"Xenophobia" in "South Africa", Really?

Mahatma Gandhi once said that the only language the poor people understand is bread and butter. He was right with this observation. Poverty limits people’s thinking and endurance and makes them susceptible to manipulation and misguidance. That is why the African continent remains colonized even today. We are peasants. Imperialists know this fact and use it to make us eat our people. They know that the only language we understand is bread and butter.
A few years ago, colonialists conquered our lands and stirred divisions among us. They separated relatives and friends. They created boundaries in a continent that people traversed with ease. That's why a Luo in Kenya calls himself a Kenyan while a Luo in Uganda calls himself a Ugandan. A Tutsi in Burundi calls himself Burundian, while a Tutsi in Rwanda calls himself Rwandese. There are Zulus and other similar tribes spread across southern Africa, yet they call themselves South Africans, Zambians, Zimbabweans, Malawians and much more. Unfortunately, the poor African man has “proudly” assumed the identity given to him by the white man. It makes him reject and even kill a fellow brother because he is poor.
A few years back, there were tribal clashes in Kenya after the elections. I remember having a conversation with a “Ugandan” friend. I told her that I was not Kenyan. All I know is that I am a Luo. She seemed surprised by that claim. She did understand what I was telling her by the end of our conversation. It was as simple as this, the nations we are “proud” to relate to are creations of the white men during their scramble and partition of Africa. We only owe our affiliations and loyalties to our tribes.
The Luo people spread throughout Ethiopia, Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Congo. Why did colonialists see it fit to divide this group into different countries? Divide and rule it is. A concept that the African man fails to grasp even today because of poverty.
Look at how the people of Hong Kong are embarrassing China. See how "South Africans" upset Africa—an African calling a fellow brother an alien. Poverty is the cause of all this madness. It has blinded them so they cannot see they are related to the Africans they chase away or kill. It would be understandable If a Kikuyu called a Kisii an alien (even though I do not support it). There are deep and credible foundations for being a Kikuyu or a Kisii. However, a South African driving a Nigerian out of the country is utterly incomprehensible. What is the foundation for the terms South African, Kenyan, Nigerian, Congolese, or Rwandese, besides the Berlin conference, identities that Africans proudly assume, yet they are not free in their so-called nations? Colonialists hold South Africa captive and drive "South Africans" to the edges of poverty, which makes them see true brothers as aliens.

Poverty is a dangerous thing. It has made "South Africans" lose hope of reclaiming their ancestral lands. Now, they have enmity with their brothers, who move to their "country" to fend for themselves. Colonialists left “South Africans” neither land to cultivate nor food to eat. When fellow Africans move next door and succeed in making ends meet in their oppressed "county," “South Africans” see them as the enemy.
Colonialists have even coined the term “alien” for “South Africans” when referring to fellow brothers. The imperial media call these heinous crimes against brothers “xenophobic attacks.”
The term “xenophobia” makes these atrocities appear light and almost insignificant. It drives further division among Africans by suggesting that a “South African” differs from a “Nigerian.” “Xenophobia” lightens this crime to a nearly normal and acceptable event. It makes these crimes appear like “South Africans” are fighting foreign invaders.
I wish “South Africans” could see and understand how brothers stood solidly with them during the apartheid. They would not dare lift a finger against a brother. But who can blame them for their myopia? Centuries of colonialism, apartheid, and imperialism can turn any sharp eye blind using poverty. Let's pray that they see.

Bye Bye, Comrade Mugabe

It is another dark day for the African continent. Another fallen hero. The last hero that we will ever see for years to come. The demise of President Mugabe reminds me of the painful losses we have suffered in the past. The death of President Ghaddafi. The end of President Sankara. The death of Patrice Lumumba. The demise of Kwame Nkurumah. True Pan-Africanists. True fighters for and liberators of their people. True defenders of the African continent. Visionaries. Legends. They were brought down by Western greed and capitalism. Tears roll down my eyes.
 
 We have seen leaders come and go. Nobody has been brave enough to solve the land question in Africa as Mugabe did. It is disheartening that the African remains colonized today in his own country. Look at South Africa. Look at Kenya. The descendants of colonialists are the significant owners of lands in these countries. Yet, praises of Mandela and Jomo Kenyatta are sung everywhere- leaders who lacked the steel needed to free the African man from western domination.
 
 Observing BBC, I am almost inclined to smash my TV to pieces. The level of name-bashing and propaganda against Mugabe is unimaginable. What moral authority does a colonialist have to speak about an African liberator? Our African liberator. They raped our lands and left them in a dilapidated state; they allocated our resources to their descendants, whom they bullied us into allowing to live freely in our countries. Yet they frustrate our brothers who live in their countries, honest, hardworking, and hopeful people who move to their countries to soil their hands and toil their lands to give them greatness. Yet, no dime of appreciation.
 
 The white race is the pure race; that is what they believe. They brand those who attempt to challenge this fallacy as despots, tyrants, autocrats, and much more. It is no surprise. That's the essence of capitalism-greed. It was expressed in the early days of Mugabes, Lumumbas, Machels, and Nyereres as colonialism and today as imperialism and neocolonialism. The savagery of white capitalism lies in its wild belief in survival of the fittest; the most inhumane notion or idea ever developed by man. That is why, for centuries, they have labelled Africans backward, weak, and unintelligent- just because we are humans. Just because our Mugabe, Ghaddafi, Kwame, Sankara, and Lumumba were human. They were leaders who stood with the African people after centuries of slavery and colonialism. We know them as heroes. We respect them. Our belief in our humanity and strength as African people cannot fade away, even if we are a few.
 
