Africa: Picture Perfect...
This entry is a part of . I missed the first three days, so this is sort of a unified entry to capture what ought to have been written on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. I am writing about my favorite subject, Africa. Here is the Africa I have in my head, the Africa I carry along with me everyday. It is a slight departure from the instructions. Ehav wanted us to put down things that already happened, but I have chosen to write a letter to about future events the way I see it. Thanks.
Dear Mum, we are all fine now, it is all good now. The war in Dafur ended and the reconstruction is going on has planned. French NGO's only come to assist the Chadians with Nation building, there is no need to save any 'orphan kid' , because they now have a place of their own. Since the AIDS vaccine was discovered things have turned around for the better. Those in the south now know and feel the meaning of a complete family. Cote- D'Ivoire is alright they made it through the woods. Business is back and cocoa is selling like hot cake. The expatriates came back and the Mapouka night clubs are back open. It is amazing how much transformation can happen within such a short period.
As for the Nigerians, it hard to believe, but they now put their money to good use. Their institutions are flourishing and it hard to believe that they once suffered from a dearth of infrastructure. Mama things done changed. It really has.
The Sudanese, a funny bunch, there is no divisiveness amongst the Arabs and the Blacks anymore, as a matter of fact I attended a mixed wedding on a boat at the banks of the Nile the other day. Oh yes the Americans are still there dancing to country music at the international club, but now the Sudanese are allowed in, sans bomb detectors at the entrance. Isn't that wonderful ma.
Addis is still cold at night, and what a set of fun people. Yes, they are still about their 13 months of sunshine. The Jamaicans still roam freely in Addis. To top it all up, the Moroccan and the Tunisians now call those from Eastern and Western Africa brothers, no more deportation. Once a citizen of Africa, we now roam freely.
Mama things done changed, it really has. Peace.
11Comment(s):
Hey Omodudu,
I like this twist that you took. It has been interesting to read everyone's take on A Week of Positive Blogging. Thanks for putting yours on.
I pray for a day when what you have written is a reality. It is definitely something we all should work for.
Ah..if only...
...it all starts with a dream and a hope.
It's the dream that I am willing to work for...is that too much to ask to be given a chance to build something like that?
It's bad enough when they hurt us but the amount of hurt we cause ourselves is alarming.
Still, thanks for giving me a continent to aspire to.
wow!!!...go big dreamer!!!...now, let's go chase it and make it come true!!!...(i liked your twist too..how's that for setting your own rules?...guess i should go back under my list for those that inspire and add: omodudu, because he dares to step outside the box, envision something new and provocative;)...
Now @guerreiranigeriana, you just made me blush...oh yes I am African and I blush...lol. Thanks for the compliments. la al alla lal
@catwalq, oh yes lets make this happen
@ehav I am glad it made some sense...
@refinedone, we are already doing it aren't we?
It's great hearing the dreams within an African framework.
Ack! Country music? Is that what my fellow americans are dancing to over there?
Makeda..you better believe that..lol...complete with cowboy boots, and the elbow honky tonkish dance..dunno what its called...the good thing though the best triple cheese burger is in Sudan..lol..
Nice. Didn't know about the Positive Blogging (and have to confess I have been guilty of some ranting lately) - so thanks for the reminder that, after all, 'Where You Look Is Where You Go'...
I'm curious about your mention in the letter that 'the expatriates are back' in Cote d'Ivoire. For all sorts of fair and unfair reasons (some of them to do with money, cultural misunderstandings, history and politics), expatriates as a class are often resented in Africa's cities.
It may be unreasonable to ask you to generalise, but I'd like to know: what do expatriates and their presence mean to you?
thanks
Fred
(a Londoner in Kinshasa)
Thanks Fred for coming by. Cote Divoire was the HQ for the ADB before th unrest. so when you say expartraites in CIV, we aren't really talking about white folks from Europre or America, we are talking brothers.
It is also true that there were loads of Frenchmen in CIV, this was also a sort of index for the stability of CIV.
I do not speak of expertraites like you described above.
Thanks for the clarification, Omodudu, I'm glad I checked. As for expats as an indicator of stability, it's a tricky one - depends what they're buying and selling, right? And as for Peacekeeping missions...