Colonialism is the Same Anywhere, No Matter its Many Disguises
By Elder Siahyonkron J. K. Nyanseor, Sr.
|
I am not one who glorifies African’s past just to make myself feel good about Africa’s history. As a well-informed person, I am compelled by the empirical evidence to report the positive as well as the negative attributes about Africa. But what I dislike is the practice or belief that whatever Europeans/Americans did to Africans and Native Americans are considered as right because it originated from Europe, and it is -- the “White Man’s burden” or his “Manifest Destiny” sanctioned by GOD. This is the belief that Europeans and Arabs have propagated for centuries for which they described AFRICA as the DARK CONTINENT that needs LIGHT (their civilization); when the fact of the matter is, they are ones who STOLE from AFRICA almost everything they possessed as theirs. A thief will always be a thief no matter how much they are REHABILITATED! (Photo, Coil, Scene – The Congo “Free” State – PUNCH, or The London Charivari – Nov. 28, 1906)
Motsoko Pheko reminds us that “The effects of colonialism past and present are visible all over Africa. It is not an overstatement when Edem Kodjo, author of ‘Africa Tomorrow’ describes the condition of African as “torn away from his past, propelled into a universe fashioned from outside that suppresses his values, and dumbfounded by a cultural invasion that marginalizes him. The African,... is today the deformed image of others.” (‘Effects of colonialism on Africa's past and present’ by Motsoko Pheko - Soweto, 26 May 2012)
Also, there is a book called King Leopold’s Ghost, you should read. It is a very accurate account of colonization in the Belgian Congo, which is where Conrad’s novel was based.
Based on this empirical evidence; I honestly believe Liberians who are supporting the passage of the law to grant Liberian citizenship to whites are having historical amnesia (memory lapse). The evidence shows that since Africans came in contact with Europeans and Arabs, it has always been about their interests, not ours; be it religion, politics or economics. The world revolves around their interests, not ours! A classic example is the observation made by Jomo Kenyatta and others. According to Kenyatta:
“When the missionaries arrived, the Africans had the land and the Missionaries had the Bible. They taught [us] how to pray with our eyes closed. When we opened them, they had the land and we had the Bible.”
From this point on, the continent and its people became GAME for powerful European nations; the Arabs too exploited the Africans in many ways.
Recognizing the enormous benefits accrued from the GAME by France, England, Belgium, Italy, and Germany; the United States too got its share. According to historian John Hope Franklin:
“The United States observed with interest the increased imperialistic activities of France and England and of newcomers in the field, Belgium, Italy, and Germany.
David Livingstone, Cecil Rhodes, and Henry M. Stanley dramatized the importance of Africa to an industrialized world, while Leopold of Belgium, Wilhelm of Germany, and Victoria of England became the political agents in whose names the Dark Continent was divided. In the winter of 1844-1885, an international conference was held at Belin to discuss the question of Africa. The great basin of Congo was given to Leopold of Belgium, and the conference paved the way for the acquisition of East Africa, Southwest Africa, Togoland, and Kamerun [present day Cameroon] by Germany, a vast expanse of land from the Cape to Cairo by England, and a considerable portion of West Africa by France. By the end of the century, Africa was effectively divided among the great powers of Europe.” (Franklin, John Hope & Moss, Jr., Alfred A. From Slavery to Freedom, pp. 265-266)
After the slicing of Africa on February 26, 1885 by European imperialists into “Portuguese Africa”, “British Africa”, “German Africa”, “Italian Africa,” “Spanish Africa”, “French Africa” and “Belgian Africa.,” there was no Africa left for Africans except Ethiopia and Liberia – this too is questionable! The land they possessed became a reservoir of cheap and forced labor.
According to President Kwame Nkrumah, “If Africa’s resources were used in her own development they would place Africa among the most modernised continents of the world. But Africa’s wealth is used for the development of overseas interests.”
This brings to mind what John Henrik Clarke said about the role of history in our lives.
