Book Review: The West and China in Africa – Civilization without justice by Alemayehu Mekonnen.

The West and China in Africa – Civilization without justice by Alemayehu Mekonnen.

Alemayehu shows that Africa seems to be the most badly exploited and most misunderstood region of the World. Despite its rich history, abundant resources and a population with the most diverse tribes, ethnic groups and cultures, the continent is greatly in need of some kind of salvation.

The big question, of course, is where this salvation will come from? The answers to this seemingly straight forward question is more complicated than you think.

The author further shows that many have immersed themselves in the study of African history and culture; and have come up with some brilliant propositions but Africa’s plight has not improved. Like David Livingstone, probably with good intention and Christian motive, pleaded in various platforms about saving Africa with the famous 3 C’s: Christianity, Civilization and Commerce but he could hardly anticipate that those who came in like saviors, would turn out to be oppressors and exploiters.

Most regrettably, Africa has not only suffered under the hands of foreigners but more so under the hands of it’s our sons and daughters.

The book bring one to come face to face with the ugly truth of man’s deprived nature from which springs all sorts of justifications for oppressing and exploiting the less powerful. Justifications such as racism, poverty, ethnic difference, country origin etc.

While reading the book one will quickly realize that the major conflict in Africa is between light and darkness, peace and war, life and death. The author makes it clear that neither the West and China nor African leaders themselves have the moral and ethical ground to claim a messianic mission to save Africa or to blame others for the demise of the continent.

Alemayehu calls for unity among Africans in facing their challenges as it is disunity and lack of collaboration that has been the root causes of the continent lagging behind.
We all need to come to a realization that natural resources without intellectual and technological skills cannot be turned into dollars the author says.

3 Extracts from the book:
1. “Evil is embedded in the nature of humankind, not in the color of their skins. Unfortunately the relationship between the West and Africa is based on unfounded theories and assumptions that are entangled around racial, black-and-white issues; always the white being the superior to the blacks; the blacks as victims to the whites.”

2. “Decades after the so-called independence, the full emancipation of Africans’ mind is still in the making. The Europeans not only colonized history, they colonized information about history. In every aspect of the academic field, if our commitment is strong and our motive pure and genuine, to bring a transformational change in Africa, we must restore the historical consciousness of the African people…. Then, only then African will discover that most of the ideas used today to domesticate, atrophy dissolve or steal his soul we conceived by his own ancestors.

3. “In the game of global economics and political relationships, those who are ahead of the curve are those who are proactive: who think and plan not only for the society they currently lead but also for the generations to come. African leaders are bad bosses at home and loyal and often passive followers on the global scene. Unless they change their patterns of thinking and leadership styles, and become leaders in all spheres of their engagements, nationally and internationally, they cannot negotiate on win-win terms.