Is
Africa a Basket Case?
On October 7 1999, Arizona Daily Wildcat published a
remarkable article by Lora Mackel, a history Junior in the University of
Arizona. In the article, Mackel expressed her views about the current state of
the African continent as follows:
We have all seen the images
before: Children with bloated bellies, rebels with assault weaponry, shanty
towns that spread as far as the camera can pan. These images reflect our own
modern conceptions of Africa, for it seems that these wretched conditions and
the continent itself are permanently linked. (4)
Mackel’s article reminded this writer
of a little anecdote told by a fellow countryman of mine named Kagiso, who is
from northern Botswana and is currently studying in Alabama. Apparently, one of his American classmates
innocently asked him how he had escaped from the civil war going on in Africa.
According to Kagiso, this particular classmate of his has this notion that
Africa is just one big country. Although it was easy for my countryman, Kagiso,
to dismiss his classmate’s question as emanating from an individual on the
lower side of the I.Q. scale, the point is that it connects to Mackel’s views
and summarizes the perceptions of some Americans about Africa. Their perception
is that the whole African continent is a basket case. On the other hand, there
are some Americans who – unlike some of their countryman – may not dismiss
Africa entirely out of hand. Such Americans may hold the view that Africa is a
serious cause for concern. Once in a while, a sympathetic soul who holds the
latter view more strongly may arise. Unfortunately, most of the time, such
people feel so sorry for Africa that they end up being apologists for the
African continent, never mind the fact that the continent is home to 61
countries with varying economic successes (“Atlas” 122). The generalized
descriptions of Africa by writers such as Mackel fail dismally to present a
true image of the continent.
Africa’s
critics may single out the political instability prevalent in some African
countries as a cause for their dismissal of Africa. These critics may use
Rwanda to plead their case. In 1994, approximately 250,000 Rwandans crossed
into neighboring Tanzania as refugees. This was after their village leaders
forced them out just because they belonged to a different ethnic group
(Shawcross 4). It is easy for Africa’s critics to gloat over these reports.
However, one need not be reminded that political strife is not uncommon in this
day and age. One other point is that political strife is not prone to happen in
Africa only. Certainly some African countries have political instability
problems, but so do some European countries. The war in Kosovo that lead to
200,000 ethnic Serbs (Albanians) being expelled from their own country of birth
because their President, Slobodan Milosivich, wanted to cleanse the country of
its Albanian population (“Kosovo” 18) comes to mind. Even some Asian countries
have their own political problems. In Indonesia, ethnic and religious hatred
are not uncommon (McCarthy 24). This evidence suggests that, contrary to
popular belief, political instability is not just an African problem. It is a
global problem.
One negative perception about
Africa, which is partially true, is that AIDS is not at all uncommon in some
African countries. According to the statistics published by “State of the
World” 40-41), 71% of AIDS cases occur in Africa alone. Fortunately, most
African countries have acknowledged the gravity of the situation. One such
country is Uganda. The country has embarked on aggressive campaigns to create
awareness for this disease. The declining numbers of H.I.V infections bears
testimony to the fact that the message has been heeded (Zarembo 44). Uganda’s
positive efforts are a reminder that African countries do have an ability to
turn their miseries around when given a chance. Now, some African countries may
be able to tackle the AIDS scourge using Uganda as an example.
To better understand the
perceptions of most Americans about Africa, one has to take note of Joseph
Kennedy’s words of wisdom. (Kennedy is a Senior Vice President of a private
organization called AFRICARE.) He says that when Americans discuss Africa, they
“Speak of the problems and failures of Africa, not the successes” (727). To
prove that most African countries are making giant leaps forward in terms of
development, one has to listen to what Kennedy said while delivering a speech
to the U.S. Senate Committee:
In the past few years at least 35 African countries have
moved from centrally controlled economies to embrace market driven economies
and privatization. At least 20 countries have held democratic multiparty
elections. (Some have fallen back but U.S policy markers should realize the
road to democracy is not straight and narrow. Those who are on the right path
but falter should continue to be nurtured not rebuffed. (728)
Successful African countries such as
Botswana are unknown to Americans because of the tranquility that prevails in
that country. Botswana, like most African countries, did not inherit any
developed infrastructure from colonizers. During his sojourn in Botswana,
President Bill Clinton delivered this message:
At your
independence three decades ago, Botswana was among the poorest countries on
earth, with only two miles of paved roads and one public school. Today, you
have a vibrant economy, a network of major highways, almost full enrollment in
primary schools and the longest average lifespan in Sub-Saharan Africa. (538)
As Kennedy asserted in his
speech, most African countries are acknowledging that free market economy is
the path to take in order to make progress. It has not been easy for it meant a
radical change in people’ s attitudes. Most African governments have discarded
pre-conceived communistic ideals about how the economy ought to be run. One
such country is South Africa, which has implemented a privatization program.