According to him:
History is the clock that people use to tell their political and cultural time of day. It is also a compass that people use to find themselves on the map of human geography…history tells a people where they have been and what they have been, where they are and what they are. Most importantly, an understanding of history tells a people where they still must go and what they still must be.
|
This same sentiment was also expressed by Mzee Jomo Kenyatta of Kenya:
“God said this is our land, land in which we flourish as people…we want our cattle to get fat on our land so that our children grow up in prosperity, and we do not want the fat removed to feed others.”
In their colonizing mission of Africa, Missionaries chose to interpret God’s words on behalf of Him. For example, why is Africa called the Dark Continent? Why do we continue to use labels others ascribed to us? What was the purpose of the founders of Liberia College that later became the University of Liberia to have since maintained a racist motto?: “Lux in Tenebris” (Light in Darkness). Why are we still using definitions and names others ascribed to us? No wonder we are referred to as Stupid and “Shit Hole People;” a cultural racism perpetuated by the missionaries and their colonial counterpart.
This belief leaves me to wonder we why Black folks glorify and celebrate Europeans/Americans who do us great harm than good! The so-called “Great Emancipator” President Abraham Lincoln who President George Manneh Weah quoted in his inaugural address “the government of the people, by the people and for the people” (Gettysburg Address) is a classic example to cite here.
Check out old Abe Lincoln’s statement below:
"I have no purpose to introduce political and social equality between the white and black races. There is a physical difference between the two, which, in my judgment, will probably forever forbid their living together upon the footing of perfect equality; and inasmuch as it becomes a necessity that there must be a difference, I ... am in favor of the race to which I belong having the superior position."
He added, “My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave, I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves, I would do it; and if I could do it by freeing some and leaving others alone, I would also do that."
Isn’t that sounds racist? Here is where white supremacists today got their marching orders. Black people ‘wake up and smell the coffee’!
The following quote by the so-called “Great Emancipator” will blow your mind:
"Your race suffers greatly, many of them by living among us, while ours suffers from your presence. If this is admitted, it affords a reason why we should be separated." (Franklin & Moss, From Slavery to Freedom)
President Lincoln’s reason for fighting the South did NOT lie with abolishing slavery, but to save the Union. Even though Lincoln died in April of 1865, the Thirteenth Amendment which abolished slavery was not instituted until eight months later, nearly three years from his "slave freeing" Emancipation Proclamation.
I believe all human beings are supposed to be guarded by universal principles first, and then laws are enacted by civil society to protect their individual and collective interests; and for us to live according to these laws. Yet, by the manipulation of powerful people either through force or bribery (criminal means), people of color are politically and economically enslaved in their own country.
Common Sense
Past experience and history should influence the decision a person makes; by this I mean, we cannot change the past, but based on the experiences of the past, we can influence the decision we make in the future. Common sense should tell a normal person that when you are at the disadvantage, you do not give rights or privileges to those with resources and power to take advantage of you. It is as plain and simple! One does not need book knowledge to know this fact of life.
This brings me to the main point of my article. To bring about CHANGE, we must be the change agent we wish to see in our country for the benefit of our people; and NOT for the benefit of strangers.
In the history of the human race, LAND is like a palaver that has no END in sight. A glaring example of land dispute is the current warfare between the Israelis and the Palestinians in the Middle East. Is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict a purely land issue? I hasten to say “No” because it is well documented in history that the conflict has religious, political and physiological undertones. And the same is true with the ongoing conflict in Liberia. The conflict in Liberia today has less to do with land ownership, but more to do with the system of domination that appropriated the nation’s wealth and resources, social, economic, cultural and political privileges to Liberian pioneers and their offspring, while subjecting the majority of African Liberians and their offspring to abject poverty and slave labor. President Weah seems not to understand this historical reality!
In his Inaugural address on Monday, January 29, 2018, he stated that the great objective of forming these colonies was to provide a home for the dispersed and oppressed children of Africa, and to regenerate and enlighten this benighted continent, none but persons of color shall be admitted to citizenship in this Republic. (Highlighted is European euphemism)
According to President Weah:
“I am of the view that these threats no longer exist, and that these conditions have changed."