 They talk about economics. About the performance of Zimbabwe's economy under Mugabe. Is it Mugabe that placed economic sanctions on his country? Was it not bullies that tied down the growth of a vibrant nation under an energetic and focused Pan-African leader? After shamefully and illegally amassing wealth by exploiting our generous and kindhearted forefathers, they use it today to bully us through sanctions. They use it to instigate divisions and civil strife throughout the African continent. Who profits from the wars in Congo? Who profits from the violence in the oil-rich Niger Delta? Who profits from the wars in the greater Sudan? Who benefits from the "xenophobic" attacks in South Africa?


  No. You will not soil Mugabe's impeccable reputation. What moral standards do colonialists, imperialists, and economic terrorists have to discuss our Mugabe? Mugabe is impeccable. There is no man alive that does not sin. Whatever Mugabe's weaknesses were, he did much better and greater things for the African continent than any other leader today.
 
 I focus on the liberation of Zimbabwe from the shackles of our white colonial masters. Zimbabwe is the only African nation that is closer to ever-elusive freedom. I pray Mnangagwa remembers that. I chose to focus on the provision of Zimbabwe's land to the many landless Zimbabweans. I prefer to focus on the fight against neocolonialism and imperialism still gripping the African continent today. I focus on principles and ideals that show the African people can stand against white colonial bullies even in the face of sanctions and poverty. I choose to be proud to have lived in the time of one of the very few African legends.
 
 Rest in peace, comrade Mugabe.

Weep Not, Child: A Must Read

 

One of the most remarkable works of Prof. Ngugi Wa Thiong’o is the novel titled "Weep Not, Child." This novel traces the life of a young boy called Njoroge. The novel is set in colonial Kenya after the Second World War and a few years before Kenya's independence. Freedom fighters, especially from the Gikuyu tribe, have waged war against the colonial government. This novel depicts how innocent people, Njoroge being one of them, suffer from the endless struggle between the colonialists and the African freedom fighters. This article analyzes the themes present in “Weep Not, Child.”

Summary of the Plot

The novel begins when Njoroge, a very aspiring young boy, gets the opportunity to go to school. As young as he is, Njoroge is aware of his demanding environment. His father is a labourer at Mr Howland's farm. His brother Kamau is an apprentice at Ng'ang' a's carpentry workshop. Njoroge’s eldest brother-Boro is a disillusioned young man damaged by his involvement in the Second World War. Njoroge’s two other brothers are in Nairobi working for white men, probably as casual labourers. His family is squatting on Mr Jacobo’s land. Njoroge is aware of these dire circumstances of his family. His opportunity to get an education puts him at the forefront of saving his family from poverty facing it.

He starts school and works hard on his education. He performs well until he reaches high school. Unfortunately, his learning stops in the third term of his first year of high school. Their local community chief, Mr Jacobo, is murdered, and all the males of their family are accused of killing him. The police pick up Njoroge from school and take him to a concentration camp, where they torture him to reveal Jacobo’s murderer. Later, the police allow him to leave the camp. Njoroge reaches home and finds his father dying. His brother, Boro, now a freedom fighter and fugitive, also comes to see their father for the last time before he goes back to hiding. Boro is gravely affected by his father’s situation such that the next morning, he goes and kills Mr Howlands, the District Officer and the torturer of his father. Boro gets arrested and faces execution.

Since Njoroge can no longer attend school, he seeks work at an Indian shop. He gets fired due to his lack of interest in work and life. He is a young man who has seen his dreams shatter. He seeks comfort around Mwihaki, Jacobo’s daughter. She also rejects his idea of leaving Kenya and moving to Uganda. Njoroge considers this rejection a rejection of the love he and Mwihaki share. He contemplates committing suicide. However, when his two mothers call, he realizes he is wrong in trying to commit suicide. He is the only remaining man in his family. He should fulfil his duty of caring for his mothers and protecting them. He starts doing this by running ahead and opening the doors of their hats for them.

Themes

Disillusionment

Disillusionment pervades throughout this novel. The lives of several characters start with glimmers of hope that end in disillusionment. For example, we have Ngotho, Njoroge’s father. He labours on the farm of Mr Howlands. He loves working there because he knows the land is his and should take care of it. He believes that Mr Howland will leave and the land which belonged to his ancestors will be transferred to him. However, as time passes, this dream fades away, and a feeling of failure and sorrow grapples him. After attacking Jacobo in a rally, he loses his job at Howland's farm and gets kicked out of Jacobo’s land, where he lives with his family. These occurrences symbolize how Ngotho gets increasingly detached from his ancestral lands. He places a lot of expectations on Jomo, a Kenyan politician fighting for freedom, and thinks he is the “Black Moses” to lead them to salvation from the white colonial masters. Unfortunately, Jomo gets arrested, and his hopes of ever getting his ancestral lands back crash.

 The life of Ngotho gets worse. His son Boro considers him a coward for not fighting for his land. When Jacobo, the community chief, is murdered, Ngotho is arrested and tortured severely. He dies a poor man who had lost the ability to support his family, protect his children, and give them their ancestral land.

Another example of disillusionment is in the life of Mr Howland. He escapes England after World War I to come and settle in Africa, Kenya. He desires to be away from the politics of Britain that had left him a young man bruised by war with no employment. When he arrives in Kenya, he settles on Ngotho’s land, where he farms a lot. All is well until the Mau Mau Uprising forces him to leave his simple farming life and become a District Officer. This war forces him to send his wife and son back to Britain for safety, a place he had promised never to return. As a District Officer, he indulges in war and politics, which he resents, and abandons farming, which he loves. Mr Howland finds nothing fulfilling in his role as a District Officer. When he tortures Ngotho after the murder of Chief Jacobo, that incident leaves him with an uneasy and unpleasant feeling. He ends up dead without achieving his heart's desires.

