The Nexus And Plexus of Africa's Backwardness

Angelina K. Morrison

Africa's backwardness is the West's gain.

Our inferiority complex presents an exploitative stock. To the continent's loss, from time immemorial till date, the mining process of such capital continues unabated. Sadly, the West is beholding a new rising force with an equally subtle and noisome quest to rush and grab the resources of the continent.

I keep asking myself: What is wrong with being black? Truth is, the global media continues to portray blacks as being inferior; and rather unfortunately, we have lived up that description.

While the issues that gave rise to our slavery are many, and we may today throw our hands in despair at such barbaric acts carried out; we equally have a duty to realise that it is this same inferiority complex, very much deep-seated in the psyche of our people that in no less contributed to the expansive scale to which we were subjected to those tortuous acts.

There is no doubt that we are still feeling the effects of our gloomiest epoch. However, we continue to encourage the pillaging of the resources of the continent. Now, when would we have a rethink and realise we are created in the image of God with similar rights and attributes, and that we can fend for ourselves? A vast continent like ours with all the resources at our disposal cannot maintain itself? Such levity of enormous proportions.

But no, we have swallowed the paralysing lies of our detractors, and we will continue to ingest such nocent garbage. After all, when a people have an inferiority complex, manipulation is not far-fetched. Watch our leaders around those across the shores, and at times, their mawkish behaviour is almost sickening. What? What is wrong with our mind; what dark froth fills our cerebrums?

We camp at airports to receive so-called dignitaries. Yes, we dance and celebrate because people of fairer complexions are touching our dusty lands. It is almost shocking. Go to Heathrow or JFK and see who comes to meet you.

I shall stick my head above the parapet and declare that at the very heart of what has become a nexus between us and our backwardness as a people is our inferiority complex. It has been our bane and continues to be so. As a corollary, this same factor is what has given rise to our plexus of issues. Unsurprisingly, the world continues to see us as a people laden with insoluble problems.

However, a resolute truth, I subscribe to is that Africa has the solution for every one of her manifold problems—it is the untapped resources of its people. What may seem as dusky people without potential are the very people who can solve the seemingly insuperable challenges that we face. But would we believe in our own ability or continue to believe our portrayal as second-rate people? Would we ever come to a point where we drop our unquenchable thirst for aid and start harnessing and leveraging our own resources to solve our multitudinous issues?

Perhaps the opinion expressed here may light a candle of hope in the readers from this continent. Yes, a mere flicker of belief that says that we are equipped with the same talents and potentials to be able to achieve the development we very much desire.

And, if some may decide to spurt out their susurrations that our backwardness is not our choice, and that, it is an imposition, then my ample response to such people is: What should we do? Use our voices in wanton oration and fruitless effort in calling for recognition of our people and our place? Continue mourning our loss and the heinous crimes perpetrated in plundering our resources? Or, perhaps we should rise up from the ash-strewn alleys of our certain stupor and defeat, dust ourselves off, and prime ourselves for a yet more glorious flight—the very type that our detractors will pooh-pooh and label as infeasible?

The dawn of change has broken upon this continent. And if each African can defenestrate thoughts of inferiority from their mind, and actively seek to disprove the fallacious perceptions of those who stole from us—and today turn around and label us with revolting obscenities—then we shall surely see accelerated development right here on our shores.

But if we continue to gulp down the subtle lies that the African is incapable of solving his/her own issues; we would only swell in our inferiority complex, and thereby swing open our doors to yet more plunder. In such vein, we will never be seen and treated as equals. At best, it would be a diplomatic tag—titular in every sense without corresponding action of practical value. And our backwardness as a people will continue to deepen.

However, I shall invoke my sense of optimism and asseverate that once we fix what lies at the very core of our backwardness—in this case, our inferiority complex—our future may yet be brighter. But knowing the layers of conditioning that has so far been successful in its inimical influences, and the effects of disrupting the status quo, I shall wait with bated breath and hope for the best.

Angelina K. Morrison