Page 104 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 15

Community

AFRIKA

WHAT’S ALL THE STRUGGLE ABOUT?
Samuel Phillips

here is this Yoruba song things, no one is better than the oth- not for comparison.
I knew while growing er and no one is also equal. People Afrika has somehow found herself
up. Loosely translated it are just unique. in the shadows of other continents
Tmeans, “the butterfly that and that, for too long.
tries to imitate the bird will fly until its Most people have lived all their
wings tear.” lives fighting and pushing to be like I love the article by Lawrence
everyone else, except themselves. Freeman about what’s wrong with
There is a lot to bring out of the They struggle to keep the various America’s policy for Afrika. Lots of
words of that song, especially as it public charades going on about how things to think about in the article,
concerns how we have somehow glorious and perfect they are, but but I have a few question:
created a narrative that tries to see break down when in their closets Why would America be interested in
Afrika from the eyes of the West they look at the mirror of them- making policies that will liberate Af-
and East and then how we try to selves and realize that they are, at rika, when that same liberation will
make unhealthy comparisons be- best, deceiving themselves. certainly put a stop to the stealing
tween Afrikans themselves. of Afrika’s wealth by the very same
Sincerely, if you ask me, I will say Americans who wanted the wealth
Now I am not saying that Afrika is it’s ok to sometimes measure how for themselves? Why does Afrika,
the picture of a weak butterfly nor far you have come in life by taking a a continent of fifty five nations,
am I saying that the west is the bird. quick look at others. And even that depend on any policies from one
Not at all. For in the real sense of should be for learning purposes and nation called America to come and

104 | we tell the true afrikan story