Another prominent example of disillusionment is in Boro’s life. When Boro returns from the Second World War, the lack of employment and the loss of his brother Mwangi leads him into misery. He does not understand why they (Africans) had to be involved in the white man's war. Boro lost a brother and friends when fighting for nothing, only to be unrewarded by the ungrateful white man. He is always quiet and lost in his thoughts. Later, Boro joins the Uprising when Boro hears of the Mau Mau. Fighting is all he knows, and that is what he chooses to do. Boro goes to the forest to join the guerillas. When his second-in-command states they are fighting for freedom and their land, he laughs off those beliefs. Boro says that there is no freedom. There is only life and death. Either you kill, or you are killed. He also adds that he has lost many important people in his life such that even if they were to redeem their lands from the white man, such a victory would be of little value to him. The morning after his father's death, he indulges in a suicide mission to kill Mr Howland, the District Officer. He gets arrested by the home guards and is destined for execution. These incidences show how meaningless life was to Boro.

Lastly, Njoroge's life is the perfect example of disillusionment. As a young boy, Njoroge is full of hope. He sees himself as the saviour of his family, community, and even country Kenya. He hopes the Mau Mau Uprising will end soon and his country will be peaceful again. When he goes to secondary school, he sees his dreams taking shape. He even tells Mwihaki of his plans to study in Makerere after high school. Unfortunately, during his third term of high school, the police arrest him and transfer him to a concentration camp where they torture him for involvement in Jacobo's murder. A few days later, he witnesses his father's death. At this point, his brothers are either dead or arrested. When Njoroge seeks comfort from his childhood friend-Mwihaki, she chooses his mother over him. He feels beaten by life and has nothing to keep him going. He attempts suicide. Njoroge's life transforms from a very hopeful boy into a very hopeless young man. The author describes him later as an "old" young man to symbolize his high degree of hopelessness.

Christian faith and hope

The theme of Christian faith and hope are also common in the novel. Several characters in the book are Christians. They strongly believe that God will make things better in the coming days. For example, the Agikuyu community calls Jomo the "Black Moses" and compares itself to the Jews in Egypt. They believe that God sends Jomo to free them from the shackles of white men. Njoroge is also a firm believer in God. He prays every night before sleeping, hoping things will get better. When he attempts suicide, his mothers’ calls to rescue him. This rescue restores his faith in God, and better days are ahead. There is also Isaka, Njoroge’s primary school teacher. Even at the point of his death, he keeps calling the name “Jesus”, hoping that he will come and rescue him from these white soldiers who end up killing him. Additionally, there is Mwihaki. When she rejects Njoroge's proposal to flee to Uganda, she reminds him that they should believe in God; better days are ahead.

Opposition to Violence

The novel sends out a strong message that nothing good comes out of violence. The first instance of this message occurs when Ngotho attacks Jacobo on the podium. Ngotho ends up with an injured head, loses his job at Howland’s farm, and Jacobo kicks him out of his land. Since the rally turned violent, it failed in its purpose of pushing for better wages for Africans.

 Another instance of opposition to violence occurs when Jacobo has nightmares. According to Mwihaki, his father usually dreams that people are after his life. She believes that Jacobo has killed many people in his night patrol duties, so he has nightmares about people coming for his life. Jacobo receives threats twice due to his murderous activities against Africans. In the end, Kamau, Njoroge’s brother, kills him.

 Mr Howland’s violent lifestyle when he assumes the position of the District Officer also shows that violence is not good. He tortures Ngotho and his family, which leads to the death of Ngotho. The next morning, Boro kills him for killing his father, Ngotho. Boro is also arrested after killing Mr Howland, and he is destined for execution.

Moreover, the violence in the community makes both Ngotho and Mr Howland lose their families. Ngotho’s sons, except Njoroge, are either dead or arrested. On the other hand, Mr Howland’s family moves back to Britain.

Conclusion

“Weep Not, Child” is a thrilling encounter in Central Kenya following the Mau Mau Uprising. It shows how people not involved in the violence were innocently absorbed into it and punished for crimes they did not commit. Communities were at the mercy of the ruthless British troops, home guards, and determined freedom fighters. In the end, dreams were crushed, and hopelessness filled the air. Young women and men were reduced to merely living for the moment present or not desiring life at all.

Multiculturalism: A Necessity

 

As the world marks 100 years since the end of World War I, there are fears of the rising demand for monoculturalism in the US and Europe. People must remember that monoculturalism was a principal cause of the rampant wars raving Europe in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Most importantly, people have forgotten that monoculturalism was a primary cause of the first and second world wars.

Even today, the primary force behind the many global conflicts is monoculturalism, the inability to tolerate and respect other people and their different cultures. Fortunately, today, 11th November 2018, serves as a reminder that monoculturalism and a high-spirited nationalism are the critical ingredients for international wars, as they did over 100 years ago. Over 20 million people died in the first world war, virtually wiping out the young generations of that time.

Proposition for monoculturalism

 Proponents of monoculturalism argue that it is the only way to create peaceful coexistence in the world. They claim that people who share the same culture and heritage are more likely to live peacefully than people of different cultures.

This argument may be right. Observing the high crime levels in the metropolitan urban areas than the less diverse rural areas, one may believe this argument is valid.

However, the push for monoculturalism and limitation of diversity is a vanity venture. Humans are interdependent. Their communities and societies are interdependent. Nations are also interdependent.