According to The Economist, several
ex-communist are now doing a good job in the cabinet (“Privatization” 49).
South Africa is just one of the African countries, following an example set by
Mozambique, in acknowledging the inability of strategies based on scientific
Socialism to transform African societies (Clough 25). This is just one of the
attempts by most African countries to catch up because they may be
acknowledging that they are lagging behind in terms of economic development.
South Africa is just one of the latest African countries to embrace the
progressive free market economy.
Granted, the frequently reported
bad news about corruption and the failing democracy in the Democratic Republic
of Congo adds to the prevalent negative perceptions about Africa (Lovgren 44).
However, recent events clearly indicate that most African countries are serious
about democracy. Nigeria is one classic example. The military government has
just formally handed power over to the democratically elected President
(Masland 26). In addition, it has now become a trend in Africa for elderly
Presidents to step down gracefully and hand power over to young energetic
leaders. One is compelled to use South Africa as an example. Earlier this year
we saw the 80 year-old former president, Nelson Mandela, stepping down to allow
56 year-old Thabo Mbeki to take charge (Hawthorne and Nelan 40). These new
leaders boldly and enthusiastically preach less aid, more trade to the
developed countries. The infectious optimism about Africa’s future is
manifested in President Mbeki’s often quoted words; “Africa, will prosper.” As
for corruption, Nigeria’s newly elected president Olusegun Obasanjo summarizes
the mood prevalent in most African countries when he says that “You are caught,
you are punished” (Masland 29).
Furthermore, one notable
characteristic about most African countries is their ability to forgive former
oppressors. In 1934, South Africa’s Prime Minister Malan declared that the
logic behind the country’s apartheid policy was “to ensure the safety of the
white race and of Christian civilization” (Cervenka 111). Although black South
Africans were allowed to vote for the first time in 1994, most people were able
to discard the legacy of apartheid. South Africans are urged on by Mandela, who
some describe as the “symbol for racial reconciliation” (Hawthorne and Nelan
38). The harmony which South Africans live in is better reflected in the title
they use to refer to their country: “Rainbow Nation” (Hawthorne 67). However,
just because everything is forgiven does not necessarily mean it is forgotten
(67). Unlike Europeans though, they don’t choose to go to war over what
happened in the past (67).
In Africa, “shanty towns” (4) do exist, but do not hide the beauty
of Africa. Tourists who travel to different countries in Africa will not fail
to appreciate the beauty exhibited by some of the African countries. Uganda has
often been described as a hidden Eden and as a paradise on earth because of the
extraordinary lush landscapes found in that country (Bailey 48). In addition to
that, President Clinton remarked that “visitors to Botswana will never forget
the beauty of your environment” during his short visit in that country (538).
For Mackel and many other
Americans, their negative perceptions about the African Continent come as a
result of the American media portraying Africa in a bad light. In his book Free at last, Michael Clough states that
the “American media do not do a good job of covering Africa” and he continues
on the same vein saying that the American media “regularly report bad news and
seldom report good news”(20). Other notable experts, such as Kennedy, happen to
believe that the Americans are giving the African continent a raw deal. He
says, “often we have demanded of Africa too many changes in too short a time”
(727).
The views expressed by such
distinguished characters like Clough and Kennedy may suggest that as far as
Africa is concerned, American media (especially TV news networks) specialize in
reporting exclusively about the negative events occurring in the continent of
Africa. This display of negative images in Africa by the American electronic
and print media may permeate the consciousness of most Americans. Influencing
most of those naïve souls who tend to believe everything they watch on TV and
read in newspapers to cling to the myth that there are no success stories to
report about in Africa. In light of
these arguments, one may suggest that the solution lies with the TV news
network. If they can adhere to the journalistic principle which declares that
there are at least two sides to every story, then it may guide them to bring
the positive side of Africa to the American people – a side that most Americans
may be ignorant of. In the long run it may enable most Americans to weigh the
two sides presented to them about Africa before making their conclusions about
the state of the African continent in general.
The whole of Africa should not
be dismissed just because other African countries can’t find solutions to their
problems- and again it is just problems. Every country in the world has its own
domestic problems. Starvation is a problem for some African countries.
Well-known experts have decried the same problem of starvation in North Korea
(Kirk 26). America has other problems. The Ku Klux Klan is a legal organization
in America. That is America’s problem. Africa does not hold that against
America. Americans should not hold the problems experienced by some countries
in Africa against the whole continent. Maybe then most Americans will realize
that it is a mistake to dismiss the whole African continent as a basket
case.
