Page 81 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 13

MY AFRIKA

has not been through natural elements but
deliberate acts, most notably of the British
Empire. The museums of Britain and
Europe are full of the results of` pillage
and plunder`. There are numerous ancient
structures that are in a state of good pres-
ervation but in the case of many of Af-
rica`s cities, palaces, temples and trading
ports of old we are left with nothing other
than the written reports and drawings of
traders and travellers from medieval times
to the final days of complete destruction
in the late 1800s.In terms of beauty and
African people. and leadership for the last 3 centu- even on occasion scale the architecture of
From that moment till now, most ries which has plunged the whole Egypt`s pyramids pale in comparison to
Europeans still think Africans are continent into a dark age, its people other African historical structures. The
savages, inferior, grotesque, unintel- left without guidance. diversity of architecture from this continent
ligent people. They more an african Our fearless warriors and civilization is staggering. The use traditionally of
would display features that would builders are gone. Our global trad- what is termed fractal scaling in building
fit that stigma, the more he or she ers, pyramid, Kingdom and Empire highlights a religious tradition practiced
would be liked by them. builders are extinct. throughout the continent. Fractal scaling
Unsurprisingly none of these is the `Mandelbrot` idea of architecture
Sadly, little is left of our ancestors. generations have being nurtured in where the smallest parts of a structure
When Europeans invaded Africa creating empire, and waging wars, resemble the largest parts. This cultural/
they applied the 4 basic principles defending their territory, protecting religious tradition was/is practised in all
of any occupant forces: their children and women. aspects of life from weaving, to grinding
1. First, Kill the strong and loot the place Reason why we don’t have anymore cereals to the building of homes and pal-
2. Second, Breed the weak the modern version of the fearless aces and is the incorporation of `history`
3. Third, Kill, Deport or Exile the smart- African Warriors and Civilization and explanation of the Universe and our
est and the skilled ones builders. place within it, into everyday lives, lest
4. Fourth, Impose the golden colonial rule When some people ask why are they we forget.” – “Africa Before The 20Th
“My way or the Highway”. so poor, we answer they are not Century” in “Invisible Empire”.
poor, they have been made poor.
The Kings and their descendants We need to invest time and resourc-
were all killed. Additionally, 3 centu- Today, if you want to see the glory es to unearth ourselves the ruins of
ries of transatlantic slavery exported of Africa, you have to go to Europe, our old cities to strengthen the faith
over 12 millions of the finest men where thousands and thousands of a young generation in our ability
and women from Africa to America, of stolen arts objects, civilization to rebound.
tens of millions have died in the artifacts are in public museums and It’s time we revive in the mind of a
process. private collection (in UK, France, new generation of Africans the true
Germany, Belgium, Germany, etc.). nature of their ancestors, the past
Imagine what would happen to any If you want to see the wealth of glory of their empires, the pride of
country or civilization when almost Africa, you have also to go to Eu- its warriors, conquerors and civiliza-
all writers, storytellers, engineers, rope where they are stored in private tion builders, and clearly make them
craftsmen, artists, leaders are killed and public accounts. 5 centuries of understand that the 5 “Centuries of
or exiled? And, Any sign of heir plundering and destruction brought Shame” under European occupation
past glory and ingenuity destroyed the continent to its knees. shall end with a new generation of
or burned? Their books and records Leaders and Builders!
of knowledge stolen or destroyed. As PD Lawton put it “From Egypt to
Who will transmit the century accu- the Sudan, from Mali to Tanzania, from
mulated knowledge to the ordinary Zimbabwe to Mozambique, Africa is
men and women? full of the testimony to her past. In many
It’s that broken link to knowledge cases the complete destruction of structures

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