Black ramblings...

I went to a Pioneers of Change networking event last night with Monika. First Monika anad I met up for drinks and a pizza and just talked about a variety of topics from reminiscing to our AI days and the role/influence of women in the team to the team reunion happening in Malaysia in April.

Arghhhhhh...I wish I could make that but sadly can't afford a holiday of that scale at the moment...Not with being out of work for 4 months, just starting Uni (blog about that later) and my saving for a trip to Naija later in the year...

Anyways, back to the Pioneers of Change event, it was really kool. Was good to see so many people doing so many amazing things and seeing all the connections and overlaps to what I am doing in my current job and what I plan to do through Africa++ and beyond...

It was also good to meet a number of white Africans. Now, I'm not prejudiced or anything but I'm from the old school that sees Africa as black. Not that I do not accept white Africans... no...it's just that the reality takes getting used to. I know I shouldn't feel this way having lived in South Africa...or maybe I feel that way because I lived in South Africa. And also because Nigeria where I grew up does not have the concept of the white Nigerian.

Perhaps it's the influence of reading a lot of Steven Biko in the last couple of days. While I'd not accuse him of being racist (some can), I'll attribute it to his writing inducing a lot of the Black Consciousness feeling out of me. And I admit the more his words make me feel proud to be black and appreciate the unique competencies of the black man, it also re-emphasises the stark differences that exists between the white man and the back man more than just in physical appearances but in world view (generalisation???). More so in the context of the South African society during apartheid era.

The thing about reading about Black Consciousness in the context of apartheid South Africa in the 60s and 70s is that it makes you realise that lot of the realities then are still in existent today albeit in more white-washed forms. Blacks and ethnic minorities are still the dark poor underbellies of European societies. There are still more white men in US jails than any other ethnic group. And institutionalised racism and unacknowledged racial prejudice still limit the attainment potential of black folk wherever they are.

But even worse, black people have inherited psychological baggage, think themselves scum of the earth and treat their fellow blacks the way they feel about themselves - shabbily. That explains Africa's corrupt leaders who care not about wasting the lives of their poor citizens to enrich their own pockets.

But does this all depress me and does this stop me from reading more Steven Biko. NOT IN THE LEAST. All it gives me is hope because we are at our lowest point. From here, it can only get better and I wish to play my own part in creating and being the change I want to see. I also, will continue to consult the wise words of my lecturer on Black Consciousness and The Way Forward, "Professor" Bantu Steve Biko.

His book "I write what I like" a collection of his writings, is still officially top of my personal bestseller list, 3 years after my good friends Bende Mark and Ellinoora Vesala gave it to me as a parting gift when I left South Africa.

I hope I can work in the stead of this great African to bring some of the needed change to African continent all in the spirit of self-reliance. For truly, only Africans have the solution to redress the continent's rot.

To end this post, I will quote one of my personally favourite lines from Prof Biko...

"We believe that in the long run the special contribution to the world by Africa will be in this field of human relationship. The great powers of the world may have done wonders in giving the world an industrial and military look, but the great gift still has to come from Africa - giving the world a more human face."

WORD!!!