Interdependence makes multiculturalism a necessity

 The interdependent nature of humans as individuals, communities, or societies makes creating and maintaining monocultural nations and societies impossible. The presence of international trade; the need to produce goods on a large scale; and the need to maximize profits make humans interdependent, which advances multiculturalism.

International trade and multiculturalism

International trade is the exchange of goods and services across national boundaries. Comparative advantage makes international trade a necessity. Since different nations have different resources, they must rely on one another to meet their needs. For example, much of the world relies on the Middle East to meet its energy needs. Similarly, the Middle East relies on the US and Europe for expatriates to work in their energy industry.

Now, during these exchanges of goods and services across national boundaries, merchants and experts must travel and live in different countries to make trade successful. Local economies need them to promote local businesses. These merchants also need to be treated well and feel welcome. Thus, local people need to accept and respect these foreign merchants and experts to enjoy the benefits of international trade that improves their living standards.

Production and multiculturalism

As mentioned earlier, countries need industry experts to produce quality goods and services to make them profitable. Many foreign expatriates work in the energy, building, and construction industries in the Middle East. These expatriates have helped the Middle East tap into their energy resources efficiently, which has made them rich.

The US carries out an immigration program every year. It recognizes the benefits of immigrants in improving the creativity and innovation of a country, which results in increased economic growth and development through the production of various quality goods and services. Many US fortune 500 companies have foreigners as their CEOs. These companies perform well. Thus, they indicate that countries need foreigners to get talents and skills they cannot tap locally.

Africa is a continent rich in resources. However, it needs more capital to tap into these resources. Thus, Africa relies heavily on foreign investors to help it establish industries and use its resources. Investors come mainly from Asia, Europe, and North America. They help create industries that produce goods and services and offer employment to people. Thus, African countries must create conducive social climates for these foreigners to reap the benefits of direct foreign investments in their countries. They must encourage immigration.

Profit Maximization

The recent past has witnessed a rise in corporations whose primary objective is maximizing profits. One of the critical strategies in maximizing profits is reducing the cost of labour. Companies strive to reduce this cost by outsourcing cheap labour. Companies have taken out their production facilities to countries where labour is cheap. Others have opted to import cheap foreign labour. Thus, so long as profit maximization is the primary objective of corporations, outsourcing is necessary, and it promotes multiculturalism.

Conclusion

Multiculturalism is inevitable. Societies need different people to create robust economies that offer good jobs, produce goods and services, and develop. People depend on one another due to their differences. Thus, they must be close to one another to get the necessary help.

Trump vs. Kim: Imperialism vs. Sovereignty

 
 
I have keenly observed Donald Trump and his confrontation with North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un. Unlike most observers, blinded by the controversy over nuclear weapons, a post-colonial African can read the struggle between imperialism and sovereignty that has dogged this controversy.
Ultimately, the imperialist (Trump) wins the battle as Kim promises to abandon his country's nuclear program, creating the latest example of how imperialism always subdues the struggle for sovereignty. That aside, the questions raised by Trump's victory are: is the rest of the non-nuclear world safe by the US and its nuclear company of friends having loads of atomic weapons? Are Western efforts to prevent the rest of the world from acquiring atomic weapons measures of safety or standards of maintaining imperialism?
Why should the non-nuclear countries believe that owning nuclear weapons is dangerous when the US and the West have stockpiles of atomic weapons with rumors of plans to increase and update them? The Trump-Kim controversy is a perfect example of imperialism at its best. It reminds me of Colonial Africa, when the Europeans enslaved Africans and used Christianity to quell African resistance by telling them that resistance and revenge were reserved for God. No wonder some people view Christianity with contempt as a colonial religion. The European imperial behavior is the same as the current nuclear controversy. The West expects the rest of the world to believe nuclear weapons are dangerous. Yet, they advance their nuclear military capabilities, which helps them maintain control and dominion over the world. Imperialism at its best!
 
 

 

Since time immemorial, imperialism has always been driven and maintained by militarism. This militarism is the reason for the impossibility of a third-world country gaining a seat at the UN Security Council, a body composed of militarist nuclear countries with veto powers on critical international decisions, such as war and peace. This militarism has continuously contributed to Western interference in developing countries. It is this Western militarism that the rest of the world should rise and oppose vehemently.
If nuclear weapons are dangerous, then they are harmful to all and sundry. If the US views the North Korean nuclear program as a threat to it, likewise, North Korea and the rest of the world should treat the US' atomic stockpile as a threat to the whole world.
A similar struggle between imperialism and freedom exists between Iran and Israel in the Middle East. It is shameful that the US and the European Union forced Iran to abandon its nuclear program while ignoring Israel's atomic stockpile. The fact is that the middle east can never be safe with every Arab knowing that the Jews have nuclear inventories that can wipe them out at any time. The US and European Union's failure to cut and eliminate Israel's nuclear capabilities only proves that they intend to establish Israel (their ally) as an imperial power in the middle east.
Suppose the US is honest about its desire to improve and maintain world peace. In that case, it should focus on reducing and eliminating its nuclear stockpile and encourage other atomic countries to do the same. Upon taking this action, the US can have a moral ground to convince potential nuclear nations that nuclear weapons are dangerous. Without the adoption of this recommendation, all the struggles that the US has with North Korea, Iran, and other potential atomic countries serve merely as evidence of United States imperialism in the post-colonial world.
 
