Skip to main content

THE AFRICAN IN THE MIRROR. By Abimbola Lagunju



 Excerpts from this book:


"The persistence of this trait in the gene pool makes it possible to draw
parallels between major actors of early African history and their
contemporary counterparts.  Mali emperors were known for their extravagant
pilgrimages to Mecca, not for their religious zealousness or piety. Mansa
Kankan Mussa made the most extravagant pilgrimage to Mecca in African
history. 

He (Mansa Musa) travelled to Mecca in 1325, with 500 slaves and 100 camels
(each carrying gold). It is recorded that  he gave away gold in enormous
quantities to the amazement of all the communities and villages through
which he passed. He had gotten the wealth from outrageous taxes on his
subjects, levies, sale of slaves, and from enslaving other African
states....

"Mansa K. Mussa has many parallels in contemporary African history. It is a
known fact  that some post independence African leaders looted their
country even  to the amazement of their greedy Western backers. African
leaders were known and are still famous for their immense ill-gotten wealth
and their extravagance in foreign countries, whilst it is an open secret
that their countries are mired in squalor and poverty...

"Two former African presidents were rated among the ten most corrupt
leaders in the world by Transparency International in a report in 2004. it
was claimed that Mobutu Seseko stole about four billion dollars; Nigeria's
Sanni Abacha stole about six billion dollars...Jean Bokassa of CAR made
himself a golden throne amid the squalor of his country...."

 

Comments

  1. HERCULE21 September 2021 at 02:11

    A very thought-provoking book!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Eric22 September 2021 at 01:24

    Excellent, committed writing. One must read the whole book though

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

MBELLA SONNE DIPOKO: Prurient Writer?

Cameroonian writer Mbella Sonne Dipoko (1936 - 2009) was mainly depicted as an erotic writer of sorts; whereas the simple truth is that he was a very good novelist and poet. His novels in particular disturbed a number of critics, reviewers and readers because of the rather explicit sexual content therein. That was way back in the 60s when some felt that a "serious, committed African writer" should not dwell too much on such things. As Paul Theroux suggested then decades ago, African writers were supposed to write "about solid tribal wisdom, ghoulish rituals and the inscrutable cruelty of colonialism - not to mention the inclusion of semi-profound proverbs and the utterances of very old men with dry skin and wizened faces." Yet, even way back in the 60s (and early seventies) other distinguished African writers wrote about sex in some detail in their works; for example Ayi Kwei Armah ( especially in Fragments), Chinua Achebe (A man of the People), ...
2 comments
Read more

CHAKA By Thomas Mofolo

Review by IM Soqaga Harking back to historical novels of the nations which have been churned out incessantly over the years will continue to be fascinating. Many nations such as in Europe, United State, China and elsewhere in the world have been fully versed on the genre from medieval times up to the 20th century till today. Consequentially, African writers like Thomas Mofolo, Chinua Achebe, Sol Plaatje, Ayi Kwei Armha, Naguib Mahfouz, Wole Soyinka, Maaza Mengistu, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi etc have made many impressive strides in advancing this intriguing genre. Since around 1907 to 1910, a proficient African literary pioneer from Lesotho finished penning a monumental book in Sesotho, one of Southern African indigenous languages. The book is about the most famous Chaka, the King of the Zulu’s. It is a known fact as why the book was delayed and was ultimately being published in 1925. After its publication the book Chaka by Thomas Mofolo was immed...
12 comments
Read more

VICTOR THORPE - inimitable story teller

Victor Thorpe wrote and published a series of brilliant, well-plotted African thrillers. The inherent, spontaneous humour running through these works always stands out, almost undermining the sophisticated language, and polished erudition embedded in these enduring novels. Thorpe's books include The Worshippers, The Instrument, and Stone of Vengeance. Here is a biography of this most intriguing writer: Thorpe was in Calabar, Nigeria, in 1919. After completing his secondary education, he served in the Army as a signaler, clerical officer, method instructor and physical training instructor. He joined the British Council in Ibadan in 1948 and worked as a library assistance and clerk before being promoted to Administrative Assistant. He retired in 1975 and was recalled in 1977 to serve as Acting Librarian. He was the Nigerian Chairman of the Society of Metaphysicians, leader of the Efik community in Ibadan and President of the Calabar Welfare Association. He died in 1994. ...
Post a Comment
Read more