The Fate of Africa
Currently reading The Fate of Africa, by Martin Meredith, about the recent (last 50 years) history of that embattled continent.
The book covers lots of ground in its 700 pages, with names as prominent and familiar as any 20th century western politician's -- Idi Amin, Haile Selassie, Neslon Mandela, Gamal Abdul Nasser, Robert Mugabe. Even Che Guevara makes an appearance. But this is vaguely familiar history - most of us just know the names, and very little of the stories behind them.
They are not pleasant stories. The Fate of Africa is similar in tone and effect to Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, a book that I could only read one or two chapters at a time. (Of course, I read Wounded Knee in my more idealistic early 20s - I am now a little more aware of its failings as "history" - nonetheless, it still was a difficult read)
Africa's plight today - massive debt and endemic disease and hunger, corrupt and authoritarian governments, brutal regional and civil wars - begs for answers. And, in today's political climate, it is tempting to point fingers.
Colonialism and imperialism gave way, in the 1950s, to the hope of self-rule, and even plans for a "United States of Africa". But in the 1960s, regional violence, border disputes, and tribal conflicts combined with massive corruption and disastrous Marxist/Socialist economic policies led almost every single African country down the road to the ruin that we see today.
So is colonialism or socialism at the root of the problem? Western capitalists or Marxist revolutionaries? Not sure.
The colonialists left, some by force, some voluntarily, in the 1950s. The revolutionaries left - including a frustrated Che (viva la revolucion!) in the 1960s (and early 1970s). The leaders took power, almost exclusively by force, and held on tight. Many of them, such as Mugabe in Zimbabwe, Omar Bongo in Gabon, or Teodoro Mbasogo, who took over an absolutely shattered Equatorial Guinea in 1979, have ruled unopposed for decades.
The west, the east, and the African elite, all share in the blame.
It struck me that Africa is like one of those child actors we read about, talented but naive, that is exploited by everyone they come into contact with; agents, advisors, even family. We know how these children tend to turn out as adults, abandoned and dysfunctional.
I'm about halfway through the book, which was published this year, a year that has seen news coverage of the crisis in Darfur/Sudan, a reminder of the 10th anniversary of modern genocide with Hotel Rwanda, and efforts by the world to address Africa's many problems at the recent G8 conference.
I'll keep reading, even though I know the sad ending.
The book covers lots of ground in its 700 pages, with names as prominent and familiar as any 20th century western politician's -- Idi Amin, Haile Selassie, Neslon Mandela, Gamal Abdul Nasser, Robert Mugabe. Even Che Guevara makes an appearance. But this is vaguely familiar history - most of us just know the names, and very little of the stories behind them.
They are not pleasant stories. The Fate of Africa is similar in tone and effect to Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, a book that I could only read one or two chapters at a time. (Of course, I read Wounded Knee in my more idealistic early 20s - I am now a little more aware of its failings as "history" - nonetheless, it still was a difficult read)
Africa's plight today - massive debt and endemic disease and hunger, corrupt and authoritarian governments, brutal regional and civil wars - begs for answers. And, in today's political climate, it is tempting to point fingers.
Colonialism and imperialism gave way, in the 1950s, to the hope of self-rule, and even plans for a "United States of Africa". But in the 1960s, regional violence, border disputes, and tribal conflicts combined with massive corruption and disastrous Marxist/Socialist economic policies led almost every single African country down the road to the ruin that we see today.
So is colonialism or socialism at the root of the problem? Western capitalists or Marxist revolutionaries? Not sure.
The colonialists left, some by force, some voluntarily, in the 1950s. The revolutionaries left - including a frustrated Che (viva la revolucion!) in the 1960s (and early 1970s). The leaders took power, almost exclusively by force, and held on tight. Many of them, such as Mugabe in Zimbabwe, Omar Bongo in Gabon, or Teodoro Mbasogo, who took over an absolutely shattered Equatorial Guinea in 1979, have ruled unopposed for decades.
The west, the east, and the African elite, all share in the blame.
It struck me that Africa is like one of those child actors we read about, talented but naive, that is exploited by everyone they come into contact with; agents, advisors, even family. We know how these children tend to turn out as adults, abandoned and dysfunctional.
I'm about halfway through the book, which was published this year, a year that has seen news coverage of the crisis in Darfur/Sudan, a reminder of the 10th anniversary of modern genocide with Hotel Rwanda, and efforts by the world to address Africa's many problems at the recent G8 conference.
I'll keep reading, even though I know the sad ending.
posted by paul at 11:14 AM
2 Comments:
Just ordered this book. Fully because of such an interesting review, here. (^_^) It's nice to read books without slant, on subjects too important not to take issue with, in the present.
Speaking of Darfur, I found a very touching video... and being an Artist (fine art painter)it was with this perspective that I posted about it:
Realities In Crayon.
I look forward to more of your great writing...
See you soon.
Now that's a nice change of pace from the spam comments I'm used to...
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