 Protest towards UN headquarters to push for nuclear disarmament
 The nuclear world should appeal to South Africa's morality. She merely gave up nuclear weapons. In the 72nd United Nations General Assembly, President Zuma reaffirmed this commitment to a nuclear-free South Africa by stating that no hands are safe with weapons of mass destruction, not the US, nuclear Europe, India, China, or Pakistan.
The West cannot keep fooling the rest of the world that nuclear weapons are safe with them but dangerous to others. We came from a history of the Third Reich, slavery, imperialism, and colonialism. Unfortunately, the existence of nuclear weapons maintains the elements of this dark past. It is time for the US and other nuclear countries to walk the talk by reducing and eliminating nuclear weapons.
I eagerly await the day the US and Britain destroy their nuclear stockpiles. I long for the day Russia destroys its world's largest atomic weapon arsenal. I long for the day when world leadership genuinely focuses on world peace. I long for the day when imperialism comes to an end. I long for Western nations to realize that authentic and successful leadership stems from exercising self-accountability before looking at others.
The day has dawned for nuclear countries to blow their "Trumpets" in a musical way towards the values of unity‚ peace‚ togetherness, and dialogue, as stated by President Mugabe in the 72nd UN General Assembly.

The Only Language the People Understand

The electioneering period is fun in most developing countries' calendars. Unfortunately, it is also marked by uncertainty due to the violence accompanying it. For example, In Kenya, since the post-election violence that claimed the lives of about 1000 people and displaced about 100,000, elections come here with mixed feelings of joy and uncertainty. 

The electioneering period is particularly joyous in the African continent because people celebrate the wealth of their languages and learn more about their traditions and culture, which currently face erosion due to the rapid adoption of western culture and languages. Mark, you, any person who vies for a post and does not possess the rich vocabularies and sayings of our mother tongue, stand no chance of getting elected to office. Chinua Achebe states, "Proverbs are the palm oil with which words are eaten" in his book, "Things Fall Apart," to elaborate on the importance of language mastery, especially in politics and leadership.

 In Kenya, Raila Odinga, the "people's president," is a master of the African languages Dholuo and Kiswahili, which earns him an enormous following across the country. His ability to play and tackle his opponents with words that have deep African and contemporary meanings is incredible. Raila's political opponents fear him for his language prowess, which has earned him the title of jamaa wa vitendawili (the owner of riddles) among his language-deficient opponents in their attempts to water down his political achievements. 

One of the famous sayings by Raila Odinga last year was his description of President Uhuru Kenyatta and his failing administration as a headless chicken. He said in Kiswahili, "Uhuru ni kama kuku amekatwa kichwa, anakimbia huku na kule bila kuona mahali anakokwenda" (President Uhuru is like a headless chicken, which runs around without the knowledge of where it is headed). I could not help but laugh my head off.

Such simple yet sophisticated sayings drive the point home. It is easy to understand the message they carry. One merely understands that Raila meant that Kenya was being run by a president who had no goal, objectives, or direction for the country, which is evident in the country's massive corruption, tribalism, and nepotism.

Another example of Mr. Odinga's hilarious sayings was a few years back in response to constant attacks by government MP, who hated the massive support he enjoyed from the people. He compared the MP to a dog. Odinga's response to the MP in Swahili was, "Ukiona mbwa anabweka, usijishughulike na mbwa huyo, tafuta mwenyewe na mwambie amfunge mbwa wake" (When a dog barks at you, ignore it. Find its owner and tell him/her to tie his dog). This simple remark silenced the targeted opponent, who went quiet for some days, proof that he was the dog sent by the owner to try and scare opposition leaders away.

 Recently, at a rally in Homabay County to usher his swearing-in ceremony as the people's President, Mr. Odinga gave a touching story that melted the heart of everyone who appreciated his liberation efforts. "A village was struck with perennial drought and famine," he started. "A lot of people died, and many fell sick and feeble. The elders of the community gathered and approached the village's seer to consult their gods on what they could do stop this punishment of drought that their people suffered," he continued. "After hours of deliberation and consultation with the gods, the seer brought a message from the gods that the village could only receive rainfall if they sacrificed a particular girl by feeding her to the crocodiles in the nearby nearly dry river. The girl set out for the river to offer herself the crocodiles without anybody's request, compulsion, or persuasion upon learning her fate. The suffering of her people had immensely touched her such that she did not require any push to save her people. I am that girl." Mr. Odinga ended the speech with a wild round of applause from the crowd that had explicitly gathered to listen to him.

 The interpretation of this short story is as follows. The continuing drought and famine-stricken village referred to our beloved poverty-stricken country Kenya marred by corruption and embezzlement of funds. As mentioned earlier, Mr. Odinga is the girl ready to sacrifice his life to save our motherland and its people.

Lastly, another example of mastery of speech occurred last year, where Prof Anyang Nyongo, the Governor of Kisumu County, then a gubernatorial candidate, used a crafty short story to cut short his speech and allow fellow speakers to have an adequate amount of time on the dais in a rally in Kisumu County. Below is part of the statement

“Nitiere mama moro mane ni gi welo e dala ne. To noloso ne gi kongo ma mit sana. Koro kane omiyo welo kongo to gi metho to en ok ometh, welo nopenje ni nango en ok ometh kodgi. To no duok gi ni en weg dala. Weg dala ok ber ka mer e kong gi.”

Translation: "There was a woman who had guests visiting her home. She prepared a sweet local beer, which she served them. As the guest took the beer, they noticed that she was not taking the beer. When they asked her why she was not having her pot of beer, she replied that is not prudent for a host to get drunk in her feast." 

In short, the professor meant there was no need to talk much in his backyard (county) lest he utters something that displeases his guests. Therefore, he left the podium for the guest leaders as a symbol of respect and courtesy, which everyone acknowledged that it was the right thing to do.

These examples show that mastery of language is an essential quality of leadership. One's ability to speak a language everyone understands and appreciates is crucial in winning people's support. Most African leaders recognize this fact. Language is a significant component of people's culture: to win people, you must master their language.

