By: Nana Arhin Tsiwah
“Mau Mau”a term believed to be an acronym in Swahili that means, “Let the foreigner go back abroad, let the African regain independence”. This was a call made by Dedan Kimathi during the struggle for independence in Kenya. I think that Kimathi’s movement of ‘Mau Mau’ still applies today here in all Africa countries.
Today, most Africa countries be it former British, French, Portuguese or Belgian colonies are still living under the shadow of servitude in independence or fragmented independence.
Independence is a holistic venture. It includes all wheels which run a nation. It embodies the entire social, political, economical,
religious and cultural spectrum of a people and nation. Can this independence be deemed as what truly engulfs our nations and
continent? I guess, this simple rhetoric needs no pondering over to give an answer; No.
The”Mau Mau” movement sought to demonstrate against the infringement of the right of the local people in areas of life concerning their lands, culture and governing. Taking a look at what is happening in Africa today, everything tells us that She needs to regain independence.
The people of South Africa have their lands in the hands of foreigners. President Robert Mugabe the last liberational pillar in Africa had to embattle white dominance in order to restore the land of his people in Zimbabwe.
Economically, Africa is living in the shadows of “no win” in the battle field. In fact, our entire economical set-up is dictated and architecturally manned by those same foreigners whom we claim we had independence from. The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund keeps dictating our economic policies. In fact, we are still the pre-independence “puppets”.
Isn’t it so pathetic to note how our very own culture have been quashed to nothing. Our identity has gradually dwindle. Black women and men living on the Africa-land no longer value their skin. They deem black skin as a mistake by the creator, thus, the daily bleaching of their skin. Our people no longer admire their dressing as well as language. Talk of food and lifestyle in general and there is nothing good to write home about.
Our political and national aspiration is in the hands of foreigners. We are under the whims and caprices of the international and foreign watchers. We as a people still work tirelessly to institute principle in terms of political endeavour to please those whites. Our elections becomes either credible or incredible from the reports of these international observers. Some Africa countries like La Cot? d’Ivoir?, Egypt and what have you that have being torn apart and destroyed is as a result of these same observer reports.
Isn’t it fair to state without any shred of doubt that, Africa needs to regain independence. The independence fought and won by our Liberation Leaders who are no more has actually fallen into the gutters of nothing worthwhile.
The many problems fraughting our nations can only be salvaged, or we can find lasting solutions to the myriad of problems impinging on our prospects to develop as nations and continent if only we understand that, indeed our independence needs to be regained.
Indeed we have gained independence but to regain true independence, this must come from a conscious revolutionary modalities and strategies which is based on conscientising the African to enable him understand that the independence we are priding ourselves with, which even go to the higher extent of celebrating it as part of our national holidays has totally fallen or put it has shrink into the sands of white control.
“Mau Mau”, Let the white go back abroad, let the African regain independence. Africa must surely regain independence.
Long Live Africa!
Long may her nations prosper!!
