The 15th century will be known for a long time as the age of exploration and discovery but there is an undertone that leaves a sour taste in the mouth. It is quite hidden and subtle but nonetheless as destructive as termites to untreated wood.
The men of Britain on the command of the queen crossed the seas to the shores of Africa. What they saw was an amazing continent with too much natural, mineral and human resources. They just could not look the other way. This was too good an opportunity to throw away. They were going to exploit these dark uncivilized lands as much as they could and get as much juice from it as they possibly could.
They knew it would come at a cost but the cost did not bother them too much because it was not them that was going to pay. They probably encouraged themselves with the thought that they had brought us their Christian religion and civilization.
.jpeg)
Image Source
Africans were in awe of them. It is even reported that our ancestors used to think the “white man” did not die. They had eternal life it was thought. When they grow old or fall sick, they get taken away and they came back younger and healthier. These guys were the closest they have come to seeing the gods.
But it was all a myth. A lot of them had been killed by the same mosquitoes that had plagued our shores for centuries only to be replaced by fresher and younger men.
The cost of exploiting Africa especially Nigeria was the fact that they had to disrupt the status quo and cause a massive shift in the scheme of things.
So whereas they themselves had a monarch – a lady at that ruling over them – they uninstalled all the major monarchs in Nigeria from king Jaja of Opobo to Oba Ovonranwen to the Nana of Itsekiri and Uthman dan Fodio.
.jpg)
Image Source
And they did all this just so they go get the riches of Africa for themselves. I am consciously trying to avoid the story of the slave trade and how our people were both used and abused by these so called civilized people.
It is really a case of dog eat dog. The Queen of England overthrowing the kings of Africa so she can set up a political system to govern their new lands. But at least we have our independence now.
But thank God for the justice in the universe. Their insistence on breaking the monarchial system of government in Africa opened our eyes to the dividends and benefits of operating other forms of administration.
Whereas a system of governance such as democracy was relatively unpopular at that time, it has become the major trend all over the world.
.jpeg)
Image Source
Should we not take advantage of what on us has befallen? Are we not suppose to now make a twist of our predicament? Geared up with surpassing knowledge that times can make a great change, and now the cloth of ignorance on us has been unveiked, we should build what we have, curtail a pursuit of an African dream. We can only be rated outstanding among other nations of the world when we make out the best of whom we are, when we crave out a path that never has crossed the minds of men alive.
But we are not after building up what in us is left rather we imitate a life that differs from what we truly are. We imitate the British in virtually everything that we intend to do, in the name of trending fashion, we wear clothes that were never recognised by our fore fathers. We want to have a better health, we eat imported meals and drinks, and I wonder how many of us have been able to outlive the age of our fire fathers.
Recalling back to what we ought to be focused on, we have talents, men with great knowledge and wisdom here on the soil of Africa and if we can utilize these resources to our benefits and not imitating the westerners, we can have a much better life for ourselves and our generation unborn.
.jpeg)
Image Source