Divide and Rule

Divide and rule was a strategy Britain used in many colonies to prevent and suppress liberation movements that rose or attempted to rise. Divide and rule are grounded on the concept that if an oppressor keeps the many oppressed people divided, the oppressed fight one another while ignoring the failures and malpractices of the oppressor who continues to rule them. In short, division weakens people and makes oppressors have or gain the power to rule and control them. There are many examples of the application of divide and rule strategy globally. They are discussed below. 

British India

British India comprised two major religious groups: the Hindus and the Muslims. The Hindus were characterized by their caste system and intolerance towards other religious groups. They lowly regarded the Muslims who lived with them in British India. The British, who knew this fact, worked towards creating further division between these two religious groups to maintain their rule of India. Their policy was to keep and elevate the Hindu-Muslim antagonism to secure their rule of the territory.

 At one time, the Hindu members of the Indian National Congress resigned because the British had declared that India was at war with Germany without consulting the Congress. The British went ahead and appointed Muslim leaders to their positions. The Muslim leaders had no support of the electorate to hold these posts, yet the British appointed them in their effort to create and increase hatred among the Hindus and the Muslims. This strategy worked. The relationship between the Hindus and Muslims soured because many Hindus grew angry that their elected politicians languished in jail. At the same time, the Muslims assumed their roles in the Indian National Congress as if nothing grave had occurred.

The British used the divide-and-rule policy in India because of the Revolt of 1857, where Hindus and Muslims fought side by side against them and threatened to depose their rule of the territory. The unity the Hindus and Muslims expressed during this revolt surprised them. The British knew that their control of India would not last with such integration. Therefore, they embarked on creating division between the Hindus and the Muslims, which has had long-lasting consequences that are even felt today by the people.

Colonial Kenya

Another example of the British divide-and-rule strategy was in colonial Kenya. In the early 1950s, cooperation between the two major Kenyan tribes, the Luo and the Kikuyu, intensified in their struggle for Kenya’s independence, threatening the British, who had no intention of leaving the country soon. In 1954, a Luo Councilor, Ambrose Ofafa, was killed by the Mau Mau soldiers, a resistance movement mainly composed of Kikuyus, due to his alleged collaboration with the British. The British exploited this opportunity to exercise their divide-and-rule tactic by trying to create division between the Luo and Kikuyu communities. They created propaganda urging the Luo to join Kikuyu Home Guards, a force generated by the British to tackle the Mau Mau, to revenge for the killing of Ambrose Ofafa. Fortunately, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, a Luo political leader, saw beyond the British divide-and-rule tactics. He arrived at Eastlands, Nairobi, mainly occupied by the Luo community, to calm his tribe members’ desire for revenge against the Kikuyu. He told his tribe members that the Mau Mau war efforts were focused on freeing the country from the colonialists. There was no need for Africans to turn against their fellow Africans. The real enemy was the British. The Luos took Jaramogi’s message, and the British efforts to divide the two tribes failed. The increased cooperation among the Kenyan tribes ensured that Kenya gained in the next decade.

Application of Divide and Rule Policy Today

Unfortunately, the British divide-and-rule strategy did not end with colonialism. Many politicians learned it and used it to maintain their hold on power. 

The modern-day divide-and-rule tactic in Africa is the promotion of tribalism by top government officials. An example is in President Moi’s 27 years of rule in Kenya. Although many of his speeches were against tribalism, he promoted it with his actions. He often got elected to office based on his propaganda that the small Kenyan tribes were threatened by the prominent tribes, especially the Luo and Kikuyu. He also managed to keep the Luo and Kikuyu divided as he got elected unanimously by the small Kenyan tribes. 

Today, in Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta’s corrupt administration survives by mastering the art of divide and rule through tribalism. This government engages in heinous fraudulent acts and indiscriminate murder of citizens but survives due to a divided people. The people of Kenya cannot speak with one voice to condemn the atrocities committed by this administration due to their division along tribal lines. Tribalism has spurred hatred among tribes, so people are ready to sacrifice values for loyalties to their tribal leaders. This occurrence is a significant problem in Kenya and Africa. Tribalism has also created suspicions among different tribes, which prevents the creation of a thriving democracy in Kenya and the African continent. Many tribes or tribal leaders exploit this mistrust to stick to power and even rig elections to have power.

Therefore, the fact that many African leaders are not ready to fight tribalism and other social divisions is unsurprising. These divisions among people are their source of power. I often imagine that if Kenyans were united and there was no tribalism, would corrupt leaders be tolerated? Would the government kill and maim innocent civilians as others watch and support its actions? The answer is no. 

Political leaders (holders of government positions) survive with social evils because of tribalism, a form of divide-and-rule tactic. One should know that these leaders are not trying to kill tribalism or any other type of divide-and-rule tactic globally. It is their source of power. It was the source of power for the British over their colonized populations. It is the current source of power for corrupt African leaders.

21st Century: A Century of Self-determination

Definition of terms: Capitalist- Rich legal persons focused on profit making.

Nearly 100 years ago, Vladimir Lenin predicted the collapse of capitalism and the rise of communism across the globe. His main argument was that capitalists' accumulation of financial capital would reach a saturation point, leading to the collapse of economies and, finally, the destruction of capitalism. Many economists agree that the 2007-2008 Financial Crisis marked the saturation point of the accumulation of financial capital by capitalists that Lenin had predicted, almost leading to the collapse of the major capitalist economies.

