George Fox University Graduation

Why Western democracy has failed in Africa

“Who is the judge?
The judge is God.
Why is he God?
Because he decides who wins or loses. Not my opponeent.
Who is your opponent?
He does not exist.
Why does he not exist?
Because he is a mere dissenting voice of the truth I speak!”
- “The Great Debaters”, one of the coolest movies ever made.

Ten years ago, towards the end of 2001, I was on stage in full school uniform about to embark on one of the defining moments of my life. It was the Finals of The Nairobi Inter-Schools Debate Competition and my school was up against some feisty chicks from State House Girls School in a 3-on-3 Westminster-style face-off.

The motion was read out to the entire hall: “Western Democracy Has Failed in Africa” My team was selected to propose the motion and I was the third man therefore I was the one doing the closing arguments.
The nerves. The lights. The millions of eyes fixed on you. The quick shuffle of cue cards. That final deep breath. Then the moment of truth. It’s been a while since that memorable debate but I still feel just as passionately about the issue then as I do now.


One of the problems we have always had as a continent is our uninhibited belief that what the West sets as the benchmark must be the one and only universal way of doing things, therefore if the West says that democracy is the best form of government, we embrace democracy even though in actuality, what we practice is plain oligarchy and dictatorship. I strongly believe that our leadership problems will only be solved through violent confrontation with the agents of oppression. The reason is that the agents of oppression sustain their reign of terror through violence and thus the only language they will understand is violence and indeed only violence can wrest power from them. So, in the spirit of Vladimir Lenin, we must call for an alliance of the military, the workers, and the peasants in this march to freedom land.

By arguing that Western democracy is failing in Africa, that doesn’t mean I am against democracy or its ideals. I am however against a type of government that has resulted to unrestrained squandmania, the elevation of some to the position of owners, and the reduction of the greater majority into a class of slaves. I am also against the fouling of our communal air by the corruption bloated politicians such that foul smell has become the perfume of all of us.

Perhaps the idea of a type of government where the electorate empowers the elected, while the elected listen to the opinion of the electorate was probably what the proponents of Democracy had in mind. Unfortunately, it has become an unrealizable feat in Africa. Furthermore, I would argue that instead of forcing democracy to succeed, Africans within their diverse societies have the capacity, flexibility and rationality to study their own societies and consequently evolve their own workable systems of government.

From diasporadical

Africa needs all its sons and daughters

When I hear stories like that of a woman being refused to become a chief, simply because of her gender (female), when she clearly qualifies to hold a position of power, it awakens something hard to explain inside of me. Let me try explaining it in my own ways; basically, I am sick and tired of these “traditionalists, patriarchic oriented” losers who cannot see past their own personal, Stone Age and stupid beliefs that say a woman is “inferior” and therefore should be treated as such. When on the other hand, these are the very “men” who spend an entire day sleeping, playing games, drinking coffee, while their wives go fetch the wood, clean for theme, cook and take care of the entire family even when they are sick! I am telling you even donkeys take a break! Most of these women work to their deaths partly because of their motherly love, and partly because they have no other choice.

It is one thing to say someone does not qualify, and another to say she qualifies, but won’t be given a chance because she is a woman. Seriously, what’s truly more ignorant than this way of thinking? But what’s even surprising is the fact that some of these men saying and believing in such ways of doing business are educated! Or educated? I don’t know how to qualify them at this point. I don’t know if I should say it is fear, or selfishness or simply being stupid enough, not to understand what’s better for the self. Honestly, I just can’t imagine someone tying a hand that helps him wipe his butt, put food in his mouth, scratches his back when he needs it, protects him when he is defenseless and the list goes on! In what world does this make sense? Weren’t these very “men” brought onto this planet they now think they own by the very woman they have now branded “inferior?” it is truly hard to digest.

Again going back to my question, which is better? Allowing an unqualified male take charge and screw everything? Or put in a qualified woman who can make things better for the entire village? If these “men” don’t know or understand the value of smart women (not necessarily meaning educated women) and what they bring to the table, I would suggest they go to Sud Kivu, Darfur, Lusaka and some other places, and take a good look at how much women hold the economy and families of that area together. I have seen women carry loads big enough to hold a small pick up truck down! Or maybe that’s a little bit of exaggeration, but you get my point; these women are constantly working to feed their children and husbands, villages and towns, cities and countries, which means, they are also capable of feeding the entire continent (if they aren’t doing that already behind the scene) in their own ways, but they have to be given equal opportunities.

At this point in history, a time when everybody is needed in order to make Africa better, we cannot afford watching our bright mothers and sisters being undermined by the very “men” who have done nothing more than cruelly holding onto power, causing sufferings of all kinds while calling themselves “leaders.” Time has come for those feeling concerned enough about the progress and future prosperity of Africa, to rise to the occasion and not only support, but also empower our women to be the best they can be for the sake of our continent and people.

We cannot wait for a world war in order to see the importance of our mothers and sisters, which is what it took mostly for women to be given a chance in the West. Today, the strongest of economies have powerful women included in them. I look around and see some of the greatest and most powerful politicians, CEOs, Economists and the list goes on, and feel bad that there are hardly any Africans mentioned, except for a very small number, most of whom have either a Western education, or are a wife of someone powerful in their country.

However it does not mean that there are no educated, capable women in Africa or capable, smart African women around the world who can perfectly do the job, even greater than the very useless “men” who are no better than greed and idiocy. It just means that we (the “men”) are doing our best in terms of preventing these talented women from reaching their bests, which is one of the main reasons why we have not progressed, or be successful as a people, a country and a continent. Africa needs both its sons and daughters for its economic growth, education, peace and a better future. Time is now!

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