against the oppressive white supremacy government, they found strength in their shared struggle. This solidarity fostered unity, raised awareness about black South African culture, and sparked pan-Africanism across the continent, breaking down cultural and national barriers.

Fast-forward to today, and it’s disheartening to see that every African seems to be focused solely on their interests. Even within countries, people who should consider themselves brothers and sisters are at odds with each other. We’ve lost sight of our shared heritage, viewing one another as foreigners and neglecting each other’s cultures and values.

Ask young people from at least ten different African nations about African history before colonization. Most likely, the answers would be about popular culture, like Nollywood in Nigeria or marathon running in Kenya, instead of real events in history. This lack of knowledge is disheartening, as it underscores our ignorance of each other’s languages and histories and our disconnection from our shared past.

I had a close look at the African educational curriculum, and was dismayed to discover that African history has been largely excluded or marginalized. It’s ironic that subjects like French, English, and Religious Studies remain prominent, while the study of our rich and diverse history has been relegated to the periphery. Who is to blame for this, then? Is it the African leadership, the African people, or the western influence? The answer is all of us.

The money that African governments continue to receive from their colonial masters has led them to prioritize Western-focused subjects over studying African history and culture. This has caused African societies to adopt Western languages, cultures, and values, which has stifled their own knowledge and traditions.

This cultural forgetfulness is also our fault as a people. We have unintentionally helped to weaken our sense of identity as a group by adopting Western ideals and giving Western education priority. This has led to a significant cultural amnesia, in which numerous Africans have lost contact with their profound cultural heritage.

Let’s look at black people in South Africa. Due to this concerning phenomenon brought on by the present lack of historical knowledge, many of them still harbour hostility toward Nigerians and other Africans. Many of them are ignorant of the significant contributions that Nigeria and other African countries made to the fight against apartheid and the liberation of South African blacks.

Nigeria was an outspoken opponent of apartheid, giving the African National Congress (ANC) and other anti-apartheid organizations substantial financial and diplomatic support. General Olusegun Obasanjo, the military government of Nigeria at the time, was also instrumental in persuading the Organization of African Unity (OAU) to impose economic sanctions on South Africa in 1977. Perhaps if proper African history were taught in every South African school, it could potentially transform their perspective on Africans as a whole.

When trying to teach them about the important things that African countries did to help free South Africa, it becomes clear that a mind that is mentally slaved really does find it challenging to accept new facts. Ironically, many black South Africans remain complacent while white Afrikaners flourish and maintain their dominance in the same nation.

A disturbing fact is that white South Africans make a lot more money than black South Africans. The average annual salary for white South Africans is R487,000 ($34,000 USD), while the average annual salary for black South Africans is R138,000 ($9,500 USD). The country’s wealth distribution is also unequal. The 10 richest men are mostly white, with names like Johann Rupert ($7.4 billion), Nicky Oppenheimer ($6.5 billion), and Koos Bekker of Naspers ($2.5 billion). However, with the exception of Patrice Motsepe ($2.2 billion), Cyril Ramaphosa ($450 million), and Tokyo Sexwale ($200 million), very few black South Africans have attained comparable wealth.

This raises disturbing questions: How can a people ignore the root causes of their oppression and instead turn on others who had no role in it? I feel like this is a more advanced form of witchcraft. A deep disconnection from our shared histories is the cause of this anomaly. People frequently make the same mistakes they did yesterday when they are ignorant of their past.

Many South Africans continue to spread the myth that Nigerians are drug dealers and evildoers, despite the facts. So, now there’s another big question: Was South Africa ever free of crime before the Nigerians or other Africans came? Drugs were in high demand long before Nigerians arrived, and crime and lawlessness had already pervaded the townships.

The apartheid era’s ruthless, violent, and exploitative suppression has left a lasting legacy. It is impossible for a man to move on without learning about his past. It would be hugely helpful if African history was taught in schools, especially at primary level.

Think of the pride and solidarity that learning about our heritage would promote. Every African would possess a comprehensive understanding of our national history, which extends to the histories of Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Egypt, Ghana, and other nations. This would result in a solid alliance that would attract the attention of other continents.

We must do everything possible to teach our children and grandchildren about our beautiful royal heritage, focusing on our lines of royalty rather than just slavery. The dangerous Western ideology that has caused the worrying trend of African women bleaching their skin must also be rejected. This dangerous habit comes from the false idea that people with black skin are less desirable and less good.

Furthermore, it is imperative that we eliminate the oppressive belief that native languages are of inferior value to colonial languages such as English. We also have to protect the minds of people who will come after us. What is the future of the next generation if our current generation is already grappling with self-acceptance and identity?

Immediate action is advised for all African governments. Our educational system must undergo a complete overhaul, with the inclusion of African history and culture in the curriculum from kindergarten through university. This will give our young people a strong sense of who they are, pride, and self-worth, which will make Africa’s future better.

It is now time for us to embrace our shared heritage as the cradle of humanity and come together via knowledge. We can conquer cultural ignorance and regain our proper position in the world by admitting our actual past. To help future generations, we should act now.

Photo by James Wiseman on Unsplash