I know the SLAVE TRADE and colonialism destroyed Africa, but its CORRUPT governments should have some blame?

Question

The West continues to give aid, but do they go to the poor and needy. No, their governments would rather squander it on themselves with their cars and houses

Answer 1

africans sold other africans, to white slave traders, into slavery

Answer 2

Africans facilitated the slave trade by capturing and selling other Africans to white slave traders out of their own greed.

I'm not justifying the slave trade or saying that it should have taken place but the Africans themselves have to take some responsibility for it because they were the ones capturing and selling these slaves to the European slave traders. The whole reason Europeans went to Africa to buy slaves in the first place is because they knew that slaves were readily available there. They didn't just pick a country on the map at random and decide to take slaves from there.

Black Nationalists have to accept this and sadly they won't accept the responsibility. I guess its easier to blame someone else than accept than your own people might have sold you ancestors into slavery.

As for the corrupt governments in Africa, noone can help them but the Africans themselves. If the West get involved we are accused of meddling in other people's affairs.

All we can do is carry on sending money for it to be squandered by corrupt governments rather than going to the people who need it.

Answer 3

Lenny Hendry's character sums it up best, using UN aid money to buy pygmy giraffes and other useless things after promising the poor, long suffering UN rep that it will go to help his people.

Yes, corrupt governments are, in part, to blame. However, a lot of the money they squander is used to buy military supplies, missiles, tanks and guns. Inevitably, Western countries are to blame for not only being behind these sales, but for allowing them to continue even when they have nothing to do with it. They have the power to stop it, but arms trade is such a lucrative business, they wouldn't dare.

Oh, and debt cancellation wouldn't make any difference either. As soon as it is done, there would be 10 different countries knocking at the door willing to sell them more arms, and the leaders would buy everytime, even more so with a clean slate.

Answer 4

A Corrupt Government (administration) is a continuous detriment to the economic success of third world nations. Many of them are rich in natural resources which should make them the wealthiest among leading nations. However, there is so much more at play. A post-colonial society is still recovering from the traumatic effects of colonization and the slave trade. Embedded in their psyche is that the way of the white man is superior and they must strive to emulate them. They have been taught that they are savages and lack culture. We are only now revisiting these old perceptions and realizing just how brain-washed the world has been in believing such nonsense.

What these cultures now have to do is to develop a sense of pride and a sense of responsibility in one's land / country. Slavery and Colonialism destroyed not only a culture's pride and respect, but took away autonomy. In attempting to re-assert their independence many native leaders still embody the "slave" or "colonized" mentality, where the masters are at the top and enjoy the fruits of the labour of the vast majority who are impoverished.

There are a lot more issues at play here like the IMF keeping countries like this forever in debt...In a way, colonialism and slavery still exists under the guise of globalization and capitalism...but I'm getting off topic here.

Answer 5

The slave trade and colonialism wrecked Africa before that continent had governments in the modern Western sense.

It is true that there was extensive slave trade, and exploitation of some peoples by others, in Africa before Europeans began to export slaves to America. However, two wrongs do not make a right. The conditions in which slaves were shipped, and the enormous death rates, were appalling and indefensible.

Sadly, there are a few parts of Africa were there is still slavery today. This problem needs to be addressed urgently.

The issue of aid to Africa is to my mind separate to that of slavery. The situation is better than in the past, but there are still problems in getting the help to the people who need it within recipient countries. There are also problems because finanicial assistance (not only from European and North American countreis) is sometimes allocated according to international relations considerations rather than need.

Answer 6

I don't know if you are white or black. Your Avator doesn't give a clue. You however speak the absolute truth. Africa, cannot and should not continue to blame colonialism and the slave trade. They have had ample opportunity to get themselve away from the situation they are in. The real problem is the leaders as you identified and the uneducated masses that populate these countries. Let's be honest they haven't left the stone age and they are a disgrace. They are tribalistic and cannot accept that self help is the key to their problems. Frankly, I as a black man am ashamed of the AHOLES that populate Africa.

Answer 7

"destroyed" Africa? Like there was any advanced civilization south of the Sahara prior to colonization? Gimme a break. Now, I will give you that most of the European countries exported their corrupt governments, which is why so many former colonies and possessions are in such disarray, not just in Africa, but Latin America and Asia, too.

