Richard Inegbedion

When the word “Africa” comes to mind, I’m reminded of a continent rich in diversity, yet struggling to find unity. We prioritize supremacy over collective progress because of internal tribal divisions and external rivalries. Across Africa, from east to west, north to south, a familiar tale unfolds; there is disunity among us. Because we have failed to learn from history, we are repeating the mistakes of the past. Colonialism tore us apart, turning Africans into strangers. This cycle persists due to our lack of knowledge about our shared history.

During the post-colonial era, Africans experienced a strong sense of cohesion, driven by our shared struggle against colonial domination. We were united in our quest for freedom, and news of resistance in one country inspired solidarity in another. Despite nursing the scars of colonialism, we found strength in our shared experiences, fostering a sense of mutual care and brotherly love.

Government military coups became a norm as this created underdevelopment. It could have distracted us, but instead we became more aware of each other because we all had the same problem: abuse of power. At that time, not all African countries were free yet. We had to wait for South Africa to be free from the oppression of white Afrikaners when Nelson Mandela was in jail. We were all connected by Mandela’s dilemma, as his struggle became the struggle of every other African.

The era of resistance against apartheid in South Africa was a pivotal moment in African history. As black Africans united against the oppressive white supremacy government, they found strength in their shared struggle. This solidarity fostered unity, raised awareness about black South African culture, and sparked pan-Africanism across the continent, breaking down cultural and national barriers.

Fast-forward to today, and it’s disheartening to see that every African seems to be focused solely on their interests. Even within countries, people who should consider themselves brothers and sisters are at odds with each other. We’ve lost sight of our shared heritage, viewing one another as foreigners and neglecting each other’s cultures and values.

Conduct an interview with young people from at least ten different African countries, asking them about pre-colonial African history. The responses would likely reference popular culture, such as Nollywood for Nigeria or marathon running for Kenya, rather than actual historical events. This lack of knowledge is shameful, highlighting our disconnection from our shared past and our ignorance of each other’s languages and histories.

I had a close look at the African educational curriculum, and was dismayed to discover that African history has been largely excluded or marginalized. It’s ironic that subjects like French, English, and Religious Studies remain prominent, while the study of our rich and diverse history has been relegated to the periphery.

So who’s responsible for this? Is it the African leadership, the African people, or the western influence? The answer is everyone. African governments, influenced by the money they continue to receive from their colonial masters, have put Western-focused subjects ahead of learning about African history and culture. This has led to the suppression of indigenous knowledge and heritage, as Western languages, cultures, and values are imposed upon African societies.

We, as a people, are also culpable in this cultural forgetfulness. By internalizing Western values and prioritizing Western education, we have inadvertently contributed to the erosion of our collective identity. This has resulted in a profound cultural amnesia, where many Africans have lost touch with their rich cultural heritage.

This current lack of historical knowledge has led to a disturbing phenomenon, in which many born free black South Africans harbour hatred towards Nigerians and other Africans. Many of them remain oblivious to the significant role Nigeria and other Africans played in the fight against apartheid and the liberation of black South Africans.

Nigeria was a vocal opponent of apartheid, providing significant financial and diplomatic support to the African National Congress (ANC) and other anti-apartheid movements. In 1977, Nigeria’s then-military government, led by General Olusegun Obasanjo, also played a key role in convincing the Organization of African Unity (OAU) to impose economic sanctions on South Africa. Perhaps if proper African history were taught in every South African school, it could potentially transform their perspective on Africans as a whole.

When attempting to educate them about the significant contributions made by African countries towards South Africa’s freedom, it becomes clear that truly, a mentally enslaved mind really does struggle to accept unfamiliar truths. Ironically, in the same country, white Afrikaners continue to thrive, perpetuating their dominance while many black South Africans remain complacent.

A troubling reality is that white South Africans earn significantly more than their black counterparts, with average annual salaries of around R487,000 ($34,000 USD) compared to R138,000 ($9,500 USD) for black South Africans. This disparity is mirrored in the country’s wealth distribution, where the top 10 richest men are predominantly white, including Johann Rupert ($7.4 billion), Nicky Oppenheimer ($6.5 billion), and Naspers’ Koos Bekker ($2.5 billion). In contrast, few black South Africans have achieved similar wealth, with exceptions like Patrice Motsepe ($2.2 billion), Cyril Ramaphosa ($450 million), and Tokyo Sexwale ($200 million).

This raises disturbing questions: How can a people ignore the root causes of their oppression and instead turn on others who had no role in their marginalization? This paradox is the result of a profound disconnect from our collective history. When people are unaware of their past, they tend to repeat the mistakes of yesterday.

Despite the facts, many South Africans perpetuate the false narrative that Nigerians are drug dealers and agents of evil. This leaves a big question: Was South Africa ever crime-free before Nigerians arrived? Even a child is aware that crime and lawlessness had already pervaded the townships, and drugs were in high demand long before the arrival of Nigerians. The apartheid era’s brutal suppression, violence, and exploitation left a lingering legacy.

No man can move forward without being taught the story of where he came from. Teaching African history in schools, especially at the university level, would be a game-changer. Imagine the pride and unity we’d foster by learning about our heritage. We could forge a strong alliance that would make other continents take notice.

At this pivotal moment, every African should possess in-depth knowledge of our collective history, spanning from our internal narratives to the stories of Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Egypt, Ghana, and beyond. Moreover, it’s imperative we educate our younger generations about the majestic African royal heritage, emphasizing our lineages of royalty, not just slavery.

We must reject the harmful Western ideology that has led to the alarming trend of African women bleaching their skin. This dangerous practice stems from a false narrative that black skin is inferior and less desirable. Additionally, we must dismantle the oppressive mindset that native languages hold less value than colonial languages like English.

We must safeguard the sanity of future generations. If our current generation is already struggling with identity and self-acceptance, what will become of the next? It’s recommended that every African government takes immediate action. We need to change our education system completely and teach African history and culture from kindergarten to university level. This will help our youth develop a strong sense of identity, pride, and self-worth, ensuring a brighter future for Africa.

We must unite through knowledge, embracing our shared heritage as the birthplace of humanity. By acknowledging our true history, we can overcome cultural ignorance and reclaim our rightful place in the world. Right now, we need to do something to help future generations..

Photo by James Wiseman on Unsplash