"In these circumstances, it is my view that keeping such a clause in our constitution is unnecessary, racist, and inappropriate for the place that Liberia occupies today in the comity of nations.”
President Weah argued that the law contradicts the very definition of Liberia, which is derived from the Latin word “liber,” meaning “Liberty.”
“I believe that we should have nothing to fear from people of any other race becoming citizens of Liberia, once they conform to the requirements of our Immigration and Naturalization Laws, as may be appropriately amended to address this new situation.
“In fact, we have everything to gain."
"If we look in our region amongst the other member states of ECOWAS, especially our neighbors in La Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, it will soon be observed that permitting people of other races to become citizens has not marginalized their indigenes.
“I believe that this is an anomaly that should not have found its way into the 1986 Constitution [Chapter 4, Article 27]. I therefore strongly recommend and propose, respectfully, that consideration should be given to removing it by appropriate measures provided for in our laws for amending the Constitution [Chapter 12].”
Due to what the President has proposed, I join the chorus of Liberians who are opposed to granting Liberian citizenship to ‘non-negroes’, especially, whites due to the Bitter experience we have had in our dealings with them. Also, I am in agreement with the points Front Page Africa’s Editorial of January 30, 2018, titled: “Citizenship is Not the Real Issue, President Weah its Governance.” This Editorial was specifically addressed to the President.
President Weah, please listen to the people on the ground and those of us in the Diaspora. Even though we are in the Diaspora and are not in Liberia, Liberia is in us. Let me use myself as an example; you don’t know me, but for the greater part of my life (close to fifty years) I have been advocating for the greater good of the people of Liberia. As the current President of my native land, I don’t want you to fail. Therefore, as a proud and patriotic son of Liberia, I have every right to see to it that we succeed. It is that simple! For example, if you failed it will affect all of us; because as we say in Liberia, “The country is for all of we!”
Mr. President, Colonialism is the same anywhere, whether it is perpetrated by White or Black people; to them, the means justify the end. We in Liberia had our share of the Settlers’ Black Colonialism. Many Liberians will be quick to deny it; but by definition, it is the FACT. The system of the Settlers’ Black Colonialism was introduced to present-day Liberia by those the American system REJECTED, yet they came to Africa – instituted that which was done to them replicated upon the natives “The Love of Liberty” met there. Like in all settlers’ colony, the PALAVA is about LAND!
The Front Page Africa’s Editorial sums it up correctly, therefore, I beg to cite it here as a reminder to every Liberia:
AS HISTORY REMINDS US, citizenship was never an issue when President Tubman launched his Open Door Policy and the impact thereof saw droves of Foreign Direct Investments, including LAMCO and others into the country.
SUCH WERE THE HEYDAYS and pinnacle of the Liberian economy when its GDP was second to Japan in the world but in reality, amounted to nothing but growth which lacked development.
ALL THE MONEY WHICH flowed in the country and the opportunity to become the best country on the continent in terms of education and infrastructure development were lost on our leaders as they were either smoking cigars at high parties with top hats and tail coats…
LIBERIA’S PROBLEM APPEARS to be a lack of a nationalist political class that would place the country’s interests well above narrow partisan and selfish interests.
IN WHOSE INTEREST DO WE intend to open the floodgate of our citizenship to? Those who have hoodwinked our government and have strangulated us in our own economy for years why it is looked by idly?
IT IS EASY TO COMPARE the citizenship issue to Ghana but that nation has laws and the implementation thereof which protect its citizens from all sort of dominance by foreigner, INCLUDING Africans.
MR. PRESIDENT, AFTER 170 years of independence, the issues which have befallen this country has never been about citizenship but governance.
GOVERNANCE WHICH YOUR predecessor failed to provide especially as it relates to the issue of corruption which was rampant and could not be stamped out by her.
