There is a stone.
A dirty, old, ugly stone always thrown at us Africans. Wherever something horrible happens on the continent, it is usually taken as an African trait.
Famines, civil disorder, widespread diseases, mass killings, stories of corruption, we are reminded of this horrible, hallmark trait.
Us Africans?
ALWAYS catastrophic.
As though we are by nature “scum of scums.” As if we are what the Martinique psychiatrist and philosopher Franz Fanon said in 1961: wretched of the earth.
And if we are that horrible, why are we living then?
Shouldn’t all of us vanish?
So what is the argument? Consider the media scandal that happened here in London a fortnight ago.
Two heads of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) resigned — BBC director general, Tim Davies and head of news, Deborah Turness, admitted a serious mistake, which involved the current American President.
Lawyers of Mr Donald Trump allegedly threatened to sue the well known news service for One Billion Dollars (yes billions!) unless it “retracts, apologises and compensates him…”
For what?
A Panorama documentary altered parts of a speech the President made in January 2021, giving the impression that Trump incited violent action.
Crazy stuff.
Had it been a social media post by untrained social media influencers, we might have shrugged and yawned. Stuff like that is “normal” — but the BBC?
The famous, well respected BBC? No way.
Still.
What has all this got to do with us Africans?
Two reasons.
Bosses in charge of a reputable organisation assumed responsibility and resigned. It has been such a huge scandal that one of the major opposition parties, Lib Dems (Liberal Democrats), Sir Ed Davey, suggested Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer phone up President Trump and urge him to stop the lawsuit. One billion dollars is a lot of money.
Everything on earth is about money. Scandals. Guns. Everything. Mass murders. Politics.
And what else?
I read comments on the internet by some African brothers and sisters.
“You see these Europeans?” asked one in a WhatsApp group chat, that has since been deleted, “They take responsibility for their errors and resign.
Really honourable. Our African leaders will NEVER resign if they messed up. Too egoistic, arrogant and self-conceited.”
Sigh.
Recalled something.
I interviewed an African diplomat few decades ago. At that specific time there was an ongoing crisis somewhere in Africa. Everyone was talking about how stupid we are. Killing each other. Mismanaging. Lying. Corrupt. Undemocratic.
The diplomat yelled:
“So what? Here in Europe… right here in London…
Less than 80 years ago were bloody two major world wars being fought.
Millions of lives lost. Whites butchered whites. They also dragged Africans and Asians and other non whites into their stupid slaughtering.
They might look calm and organised and sensible and relaxed now, yet not long ago they were behaving like animals. Slaughtered each other.”
Woow.
Beat.
Reflection.
History never lies.
Check out 18th century Europe. Was worse.
Mmmh.
During the 18th century, vicious conflicts e.g. The War of Spanish Succession (involving 4 battles from 1701 to 1713) caused thousands of deaths. This stupid conflict was about WHO would succeed King Charles of Spain (the second) who died without children; hence, no heir to the throne. The whole of Europe roared, cried, jumped in and bled.
There was the French Revolution of 1789, which while unleashing the Reign of Terror, introduced ideas of freedom and equality. In 1775, saw the American war of independence against British colonialism. Within this American rebellion was the Boston Massacre of 1770, due tensions triggered by rising taxes.
While these painful events unfolded, the 18th century witnessed the rise of inventions, literature, art and science, i.e. The Industrial Revolution, subsequent colonialism and global conquer, to this day.
Yes; Europeans did go through terrible times. Just like we have been (and are currently) jogging and trotting through in Africa, 2025.
History proves that our friends are not that special either. That they too passed through hell. And as recently as 2023, Ukraine has been bleeding.
We all come from the same earth; breathe the same oxygen and shall all end where we originated from. Mother earth.
Bless your eyes.