Works Cited
Atlas of World Geography. U.S.A:
Rand McNally, 1996
Bailey, Robert. “The pearl of Africa shines again.” Newsweek Special Advertising Section, 1
Feb. 1999: 48-49.
Cervenka, Zdenek. The Unfinished
Quest for Unity. London: Friedman Publishers Ltd, 1977.
Clinton, William. “Botswana.” Weekly
Compilations of Presidential Documents 34 (1997): 538.
Clough, Michael. Free at last?
U.S. Policy toward Africa and the end of the cold war. New York: Council On
Foreign Relations Press, 1992.
Hawthorne, Peter, and Bruce Nelan. “Struggle in South Africa.” Time 24 May 1999: 38-54.
Kennedy, Joseph. Vital Speeches
of the day 63 (1997): 727-728.
Kirk, Donald. “Lambs to the slaughter.” Time 29 March 1999: 26.
“Kosovo.” Newsweek 19
Apr.1998: 14-23.
Lovgren, Stefan. “War without end, amen.” U.S News & World Report 30 Aug. 1999: 44.
Mackel, Lora. “To free Africa.” Arizona Daily Wildcat 7 Oct. 99: 4.
Masland, Tom. “Starting over again.” Newsweek 24 May 1999: 26-29.
McCarthy, Jerry. “Descend into madness.” Time Magazine 7 Dec.1998: 24.
“Privatization: South Africa.”
The Economist Magazine 9 September
1999. 49.
Shawcross, William. “Lost in the
wilderness.” Newsweek 19 Apr. 1999:
4.
“The State of The World.” Newsweek 28 Dec. 1998: 40-47.
Zarembo, Alan. “Hope and Despair.” Newsweek
8 December 1997: 40-47.
This book gives accurate maps and statistics concerning
the population of Africa and the number of the countries within the continent
of Africa.
The report discusses the
progress made by Uganda since the country gained independence. It also talks
about the methods used by Uganda in attracting tourists to the country. The
article also outlines the current state of tourism in Uganda. The ambitions of
the Ugandan government are also mentioned.
Masland, Tom. “Starting over again.” Newsweek 24 May 1999: 26-29.
The article is about the
inauguration of the newly elected President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo. The
article discusses Nigeria’s past failed attempts at democracy. Discusses the
financial situation of this country. Also, the article outlines the state of
corruption in Nigeria and how the newly elected President will deal with it.
Summarizes the events that
occurred in 1998. Provides data and statistics.
The first thing I considered
while thinking about my thesis for the Persuasive Essay assignment was whether
I should focus on a topic which has considerable significance to my life or
whether I should just make up a story with the sole intent of getting a grade
and getting it over with. I opted for the former and I realized that when you
tackle a topic that somehow affects you, you invest so much thought on it and
what’s more, you have a good time writing it.
Once
the thesis had gelled in my head, I went about searching for sources that
somehow connected to my central argument. The articles didn’t necessarily have
to take my stance on the issue. As long as there was a sentence or a word in
the article that I felt added weight to my views, I used it.
The most important thing is to
use you instructor’s open door policy. I was lucky to have such an instructor
and she helped me tremendously with my rough drafts. Pass your rough drafts by
your instructor and after incorporating some of her/his comments into your
draft, visit the Writing Center with the draft. The tutors at the Writing
Center will patiently and objectively go over your draft with you. Although
this may involve a lot of hard work, it can also be fun.
Watching Pheto compose this
essay was a real joy for me as an instructor. Initially, he was unsure of what
to write about. In class, we discussed
the importance of choosing a subject for the argument paper that would really
excite some passion. Pheto found an
article in the Daily Wildcat that did
just that for him. As a native of
Botswana, Pheto objected to the notion which the article claimed is held by
many Americans, that Africa is a “Basket Case.” The passion to respond to this misleading portrayal of Africa
spurred Pheto on.
In addition to choosing a
subject lie really cared about, Pheto also began to consider that he could
write a real objection--a direct response to the article and send it to the Wildcat. The notion that his writing had a specific purpose and audience
aided in his composition process. He
took the task very seriously and edited and revised several times over.
Pheto also approached this assignment
in a number of “good student” ways. He
made frequent visits to my office, made good use of the peer reviews, and
diligently studied the elements of the argument papers presented in the Student’s Guide and our text book. His final product reads smoothly but
presents an unmistakably strong argument convincing his readers that Africa is
much more than many American perceive it to be.
This essay represents a
wonderful contribution in both composition form and content from Pheto, a first
semester international student. As a
student in English 107, Pheto was introduced to the American style of academic
writing and the classroom conventions of this university for the first
time. The substance of his essay is a
testament to his hard work, his interest in writing and to his devotion to his
native country.