Comments on: We Can Take Africa Back, One Village at a Time!

By: Africa_Umoja

Africa_Umoja — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 08:19:54 +0000

I can’t agree more with Kwaheri. Fine to blame the leaders, but let’s note that they are themselves the product of the mis-education the majority of Africans receive. The average African graduate, the potential African leader, knows literally nothing about the African Historical Experience, he has been trained a worshipper of European experience, heroes and society in a way that did not even challenge him to emulate that but just to rever them in a very self-disempowering way. To speak like Ki-Zerbo, he only know how to sleep on the bed of others and rarely dream how to build his. No doubt he expect salvation from there! We can’t really blame him that how he was trained all those long year. Re-ducation is key. And there is a lot of initiatives in that direction now. The future will tell.

By: Kwaheri

Kwaheri — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 23:41:32 +0000

What needs to be taken from Goerge Ayittey is that what we call “western” as far as government, existed in Africa long before there was a United States.

In other words, yes Africa needs to remember colonialism and the part it has played and continues to play in the under-developement of modern Africa. It’s fine to place blame where it is due, but at the same time, Africans need to re-educate themselves on the history of pre-colonial Africa.

Africa has never needed white men and never will. As soon as it realizes that and stop looking to europe, the true leaders will emerge.

By: George N. Mtonga

George N. Mtonga — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 04:23:13 +0000

I agree that a new generation of African leaders needs to emerge, one that is not tainted by the politics of the fossils of the colonial struggle. Indeed, we met the challenges of independence with valor rivaling that of the American revolution. However, we should not in any case wonder over that absurd reality. The world has drastically changed and I think that at some point we will need to address the need for new thinkers, new leaders. Often times the values that have given prosperity to many nations such as the United States are often discarded away when individuals try to integrate them as ‘westernization” when in fact the reality of economic development should not be a matter of who brought it: we just want to develop for God’s sake, which ever God you might subscribe to. I might consider myself a Cheetah generation soon to be Hippo generation; and before anything is tainted I want to make sure that I can lead a portion of Africa in the right direction. With all do respect, I don’t want the whole section of “developmental economics” to always be associated with Africa—THE CONTINENT IS A CASE STUDY FOR SCHOLARS TRYING TO UNDERSTAND DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUES!!! To be honest, we are coming we are currently in the hallways of some of the best universities in the United States; and the day will land will be the say the world will wonder where we have been!! Oh yes, we will give the ” Founding Fathers” something to think about and we will shame them; because our Africa will go in a whole different direction!!!

By: afrotechie » Blog Archive » With the cheetahs at TEDGlobal 2007

afrotechie » Blog Archive » With the cheetahs at TEDGlobal 2007 — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 15:44:51 +0000

[…] water holes, complaining about colonialism and poverty, but doing nothing about it. [Thank you White African for the […]

By: The Power of a TED Talk | White African

The Power of a TED Talk | White African — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 15:10:46 +0000

[…] know not everyone agrees with my sentiments about George Ayittey’s explanation describing the differences between the “cheetah” and “hippo” […]

By: Robin Opperman

Robin Opperman — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 18:07:55 +0000

I have lived in Africa, and intend living here for as long as I can. I run an inclusive art and craft workshop, and on a daily basis I am paralysed at how my crafters are victims of increasing violence, Aids and poverty. We are an NPO an have to run as a business as the public funders are essentially out of action. The Zim Crisis deepens and deepens, and we find our African leaders applauding Robert Mugabe, while we try to assist increasing numbers of Zimbabwean beaders to make some kind of a living here, and to not turn to crime.

I believe in Africa passionately, I do however worry that we need to reignite that passion and belief in ourselves, and I hope that our leaders can put down their buckets of money for a while, and help to lead the way.

By: But, Where Were the Hippos!? | White African

But, Where Were the Hippos!? | White African — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 04:44:59 +0000

[…] backstory here is from George Ayittey’s brilliant speech in Arusha, where he likened the TED Fellows and other entrepreneurs present as the […]

By: lynda

lynda — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 19:54:57 +0000

Wish I could have heard some of his.

By: David McQueen

David McQueen — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 21:21:35 +0000

when George hit the stage he was electric from start to finish. I love the fact that he could intertwine humour with a serious message of change.

He is definitely a thought leader that many of us in the diaspora have a lot of time for.

By: Afromusing

Afromusing — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 12:57:57 +0000

Excellent post Hash. He is just incredibly inspiring and impressive.