LET’S GIVE CITIZEN TO those Liberians who lost it due to reason beyond their control but let’s put a cap on the political aspect because of split loyalties.
To the Editorial Staff of FrontPage Africa, I give ‘plenty thanks’ for making the case!
Let’s Avoid Charlie Gbugur’s Mindset
It is hard to fathom for some individuals among us who have studied the history of European and Arabian exploitation of us and our resources to think of making them citizens of our country. Nothing has changed; their main goal and objective are to exploit us and our resources. We should not be “Charlie Gbugurs!” Charlie Gbugur in Liberian parlance is anyone who is not only stupid but makes unsound decisions that eventually affect everyone. In this case, all of us should say Ahmenweh! It should be resisted by every conscientious and patriotic Liberian.
As Liberians, our efforts must be to increase awareness (amongst Liberians and the international community) of the deplorable conditions that the Liberian people are in, and for us to become prepared and “committed” along with friends of Liberia to emancipate our country from this backwardness. It is not going to be easy, because “Regime Change” and “Collateral Damage” are still options available to the people who are exploiting us and our resources through bribery and corrupt schemes.
“Regime change” and “Collateral Damage” are the new names coined by imperialists to continue with colonialism in its new form. The political situation in “post independent” Africa demonstrates that any true leaders, who the imperialists perceive as a threat to their economic interests, are targeted through these aggressive campaigns. Victims of these methods are: Kwame Nkrumah, Patrice Lumumba, Chief Moshodi Abiola, Captain Thomas Sankara and recently Maummar Gaddafi.
For that matter, let it be said in a similar manner like how Prophet Hosea reminded the Israelites in 735 B.C. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” We in the Diaspora are letting you know not to fall the scheme that “We are in the 21st century, therefore, we must adapt with the time. My question is, at whose expense?
All of us should let President Weah know of our OPPOSITION on the issue of selling our LAND to foreigners.
Those who will benefit from the idea of making our children and grandchildren LANDLESS in their own country will consider our opposition to the government as NOT being in line with the so-called 21st century because of our resolve NOT to be cheerleaders to their unprogressive way of thinking.
Conclusion
The truth of the matter is that throughout history the existence of the human society, the land has been a community property. According to Dr. Nya Kwiawon Taryor, Sr., land did not only provide “a home for the people, but it was also the source from which they got those things necessary for the satisfaction of their needs. The land itself was never the property of one person. Ownership of land was always in the hands of the village community, as a whole, which divided it among the various households as required (Taryor, Sr., Justice, Justice, p. 30).
Leading thinkers like Adam Smith, Karl Marx, and Henry George of the 18th-century believed, “land is the source of all wealth,” LAND was considered a community property and a key mainstay of African Liberians’ culture and religious practices until the arrival of the Settlers in 1822, who under the so-called Treaty of Mesurado imposed the concept (European) of land ownership on the Africans.
Reeve made a similar point in his book titled: The Black Republic:
“From an ethical point of view, acquisition in Africa of lands of the Africans is based upon similar false titles; and in this direction the Liberian (meaning a settler), excepting for the fact that he has not improved the conditions of the native races, or brought any benefits in the train of Conquest, is no worse than his white neighbor; but what they both construed into a title to land by treaty is merely a right to occupy during the pleasure of the Chief and his people.” (Reeve, The Black Republic, pp. 44-46. Similar accounts are given in Liberia: Description, History, and Problems, by Frederick Starr, Chicago, 1913)
Today, many of the legacies of the past that continue to plague Liberia mirror those of the European contact with Africa. For example, the missionaries' approach to the indigenous Africans' way of life was negative. The African was regarded as a child. He must be nurtured and guided through a process of slow and carefully controlled growth toward a time in the dim future when he would be ready to look after himself (Impact of the African Tradition on African Christianity, 1984).
In short, Westerners are taught to believe that it is their birthright to impose their cultural hegemony to civilize, no matter how brutal and uncivilized the process is. They saw to it that their stooges (imposed leaders) continued the abuse from where their masters left out. Today, this relationship is sustained through monetary and material support.