Several government interventions that led to the bailing out of capitalists made capitalism survive this predicted collapse. However, many middle and low-class people felt disappointed by their governments because they bailed out these capitalists who had dug their graves by driving their economies into this crisis. They were disappointed because their states quickly gave these capitalists billions of dollars to save them from bankruptcy. Yet, the many poor or middle-class masses do not have adequate social welfare programs to assist them in getting by each day.
Unfortunately, the laws that try to provide for the social welfare of the poor and the middle class are met with unnecessary debate and rejection due to the capitalists' unwillingness to spend on social welfare. On the other hand, the laws that bail out the capitalists are quickly drafted and passed because capitalists are deemed more critical than proletarians. This example perfectly depicts capitalism's unjust nature, which increasingly irritates more people as time passes.
The wealthy (capitalists) are the ones who matter under capitalism. They control the governments and the fate of everyone, undermining the individual right to self-determination across the globe.

The selfish nature of capitalism has promoted all forms of vices that threaten its collapse. If not the destruction of capitalism, then this skepticism endangers the existence of most capitalist governments. Capitalism has led to the rise of petty politics marred with corruption that hinders service delivery to the masses. Corruption comes in the form of nepotism, tribalism, ethnocentrism, racism, xenophobia, religious discrimination, and much more, as capitalists accumulate more capital while locking out the competition or fair distribution of resources.
This occurrence undermined our forefathers' dreams and agreements when they came together to create nations that offered the equal opportunity, protection, and justice for all. We are called citizens of one country or the other for these reasons (opportunity, security, and justice). A nation or a state is made by groups of people who come together and enter into an agreement to form institutions that can guarantee their protection, create opportunities for prosperity, and settle disputes among them fairly and respectfully.
The failure of capitalist governments to recognize these fundamental reasons for the creation of states by people spurs the growth of skepticism against capitalist governments in the 21st century. The selfish nature of capitalism and the greedy nature of humans has increased calls for cessation by significant pockets of populations who feel short-changed by their allegiance to their countries as citizens. Many nations are threatened by the breakup of the various units that formed them, as many people recognize their rights to self-determination. Many people realize today that they form the state and government, not vice versa. Countries are just institutions made by agreement among different groups of people. A group or groups may always feel short-changed by these arrangements. They deserve a right to opt out of the union or agreement, especially when the union fails to promote cohesion through truth, justice, and equal opportunity.
Unfortunately, political leaders, corrupted by the power excessively harnessed through capitalism, tend to undermine individuals' right to self-determination. We saw such a case recently in Catalonia, where the Spanish government shamefully thwarted a referendum for the people of Catalonia to break away from Spain.

Regardless of the occurrences in Catalonia, the time has come for capitalists and capitalist governments to realize that this century is a century where their very existence is under threat. Many struggling (economically) masses are beginning to review their relationships with the many underperforming capitalist governments worldwide. Thwarting people's determination to self-determine can never succeed. It did not succeed in the past, as demonstrated by the revolutions of the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries in America, France, Russia, Cuba, and Africa.


The push for a referendum in Catalonia; the Independence referendum of Iraqi Kurdistan, the Palestinian struggle for independence; the Br-exit; the Scottish referendum; the formation of South Sudan are clear indications of the imminent collapse of capitalism or the underperforming capitalist governments. Admittedly, this century is a century of self-determination.

Colonialism and Corruption

Corruption is the opposite of integrity. It is the practice of engaging in fraudulent or dishonest behavior when holding a position of authority. It is an abuse of power or authority for personal gains. This abuse is why corruption is a crime in many jurisdictions. The most common examples of corrupt activities are the embezzlement of funds and bribery. However, corruption goes beyond these two common occurrences. The act or failure to act for personal gain is also considered corrupt. For example, a president may choose to ignore the corrupt activities of the ministers in his administration due to the fear of losing their support. In such a case, the president is also considered a corrupt leader.

 

 an officer receiving a bribe

 

After the European colonizers left Africa, corruption became one of the continent’s biggest problems. Corruption is present in every sector of the many African economies. For example, in Kenya, the transport sector is marred by corruption. Police officers mainly patrol Kenyan roads to take bribes for motorist traffic offenses. In the education sector, parents pay large sums of money to high school principals for their children to get admission. In the healthcare sector, doctors and nurses prioritize patients whose relatives can bribe them with large sums of money. Companies that give large sums of money to government officers in the trade sector receive trade licenses and contracts. There is more to this list than you can imagine.

 The main question is, why does corruption plague African countries? One explanation is that humans are naturally selfish, a concept argued by Ayn Rand, a Russian-American philosopher, novelist, and playwright, in most of her work. Borrowing from Rand’s argument of natural selfishness, one may assume that Africans are very selfish, which is why their countries have the highest incidences of corruption than any other continent of the world. Chinua Achebe almost supports this argument in his novel, “Arrow of God,” where he writes about a certain man made chief of a particular community by the British colonizers. Days after the man lands the chieftainship, he starts taking bribes from members of his community in the form of cattle. This new chief is using the power he had just received a few days ago to exploit his fellow “poor” community members because they fear the punitive expeditions of the British military. Later, to stress the greed of Africans, Achebe writes about how the British officer in charge of the area is surprised by the intense greed exhibited by the newly appointed African chief. This British officer claims he has never seen such greediness anywhere except in Africa.

 However, it is unfair to claim that Africans are greedier than the people of other continents. A deep analysis of Achebe’s “Arrow of God,” other works, and the African colonial history makes it fair to claim that colonialism played a more significant part in creating and encouraging corruption in Africa. This is due to the reasons discussed below.

 

 European missionaries being served by Africans.