Britain, however, brought a level of civilization and stability whereever it was. From Hong Kong, to South Africa to the Bahamas to New Zealand to US and Canada, they brought their ideas of efficient government and trade and the ideas of the Magna Carta and rights, and their former colonies generally have not fallen into anarchy.

As for aid, it actually harms the advancement of those countries. It's time to get them off the international teat.

Answer 8

yes agreed its corrupt governments should shoulder the blame..a large part of it infact.
However it is important to remember that what we see are just the sypmtoms.
There is a massive global financial infrastructure that favours the weathier countries both in terms of trade and in issues such as national debt.
For instance a country like Malawi may owe Norway , through the World Bank about say..US$100 Billion. They are charged interest (naturally). So a year later they will owe about US$110 Billion , ..Thats 10 billion dollars more of money they do not have. They may just make enough Gross Income to pay off just the interest..so 10- 15 years later...Malawi STILL owes US$100 Billion...Adjust that to inflation and the figures become sobering.
Meantime Norways credit rating rises..because they are being PAID 10 Billion dollars a year for free..and are still owed another 100 Billion.
In this setup the debt may never be paid off...even when rich countries give aid and cancel debts...the amount still owing is huge. Thats just one country .Imagine the effect on several countries in the region , and how they trade with each other.
Another issue is trade protection that is practiced by developed countries. It is very difficult to sell produce from say..Argentina or South Africa..to shops in Europe or North Americca..because the import quotas and tarriffs are shocking.Another point is wealthy countries are the buyers of raw materials ..and yet they DEMAND ridiculously low prices...because they know poor countries have nowhere else to go.Its basically like you walking into a store and telling them you will pay exactly 5 cents for a 100 crates of beer --or else!!!
Finally , perhhaps , is the hand of western countries in putting those dictators into power in the first place...good examples being Pinochet , Coscescu(spelling) of Romania;Abacha... Mobutu in DRC (Congo-Zaire very rich in Uranium). The CIA paid billions to put him into power, alter the ruling structure of the country and it has never recovered.
Now ofcourse ,..yes..money is being siphoned away by the leaders ..as Mugabe in Zimbabwe..whilst the country is bleeding to death..
The question is highly complex and needs a balanced view to address it.

Answer 9

Absolutely greed is a destroyer of Nations, But the good news is that Africa's resources are so abundant and diverse they will last long after other nations have squandered their continents resources.

African Government officials with the help of many Black elected officials from America are slowly retaking control of the continents resources from outside influences and coming to grips with the error of their ways.

The people of Africa have perpetuated and propagated since the dawn of mankind when other groups have come and fallen by the wayside, It is often said "That which does not kill you, Makes you stronger" That being said the peoples of Africa are Herculean!

Answer 10

i'm so glad you said what i have felt about this issue. its people like bono, bob geldof, tony blair, the people of live 8 of whom i blame and who are stupid and sad enough to throw money at africa, when everyone knows already that that continent is messed up and that countries like zimbabwe will take advantage of this opportunity by squandering its financial resources whilst mistreating the poor. see, live 8 and neither did live aid back in 1985 saved africa from the doldrums that it is in now and it never will. corrupt and evil governments don't give a toss about their own people- and still the west falls for that 'poor africa myth' all of the time. sad really.

when will the west snap out of this, and realise that the likes of you and me are in the right, and they are in the wrong?

Answer 11

Hello People,

I think by now we african should have gone past the slave trade issue. I am nigerian and I think the colonial masters left to soon. We did not have the time to experience and mature as a people. Therefore in Nigeria the only unifying factor is the coulour of our skin, we have 250 longuages posiibly a 1000 dialects. It still difficult for people to think of themselves as nigerians, everybody first identifies themselves by their tribal /cultural identities before they think of themselves a citizens of a nation. Shortly after independent, my country discovered oil. This discovery meant people who have been extremely impoverished have now been drowned in wealth that can only be imagined. Unfortunately most of our leaders are highly immature, selfish and unenlightened. the problem with africa is LEADERSHIP. Nigeria for one does not need aid or debt forgiveness because there more money in nigeria that most wealthy european nations. I should know...... I lived there for 30 yrs.