Africans how will your story end?- The benefits of Colonization.

Have you ever observed how every successful Africans get the Western attention? The West does not look at your skin colour, once you have what it takes to win. The boundaries of racism and discrimination disappear if you can deliver. This is why I caution those Africans with victim mind-set to get over it. History has proven how prudent Westerners are, in terms of quick recognition of potentials. They would rush at it vehemently until they suck out of it all the opportunities associated with it. Imagine how many Western agents would line up to sign any outstanding African athlete? Imagine how quickly the West invest in any upcoming star from any parts of the world? They may call it corporate social responsibility or giving back to the society, but its all a gimmick! It's an investment!

Alas! Africans are not like that. When Africans see potentials, they kill it! They envy, disdain, disrespect, and desecrate greatness. They gossip about it. They talk about it. But they never invest in it. They never celebrate it. They just let it rot by the roadside, until the West comes by. Is that not why Africans have been backward for decades? But this parable shall no longer be told amongst us! The devil is a liar! Africa will rise again!

 A glossary look at our heroes show how many of them died frustrated. Almost all of them were only celebrated in their death. Not when they were alive. While they were with us, we criticize them, lie against them, blackmail them. They were unsung heroes because we have not been taught how to handle greatness. We were not taught how to interact with greatness. Probably because our environmental conditions did not allow us. So we fail to see many great people until the West overtook us, carrying away everything great amongst us. Then, we are left "empty". That is why we celebrate crooks, rogues, thieves, corrupt leaders, looters of public funds, evil-doers, and everything wrong. But I can see the light on the horizon, for Africa. It shall be well. The future is so bright ahead of here.

Truth be told, the West has helped Africa in a lot of ways. I don't allow victim-mentality in my world. I love the West and the Westerners. I have great Western friends who surpass some of my African friends in lot of ways. Above all, God made us all. So, I see the benefits of colonialism regardless of how some Africans see it. Dissecting culture and traditions, and getting free from the strongholds of ignorance and laziness is our struggle. Yes. We are proud to be Africans. But we have a lot of work to do.

You know, I have wondered why the heathen gods, the African idols of our Fore-fathers did not strike down their Colonial-masters? Where were those deities back then? The fore-fathers were chained like dogs into slavery despite their loyalty to those idols? What happened to all the rituals they demanded from our Forefathers? What about the beasts? Those goats that were sacrificed at the African shrines? Those pool of palm-oil, those countless kolanuts, those white chalk, those white, black, red coloured clothes, that was demanded by the gods? Where was the gods of iron? Where did the gods of thunder go?

What happened to Ogun, Obatala, Shango, Oya, and all other deities? Are the gods dead?! Couldn't they fight? What happened to them? They did not strike with thunders and brimstones? Why? Not a single one of our Fore-fathers escaped slavery? Yet, no anger was displayed against those white men who came to enslave our Fore-fathers. What happened? I am unsure of the whereabouts of the gods. But I know better. Have you ever asked similar question?
If those idols were true indeed, why this Western dominance that has continued till date?

We were told that some of us were actual descendants of kings, warriors, farmers, blacksmiths, etc. We would have remained as such. Alas! The Western intervention brought us into the western world, where we are neither accepted nor rejected. Nevertheless, colonialism brought some "goodies". Why? Because, until we were enslaved, we were staying with those heathen gods that had no life in them. They could not save us. So, it seems to me that we were enslaved to become the sons of God...for christianity was re-introduced to us by the west.

Although, the biblical account told us how that Ethiopian Eunuch brought Christianity into Africa right from a single encounter on a road called Gaza, while coming from a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. This to me is significant because, christianity went across Africa from Ethiopia, to other parts of the black continent. But if the story ended there, it would have been good enough. Alas! We saw the Light,yet some of us went back to our heathen practices. Why will anyone see the light and still go back into darkness? That in itself still baffles me. Most especially, when I see people who should know better.

Anyway, Africa went back to idolatry until the Westerners came by to reintroduce christianity to us. In the wake of colonialism, the West stormed the black continent with a purpose. Their cloak was unique. The colonial masters' dressed in a way that they had the guns and the bible hidden underneath. So, we ask how genocide became a norm in Africa today? That is a wrong question! The right questions should be who sold those guns into Africa? When? And how?!
We worry over the long wars in African regions like Congo, Rwanda, Sudan, Dafur, etc.

