OPINION CHALLENGED: The writer argues that SA’s foreign affairs minister Ronald Lamola should have been more blunt in engaging with the EU’s history of oppression and dispossession in Africa. (Pictures supplied).
The complex histories of slavery and colonialism will continue to shape the relationship between Africa and Europe. This observation, nay, blunt warning – correct and appropriate in every fundamental sense – was made by South Africa’s Minister of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), Ronald Lamola.
Lamola was delivering a keynote address on the following topic: “Future of Europe-Africa Relations: From Intent to Practice,” at a conference organised by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS).
The organising question for the capstone conference, Lamola charged, was as follows: “How can Africa and Europe build on their existing partnership and translate their shared ambitions into practical cooperation that delivers tangible benefits for the people of both continents?”
Scholars would of course conjure up a myriad of responses to Lamola’s very pertinent question, laced in apparent diplomatic decorum.
In today’s reality, Lamola argued, the question has to be addressed in the full awareness of both available opportunities as well as complex challenges. He referred to the “growing uncertainties” and “geopolitical rivalry” that characterises the Africa-Europe relations in an international world order that is going through changes of what international relations scholars say are of immeasurable significance.
What I liked about Lamola’s address before his peers and critical stakeholders was the boldness and the honesty.
In Africa’s determination of how to construct modern-day relations with Europe, decisions ought to be premised on the past experience and knowledge. In short, history. Lamola referred very early in his address to two very vexatious periods in history – slavery and colonialism.
Luckily, as the wise have previously attested, you can’t obliterate history. Others say, you have to know your past in order to understand the present so as thrash out the future wisely.
On paper, slavery and colonialism are no more. However, in my book, the scourge of both continue to plague Africa in very complex and sophisticated ways in modernity. This is the topic that Europe and the rest of West dislike to hear, let alone to discuss.
To this day, Africa and the Caribbean nations have waged battle they continue not to win. It is a battle for reparations.
The cruelty and brutality of slavery is well documented, so I would not dwell much in it because till this day, it causes eyes to be teary. The pain runs too deep to control.
Colonialism is a very different form of evil. It is a subjugation of a people on the basis of various factors, including the colour of their skin, weaknesses, inability to defend their sovereignty militarily, their natural wealth – the list of examples is endless.
Historians have summed up this European conquest of African people at its very height as the “Scramble for Africa”.
Several European nations collided on the African turf, and decided not to exchange fire on foreign lands. Besides, their mission was the same: Conquer and steal the wealth whilst applying “divide and rule” policy which subsequently led to civil wars in many parts of Africa.
Colonial powers that wreaked havoc in Africa primarily were the UK, France, The Netherlands, Germany, Portugal, Italy, Spain.
The cost of their collective devastation can still be felt throughout Africa – from Cape to Cairo, Morocco to Madagascar.
As I indicated earlier, on paper slavery and colonialism are no more, yet in practice, evidence to the contrary abound.
For example, Francophone Africa has as its official language the French language of the erstwhile oppressors, so as the Anglophone Africa predominantly English-speaking. You also have Portuguese in parts of Africa that were colonised by Portugal, such as Mozambique and Angola.
Social Sciences have modules that connects the power of the spoken language to culture, customs and tradition, among others. When Europeans conquered Africans and imposed their ways of life on the vanquished, they in essence eradicated the very true identity of their colonies and subjects. Through colonialism, Africans were stripped off their identities, culture, traditions and general way of life. It was devastating loss that Africans are to recover from. To this day, by and large, Africans remain lost to themselves. Colonialism, as Biko observed, turned Africans into empty shells.
So, when Lamola spoke about the concepts such as “existing partnerships” and “shared ambitions” with Europeans, methinks we ought to call them Europeans out for their ghastly past, and demand, as many African leaders and others in the Diaspora have done – demand reparations as a fresh start.
It would be a start that reflects atonement, atonement for one’s past sins.
Until, and only if Europe can state at their past in the face and pay reparations from the wealth they continue to amass from Africa by under-handed means, there will only be so little that brings the two continents together.
And when Lamola says in relating to Europe Africa will have to address the scourge of conflict and wars, my immediate response is that Europe is central to Africa’s wars and conflict, and we have to say so on the weight of available empirical evidence. The Sahel Regional nations of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have expelled French mercenaries and severed diplomatic relations with the Macron administration in France due to their menacing interference in their domestic affairs.
Lessons and gospel that Lamola and other African foreign ministers and heads of state need to preach is African unity. This is the medicine that the entire continent needs to take, and wake up from their elongated slumber induced by colonial battering.
African leaders need to learn that charity begins at home. Get our continental house in order so that outsiders will respect us on arrival. Unity should be Africa’s central requirement, nay, demand, in fathoming relations with Europeans. The cardinal point in Africa-Europe relations is surely not the same. Let’s call it for what it is. The truth will set us free.