 

When the colonizers arrived in Africa, they forcefully drove populations out of their lands and enslaved them. They created unfair labor practices and segregated themselves from the African communities, which they marginalized. They exploited African labor and controlled African economies, mainly built by free African labor. All these acts show the immense greediness and selfishness of the colonizers. In short, colonization in itself was corruption. 

 

 The colonizers exploited their powers to drive “poor” Africans out of their lands and enslave them. These actions led the Africans to believe they could do anything with power and authority, such as displacing and enslaving people. Additionally, the few colonizers, who enjoyed the economic benefits of free African labor, created a feeling within the Africans that personal economic success was all that mattered regardless of how a person achieved it. This is commonly quoted as “the end justifies the means.”

 After African countries gained independence, the new African leaders continued the corrupt practices they had learned from the colonizers. In Kenya, the leaders of the new republic allocated themselves the lands that the colonizers held after grabbing them from the Africans. They also continued displacing populations as they took their lands. This is one of the significant reasons why land clashes are common in Kenya today. Moreover, the new African leaders started practicing nepotism by appointing friends in government positions who helped them loot public coffers. This was a repetition of the colonizers’ actions, who only appointed Europeans in government positions to increase their control of the African populations. The new African leaders continued to stifle disgruntled African voices that opposed the poor management of their countries in the same way the colonizers had done before them. Political opponents were murdered and assassinated. Moreover, in the same way, the colonizers were reluctant to grant Africans freedom; today, African leaders are reluctant to hand over power even after suffering defeats in free and fair elections.

 Chinua Achebe and Ngugi wa Thiong’o vividly elaborate on the effects of colonization on corruption in the African continent in their books, “Arrow of God” and “The River Between.” In the “Arrow of God,” Achebe narrates about an African priest who sends his son to a missionary school to learn the ways of the white man because the future lies in learning “the ways of the white man.” In this case, the ways of the white man are the ability to displace populations, grab land and control people to work for you freely. Similarly, in “The River Between,” Ngugi narrates about an African father who sends his son to a missionary school to learn “the ways of the white man,” which is the future of the African people. 

 

 Africans are learning the ways of the white man.

 

Another good illustration of the colonial effects on corruption is in the novel “No Longer at Ease” by Chinua Achebe. In this novel, Achebe writes about a community that sends one of their sons to study in London. The community hopes that when the man returns, he will get a top government position and bring a larger share of the national cake to the community. The thought of the community wanting a larger share of the national cake illustrates colonization’s effects on the African minds about governance. In the same way, the colonizers were reaping the economic benefits of free labor and colonization. The African people wanted to reap the benefits of “free money” by having their people in the top government positions to allocate them national resources fraudulently.

In short, colonization took a toll on the concept of leadership in Africa, resulting in widespread corruption. The displacement of populations, the enslavement of people, and the segregation of people created an image in the African mind that success through selfishness is right regardless of how one achieves it. Colonization contributed immensely to the spread of corruption in Africa.

Capitalism and Xenophobia

Xenophobic tendencies have increased across the globe. The US has been the latest country to show xenophobia by electing a president who openly dislikes immigrants. He immediately embarked on constructing a wall that separated the US from Mexico. Britain led the way last year by pushing for her exit from the European Union, which allowed the establishment of a borderless Europe. These occurrences have led dormant parties that oppose immigration to re-surge across Europe. These parties believe that immigration is the cause of their problems in Europe, and it must stop as soon as possible. This belief is a fallacy and should be condemned at all costs.
 
 protesters showing xenophobia
 
Great countries, like the US, Canada, and Australia, can attest that immigration is the primary cause that has propelled their growth and development into what they are today. These countries were built through the sweat of immigrants, and they should understand the importance of immigration. They should lead the way in encouraging immigration and discouraging xenophobia.

 Britain has demonstrated double standards through Brexit. When President Mugabe of Zimbabwe unsettled white settlers and forced some of them to leave Zimbabwe, Britain vehemently opposed this move. Today, Britain tolerates xenophobia, yet she has forgotten that British and other white settlers are found worldwide. They are welcomed and given the respect they deserve as fellow humans.

 Moreover, it is unfortunate that a wave of xenophobia is sweeping across Europe. Yet, it has been the most significant source of emigrants to other continents and countries in the past centuries.
Immigration is the scapegoat for the poor performance of the economies in Europe and North America. However, the economic downturn should be blamed on the extreme capitalist tendencies practiced by these countries. It is a time that the US and Europe question their capitalist policies and practices.

 The number of family-owned businesses in the US has decreased significantly. These businesses were the primary source of permanent employment for many US citizens. Today, corporates have taken over family-owned businesses. They are more focused on profit maximization. This is why they shift their production abroad to get cheap labor, which causes unemployment in Europe and US. Immigration has nothing to do with this occurrence.

 Additionally, developing countries have significantly improved their infrastructural facilities over the past few years. India and China have infrastructural facilities that rival those of the developed world. They are attracting multinationals into their countries. The movement of MNCs (multinational corporations) into these countries is causing unemployment in Europe and North America.
 
 Kenyan roads. Developing countries are improving their infrastructure.
 
Finally, developing countries have more favorable policies that attract investment than developed countries. Developing countries are often ready to compromise the environment and labor standards for economic growth. MNCs prefer developing countries to the developed world because developing countries have little regulation. Their movement into developing countries causes unemployment in the developed world.

Immigration has nothing to do with poor economic performance. The pursuit of profit by MNCs is the primary reason for unemployment and slow economic growth in the developed world. Politicians should develop policies that help the developed world keep their MNCs and jobs to spur economic growth and development. It is unfair to promote xenophobia based on unjust reasons. Instead, the US and Europe need to restructure their extreme capitalist tendencies.