Page 54 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 25
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tragedy. then, and the root cause of governments, foreign countries
so much bloodshed has been and wealthy foreigners
“We cannot give to the hyena traced by historians to the are rapidly taking over the
twice” is invoked even today Africa land grab or scramble productive lands in Africa
to warn of a possible repeat for Africa by the European and turning Africans into
of a tragedy. For instance, a powers that resulted in the refugees and slave labourers
good statement to prominently famous Partition of Africa in their own homeland”.
display at the entrance of a between the European powers According to the website,
genocide memorial would be, in 1885. Kenya happened what is unfolding in Africa is
“WE SHOULD NOT GIVE TO to fall under the British a tragedy of epic proportions.
THE HYENA TWICE”, thus “Sphere of Influence” and the Clothed in the garb of “Food
reminding all and posterity of subsequent British settlement Security in Africa” these
the possible danger of a second saw the alienation of land from massive land grabs by foreign
genocide. Here in Kenya and the Africans. It just happened multinational corporations are
particularly in Kikuyuland, that the major part of the into production of bio fuels,
this statement is poignant alienated, grabbed lands were palm oil, flowers, sugar cane,
and invoked to remind us all the fertile Highlands that also pine apples, etc. etc. not for
that the events that led to the happened to be mainly Kikuyu consumption by Africans
painful upheaval of the 1952- land. Versions of the history but for repatriation to China,
58 period where thousands of of this struggle are taught in Quatal, France, Saudi Arabia to
mainly Gīkūyū peoples were Kenyan schools and are also mention a few. (see map below)
herded into detention camps available online and in libraries
some as far as Lamu island and and it’s not necessary to repeat
Hola should never be repeated. any here. Suffice to say that
Those, especially women and it would be unfortunate were
children who were not held we to break the oath of our
in detention camps were in forefathers and give to the
1952-56 held in labour camp hyena twice.
villages which were ringed
with trenches and barbed wire Why do we say this?
complete with watchtowers.
Those who went through this Today, the second scramble This in exchange for mainly
traumatic period of our Kenyan for Africa, the second land mechanical and electronic
history and those who know grab in Africa is under way. toys that fascinate the modern
swear on oath, that “We will According to “Stop Africa African bourgeoisie. The scale
NEVER EVER give to the Land Grab”, “The African of the land deals has prompted
hyena twice” people face an existential some to comment, “It is a mad
threat. With the enthusiastic scramble for Africa farmland
The major bone of contention support of some African right now” and again just as
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