Do you see the adoption of non-Afrikan or European methods in the African culture that are not related to our own political and economic background? I do.
The major problem today in the economic development of Afrikan people is the lack of an economic system that is based on sound cultural analysis. Cultural analysis is not about focusing on how Europeans mistreated us. It’s not about spending endless hours doing research on slavery, etc.
We have a lot of people doing all kinds of research on how white people mistreated us, and as a consequence getting all fired up because of these kinds of issues. Instead of doing that, look deep into the heart, soul and mentality of Afrikans.
Instead, look deeply into the character and the organisation of money within African communities, and then use that analysis to create a realistic economic system.
Many spend a lot of time reading Karl Marx, and others yet their analysis was based on the European culture, standards and position within the social-political and economic dominance hierarchy.
You can look at any African society driven by Marxism, socialism, capitalism or any other kind of ism. It is poor compared to its Western counterparts. That must help you then to recognise that the problem that we face is deeper than subscribing to European doctrines of Adam Smith or Karl Marx.
Subscribing to European doctrines is not the solution to Africa’s problems. European theories are based on an analysis of European culture, and the economic recommendations therein are based on that analysis.
To solve Africa’s poverty and economic issues, it’s high time we think beyond just European theories
On top of that, we also have people (fools, I dare say) amongst us that want to call these European theories scientific. They make it seem like these theories are universal, and are pretty much above “untouchable”. Yet when you look at it in Africa, and other places that have subscribed to it without being realistic about the social and economic position across the world, you can see that it has not benefited those nations or societies.
Why do some among us keep holding on tenaciously to a philosophy that the Russians, and the Chinese have thrown aside? It’s quite surprising that the poorest nations of all are still holding onto these inapplicable theories. Sad, right?
This is NOT to say that Marxist ideas are not good. What I’m saying is let’s develop our own social and economic philosophy based on our own social and economic realities.
As you do this cultural analysis, you will find out that your ideas are, sometimes, in parallel with those of Karl Marx or even Adam Smith. I’ve also found this in my own research. With that said, the origin is not Karl Marx but our own selves. That means that those ideas are our possessions – therefore we don’t have to ask white Marxists or any other white group to interpret them for us.
To end it off, where is black money? If you look at the collective earnings and resources of African people all over the globe, you’ll have to recognise that we are among the richest nations in the world. We trade with the rest of the world just like any other nation. We represent a tremendous amount of wealth.
From all of this, you will find out that the problem we have in the black community is not a problem of poverty, money and resources. What we lack is the correct utilisation and development of the wealth that we have – it is the allocation of money, not the lack of it.
We have to start looking and thinking of the welfare of our people as our own responsibility, not look to the West or East for help. We have to look within ourselves as a basis of wealth because we have the resources, collective income and more.
Is your mind ready to be wrecked? Here’s more for you: How Today’s Trauma In Africa Is Linked To The Legacy Of Colonialism
About The Author
