Africa’s growth tragedy has been explained in many frameworks. Some of the key factors are: slavery, colonialism, geography and ethnic fragmentation.  Ethnic tension remains one of the main driving forces that has contributed and continues to undermine Africa’s growth politically, economically and socially.

Colonialism and slavery in their physical manifestations have been consigned into the dust bin of history but there are still some vestiges of these phenomena in the international economic, political and legal systems. Some African countries have excellent geographical locations and fertile soil for food production but cannot adequately feel themselves without an international community’s intervention. This is also attributed to the inequality in the international trade regulations and Africa’s exponential debt load to the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and rich Western countries.

Despite Africa’s enormous reservoir of natural resources it is still the victim of unspeakable abject poverty and disease which give it an exclusive known headlines in the international media. For example, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, DR Congo, are richer than most countries in the Western Hemisphere; but then their riches does not translate into neither social cohesion of its people not economic and political independence of its governments. The list goes on and on.  There are many fundamental issues associated with these conditions but ethnic fragmentation which accounts for about 70% of Africa’s social problem is one of the main issues brought about as a result of the failure of the colonialists to properly orientate the emergent African nations towards nationhood. China is one of the polarized countries in the world but it is Africa, whose polarization constitutes potential for annihilation, poor governance, and political instability and in most cases these lead to arm conflicts of a catastrophic proportion.

It is the goal of all legitimate states to build a common national identity among its people such as language and cultural values. This helps to cement the foundation of a state and lead to growth and development. This seems to be the major difficulty facing most African states. Now the question all Africans ponder is: What values and experiences have Africans learned from other national societies that have faced and dealt with such problems before in their national evolutions? 

Westernization of Africans through resettlement programs to Western countries could benefit Africa if the Africans themselves make sense of their collective experiences in the Diaspora and translate those experiences to modus operandis to solve Africa’s problems. Africa has got to rise over post slavery and post colonialism mentality and take their rightful places in the community of nations by emulating examples of successful countries around the world Such as Ghana, America, Senegal, Canada, Mali, Australia, Botswana, South Africa, UK, etc. Take a moment and think about it.

I have been observing and studying the various African communities here in Canada. One thing that really shocks me is the level of mutual understanding and concern that exist within those communities. Each country’s residents from Sub Saharan Africa will always come together to celebrate its independence day in grand style. I have seen Christians and Muslims from Sudan or Nigeria together; I have seen Hausa, Fulani and Yoruba together. I have seen Mandingo and Gio from Liberia together. But back home it is a different and sad story, sometimes very awful and odd. Too often, these relationships and interactions go very bad and result in conflict, for example, the recent religious conflict in Nigeria which claimed many lives. Take a moment and thing about it, and ask yourselves why that has to be the case?

It is immaterial whether or not I am a Canadian citizen; but what I admire about this wonderful society is their open-mindedness, untainted ideology of tolerance and their proactive approach to multiculturalism. Aren’t these values to be cherished and emulated? Think about it for a moment.