We can’t always accommodate those whose intention is to oppress us! In a world of selfish leadership, the inevitable future is that the strong will dominate the weak. In this 21st century, China is strong and gradually the Pacific Rim will dominate the world, so the only hope for Africa is for our leaders to wake up and realize the responsibility to the people as parents would to their children.
Recommendations
To the Liberian people and President Weah, I say our country has too many resources to be begging the international community like some OLD MAN BEGGER for hand-outs. If we plan right, by first cutting 15 to 20 percent out of the annual budget allotted for government employees’ salaries; traveling allowances from the budget, employ government officials based on qualification and integrity; cut other wasteful spending from the budget; then government will do better, and we will not be going from country to country begging for money to operate our country.
Let’s learn from the Tanzanian's President John Magufuli, whom his people affectionately called ‘Bulldozer’; like you, President Weah, he inherited a broke country; instead of asking government officials to voluntarily reduce their salaries and other matters, he made decisions which are within his power to solve some of the immediate problems like budgetary spending, unemployment, services provided by government, especially in the area of health, work ethics, the number of people that go on foreign trips, the environment, etc.
President Weah, our future is at stake; we must do something about it because if we don’t, nobody will do it for us. I often hear others say we must not disturb the 12 years of PEACE the Ellen administration brought us. The question we need to ask is, “What benefit can we show for these past 12 years when the Liberian people are still in worse shape prior to her administration?”
Gwe feh, Kpeh! (The struggle continues)
SOURCES
Franklin, John Hope & Moss, Jr., Alfred A. From Slavery to Freedom. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 1988.
Chamberlain, M.E. The Scramble for Africa. London: Longman Group Limited, 1974.
July, Robert W. A History of the African People (Second Edition). New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1974.
Gershoni, Yekutiel. Black Colonialism: The Americo-Liberian Scramble for the Hinterland. Boulder, Colo. & London: Westview Press, 1985.
McDaniel, Antonio. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot: The Mortality Cost of Colonizing Liberia in the Nineteenth Century. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1995.
Shick, Tom. Behold the Promised Land: A History of Afro-American Settler Society in Nineteenth-Century Liberia. Baltimore & London: John Hopkins University Press, 1984.
Staudenraus, P. J. The African Colonization Movement, 1816–1865, 1961. New York: Octagon Books, Columbia University Press, 1980.
Sundiata, I. K. Black Scandal: America and the Liberian Labor Crisis, 1929–36. Philadelphia: Institute for the Study of Human Issues, 1980.
Wiley, Bell I., ed. Slaves No More: Letters from Liberia, 1833 –1869, 1980. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1980.
Nyanseor, Siahyonkron. “The African Slave Trade: Driven by Racism, Greed and Economics, Parts I & II”
Nyanseor, Siahyonkron. “The Truman Doctrine: Europe Benefited While the Rest of the World Including Liberia Endured Hardship, Parts I & II” – The Perspective.org, August 27, 2007 &
Recommended Reading
Felix Greene, The Enemy: What Every American Should Know About Imperialism (1965).
Ralph Geeplay, “Commentary: Tubman, Tyrant in the Era of Prosperity”, LiberianForum.com, 2006.
Max, Dashu, “Racism History and Lies”, 2000.
Moses Geepu-Nah Tiepoh, “The Making of Disaster in Liberia: The Role of US Imperialism”, 1990.
Togba Nah Tipoteh, “The Hypocrisy of Western Democracy”: A statement by the Movement of Justice on Africa, MOJA-Liberia at UNESCO House, Paris, France – December 8 -10, 1988.
Victor D. Du Bois, “The Trial of Henry Fahnbulleh”, West Africa Series, Vol. XI No. 3 – Liberia, August 1968.
Nyanseor, Siahyonkron, “The Truman Doctrine And The AFRICOM Policy of Smell-No-Taste”, Published in ThePerspective.org, August 27, 2007.