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Inside The Colonized Minds Of Ghanaians

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 Source: The Royal Enoch

On the 6th of march, 1957, Dr kwame Nkrumah stood in front of a multitude of his fellow country men and women. He then, declared Ghana a free country. Many years later, both historians and scholars have studied this independent proclamation. According to these scholars and historians, the word, free--shouldn't have been used. Better yet, they argue that the usage of the word, free--was inappropriate. Anyway, since the present is the golden child of both the past and the future, let me share with you a brief history of our country. The 15th century saw the arrival of the Portuguese on our shores--the Dutch joined them in 1598. The European invasion, as some might call it, was completed in the 17th century--when the English were joined by the Danes, and the Swedes. The latter part of the 19th century saw the Dutch--together with English "traders" remaining. The Dutch withdrew in 1874. After this withdraw--Ghana became a British protectorate.

Our beloved country got its name from the old Ghana empire. This empire extended throughout the western part of Africa between the year 790-1076. This kingdom, we have been told, collaborated with several King and Queendoms on the African continent to form a trade union. The intent of this Union was to boost the various economies within the Union. Not only that--but also to prevent wars. Mind you, the African continent wasn't a stranger to wars. By the way, the name, Ghana--means the warrior King. Now, something very important happened, when the British officially took over the administration of our country. The reign of the colony, as fate designed it, began. The British colonial rule, which calendared between 1874-1957, didn't only redefined and question our competence as human beings, it also excluded us from the possibility of participating in the very governance of our own country--our very own sovereignty. Thus, setting an exemplary foundation for all the dictators, who would emerge on our nation's political scene at a later date.

You see, the colonial rule wasn't democratic. It didn't entertain the notion of voting for, or against anyone in particular. Simply because; it was more or less, or altogether a form of dictatorship in and of itself. Mind you, inclusive participation in governance would’ve catapulted our country to great heights. Democracy, in its true essence, would have flourished--leaving no room for coups d'etat. Psychologists have always known the relation between the verbal and the non-verbal components. They have studied how these two components interact with each other in our subconscious. Also, how these two components ultimately define our physical well-being and conditions---either on a positive, negative, or in every sense. The Jewish mysticism of Kabbalah has it that the physical world is a projection of the I. The I meaning, the ultimate mind of the universe. So, guess what? To colonize the mind is to distort the mental projection of the mind. The projection meaning, the mirror image of the very person who is being colonized. When this happens, clarity becomes confusion. Thus, leaving one's previous state of confidence and assurance for uncertainty, doubt, and fear. This is also a situation when one looks in the mirror--only to see a false, or a distorted image of oneself. The genesis of an inferiority complex syndrome.

The word “colonize” in the English dictionary means;

1. To transplant

2. To bring under control or subjection; conquer

3. To cause to become subservient; subdue

4. To enslave

5. To resettle/reprogram

6. To influence

7. To Rewire

So, with the true meaning of the word, colonize--in sight; do we understand why 53 years after the British reprogrammed our minds, we are still very much under control and not ourselves? The failures of our economy, the mismanagement of our resources, and the various coups d'etat were and are all rooted in our colonial past. Still, the colonial traditions, ceremonies, and education system run our everyday affairs. It's as if the British left, but never really went. Also, if we are corrupt--then it's because the British, who had a hand in our upbringing, corrupted us with their corruption. In conclusion; Dr Nkrumah, I believe, should have refrained from using the word--free. Simply because; we were not free then, and we are not free now. Our minds have been tampered with--our perceptions have been tainted. We are a people, whose rhythmic process of thinking has been defocused. As a result, we are not ourselves--even though we think that we are. The German psychologist and philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche wrote: "When the doors of our perception are cleansed, we would see things as they are as opposed to what they are not."

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Source:

The Royal Enoch

Columnist: The Royal Enoch