The Trouble With Kenyans
Sometime early last year, I met for lunch with a group of Africans who work within the same vicinity as me. During the course of our one hour gathering we talked about various issues including the behaviour of the typical African in America. I don't remember exactly who and how this topic was started but I can clearly remember my Nigerian friend stating that one of the biggest obstacles facing Africans is our submissive attitude. He went on to blame this on our upbringing where we were taught not to dispute the elders, even when they are wrong.
You can imagine, not even one of us disputed this statement. The five of us, from different parts of Africa, were in full agreement about this issue.
To put it plainly, I have always thought that Kenyans are not aggressive people in general. There was once that I recommended a Kenyan acquittance for a job and the owner of the firm asked me if the guy was aggressive, to which I answered negative. To be honest, I expected the question and my friend went on to comment about the non-aggressive nature of East Africans.
Before anyone accusses me of generalizing the African populace, I would like to state a quote that I came across on the web. This quote is from an interview of Robert Calderisi, the author of a book titled "The Trouble With Africa : Why Foreign Aid Isn't Working ". Robert once resided in Tanzania and Cote d’Ivoire and was the World Bank’s international spokesperson on Africa from 1997 to 2000.
The Trouble With Africa |
During the interview, Robert is asked about the "passivity among Africans which expresses itself in a willingness to accept pain and suffering". I couldn't agree more with Robert who says that "Africans accept bad guys because they've never known anything else and because they've been brought up to respect their elders, whether the elders are wise or not. This acceptance of evil and adversity is part of the African character--admirable on one level, unfortunate on another. But I think Africans deserve better than accepting what they've got".
With the exception of the first part where he says we've never known anything else, I think his reply clearly captures my sentiments. If I could say it differently, whoever sang the song "Que Sera Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)" had Kenyans in mind when they wrote it up. That is not to say that we are not hard working or less intelligent as people from some quarters would like us to believe.
My plea to Kenyans, especially if you are based in the diaspora, is that we should not be content with settling for less. The world does not owe us a favour and neither should we expect to be treated differently. We have to learn to be go-getters.
I'm not saying we grow rastas and become a trouble makers (aka rebels). Far from that. Learn to look at people in the eyes when you are talking to them and express yourself with confidence. Talking with a 'weird' accent with a few shrubs in between should by no means cow you from speaking. Never be afraid to speak up your mind.
And if you must fight, pick your fights wisely and put up a strong defence. Concede on what is not important. Nay, don't bother with trivial issues. Recognize your weaknesses and capitalize on your strengths.
If these do not work, drop the fake twang.
Just cause we come from Africa is no reason for us to accept the world or our inept leaders to put us down. We need to carry ourselves with dignity. Do not be afraid of your lecturers, co-workers, neighbours, friends, strangers. Whether you are in your neighborhood, place of work, college or even church, stand tall and be bold at all times.
Don't settle for less.
Our future is in our hands. Enjoy the video:)
7 comments:
A few days ago was having a somewhat similar conversation with a group of friends which went as follows:
We did what our parents told us without questioning whether it was right/wrong or their reasoning behind what was asked of us.
My first year in diaspora was quite an eye opener when i realised it was ok to have an opinion and that i would not be lynched simply because i chose to disagree with somebody in authority.
I have discovered that having an opinion and the confidence to express that opinion will take you a long way abroad.
I do agree that Kenyans would be much further if we learnt not to take everything lying down. What I shudder to think is that we as Kenyans are the most aggressive EAst Africans, so what do people say about Tanzanians and Ugandans in that case?
Candy box, Coincidentally, the title of Roberts interview is titled 'Questioning Authority'.
Acolyte, As they say, Good guys finish last. Our politeness is our Achilles heel.
Many Kenyans have an opinion, but lack the self-confindence to express it.
Self-confidence comes from many things...
I have just read this a bit late but so true.Thanks ssebonge.
Kairitu
You are welcome Kairitu
I do not agree, because there are all kinds of kenyans who deal with adversity differently. I speculate the common strand among kenyans in an upringing which honors an ordered society i.e assumes a valid and manifest social contract; hence the common expection that pple will generally not have to do without a favourable establishment on their side.
State side the equition is somewhat different in that kenyans may generally happen to fall on the portion of society seen as NOT part of the establishment and in any case the existance of a muiltiplicity of gov't authorities,secterian power bases and insitutionalized corruption has created variations in the prevailing social contract in America. It is for example not unusual to hear americam polititians talk about an on going or fluid dynamic in the social contract here, between religious groups and the gov't while Kenyans do not grow up this this bizzaro contention. Ours is a tidier society and prouder although it may not appear so. How would kenyans for example feel if Hillary Clinton pulled a similar stunt in Kenya. Would the kind of insult she represents in her candidacy register in Kenya better than it does here? I bet it would and i think American society is more unequal and more difficult than pple give it credit.
On the other side what is available here are wide spanning opportunity for dexterity. Never settle for a NO permantly, there will always be an other door to ask... oh yeaH Oh yeaHH keep tring you only gotta hope although economic tendancies of concentration of wealth etc may not not sit well with that assumption above.
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