The white man was very clever
He came quietly and peaceably with his religion
We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay
Now he has won our brothers
And our clan can no longer act like one
He has put a knife on the thing that held us together
And we have fallen apart?
(Obierika (Okonkwo's Friend) in Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe)
I am not beating war drums. These days are days of peace between Europeans and Africans and I will like to keep it at that.
But it doesn't mean I am not in a poetic mood and neither can I ignore that sentimentality; that feeling of tranquil disability that I feel now.
Forgive my impetuousness but I simple have to say I am wondering what on earth we are talking about: A meeting or summit (whatever you call it) between Europe and African leaders? Talk about selling one?s conscience for a calabash of porridge.
Is it only Africa that will never learn? That man always lives for himself alone; whether white or black. Even nti, the little sparrow said that because hunters have learnt to shot without missing, it has learnt to fly without perching (apologies to all Igbos).
What am I hearing? Ewoooo.....
The calamity of disunity is forever sealed. We will never be our own people, living for ourselves again after this. No, mark my ways; Africa is about to be tied with a rope round its neck like a sheep and dragged to where it doesn?t want to go.
Instead of our own unity, we talked and fought at the shores of Accra; at the African Union Summit. Now we believe a meeting with white men (no racism intended) will yield more.
We forget so quickly.
Ukpana okpoko gburu, nti chiri ya
(A grasshopper that is killed by the noisy okpoko bird has a collapsed ear.)
Africa certainly has a problem. Mark my words; nothing will come out of this for Africa.
And I hear everyone is clamouring for Mugabe not to come.
For this one, I say Mugabe, you are better off not going. Please stay with your starving people because you will certainly, together with all the other African leaders, go back home with less than you brought.
Ewooooo...calamities of calamities. God help us!
He came quietly and peaceably with his religion
We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay
Now he has won our brothers
And our clan can no longer act like one
He has put a knife on the thing that held us together
And we have fallen apart?
(Obierika (Okonkwo's Friend) in Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe)
I am not beating war drums. These days are days of peace between Europeans and Africans and I will like to keep it at that.
But it doesn't mean I am not in a poetic mood and neither can I ignore that sentimentality; that feeling of tranquil disability that I feel now.
Forgive my impetuousness but I simple have to say I am wondering what on earth we are talking about: A meeting or summit (whatever you call it) between Europe and African leaders? Talk about selling one?s conscience for a calabash of porridge.
Is it only Africa that will never learn? That man always lives for himself alone; whether white or black. Even nti, the little sparrow said that because hunters have learnt to shot without missing, it has learnt to fly without perching (apologies to all Igbos).
What am I hearing? Ewoooo.....
The calamity of disunity is forever sealed. We will never be our own people, living for ourselves again after this. No, mark my ways; Africa is about to be tied with a rope round its neck like a sheep and dragged to where it doesn?t want to go.
Instead of our own unity, we talked and fought at the shores of Accra; at the African Union Summit. Now we believe a meeting with white men (no racism intended) will yield more.
We forget so quickly.
Ukpana okpoko gburu, nti chiri ya
(A grasshopper that is killed by the noisy okpoko bird has a collapsed ear.)
Africa certainly has a problem. Mark my words; nothing will come out of this for Africa.
And I hear everyone is clamouring for Mugabe not to come.
For this one, I say Mugabe, you are better off not going. Please stay with your starving people because you will certainly, together with all the other African leaders, go back home with less than you brought.
Ewooooo...calamities of calamities. God help us!
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