The point is not in looking at Africa and shaking heads. Rather, we should begin the enactment of laws and making of right policies that will totally stop importation of guns and explosives into Africa. We worry over religious crisis in Nigeria, when we should shun gun exchange plans. We should be executing prompt prosecution of violators of the law of the land. And at all cost ensure the reward of those who do the right things. But we allow the West to profit on us. Through our ignorance, we have enriched the Western nations.

We should have known the attributes of the Westerners. They are adventurous. That means they never stay in "their place". We have seen how the West never stay at home, when there is gold in the "bush". They may call Africa bush, but we all know better. The most naïve of the Westerners assume all of Africa is jungle, where the inhabitants thereof live on the trees. So they come prepared...to "maximize" the opportunities around these "crude colored people". So, they go around looking for potentials, golds, diamonds, oil and gas, and more.

I don't blame the West, because they are smart and quick to see! They fell in love with what we failed to appreciate. So, their search became adventure. Their adventure became a thirst. Their thirst became obsession! And they wanted all. Not just more, but all of these! Then, their strategies became a plot to steal, to kill and destroy? Not just going around looking for opportunities any more. But polluting our environment. Then forcing us into borrowing so as to dominate, exploit, and take advantage of everything called Africa. Other culture and races also faced similar oppression. But Africa lags behind longer in a bid to recover.

Despite all that, the faith the West reintroduced to us clearly show us how we can be free from their "predatory" tendencies. Do you know that many times, only one out of ten Western initiatives in Africa have no strings attached? Even some Western ministers who traveled to Africa in the name of mission work, heard about how they could easily gather a crowd. Travel to Africa, get "some gullible coloured people" to hear you preach, come back to your Western country and show some footages of your "great mission work". Earn more respect. Raise some support. Go on Television. Make money and history at the same time! So why wait here and work hard in the West? Why struggle when you can birth a ministry for cheap at exchange rate? Why suffer in the name of God when you can be a star in Africa for "Christ sake"?!I know that is not true of some Gospel ministers.

However, there are some ministers who made it difficult for Atheist to come to Christ.This might not sit well with some, but I feel that one of the reasons why some Westerners hate Christianity, is because of bitter-truth like these. A "christianized mind" will always expose deceptions. Why? because true Faith sets people free! As for many oppressors, freedom means losing your captives. And to lose your captives is to lose everything. So they fight Christianity and its ideals. That is why we can identify with the insincere activism and the struggles of the Silversmith association of Ephesus, when they persecuted Paul. They did not go against Paul, just for no reason. They started an uproar in the name of the goddess of Diana because of their means of livelihood. It was all for the money in their trade. But they pretended to be defending something more. As if they had a purpose much bigger than them.

The Good News is unstoppable! Why because those who attacked it don't understand it. They see it as religion. But it is a relationship! Christianity introduced us to a Person...who taught us the Truth...and you shall know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free! So, one of the benefits of colonization is freedom. But why are we still bound? Many of us are focusing on the negative aspects of colonization. And that ignorance kept us bound. It is because we have not dared to flip the coin yet. That is why we have not seen the benefits of colonialism. In the light of these bondage, we saw the true Light.

Sadly, after colonialism ended, we still see the reappearance of it in many areas. One of several ways through which the West continued colonizing Africa is by immigration and policies. Some of us only know the good stories of those who won the Visa lottery to travel to the West. We don't know what became of them after migrating to the West. There are many of them who find themselves working odd jobs till retirement! Many university graduates ended up in factories when their African credentials was not recognized in the West. There may not be adequate jobs in Africa, but we do not disrespect people's education in any form!

This may not be "liked" by some Westerners. But the subtle style of colonialism has been unveiled. The Western system has been shut against many immigrants. It appears as though, the West are saying: 'somehow we can still continue to enslave these black people...and the idea is that, if we can no longer enslave them in their own countries as a people, then let us break them apart into fragments, by tactically inviting them over to be enslaved in our own countries'.

The problems immigrants face in settling down in the West are proof of this fact. The odd jobs immigrants have to endure. The conditions surrounding many who have no legal stay in the Western countries. The harshness of exploitative employers and more. For many of them, nobody can speak for them. They are silent voices. They dare not raise their heads. They live in strongholds, hiding in caves for several years. Always afraid of deportation. As for those with legal standing and right of stay in the West, there is failure to recognize their foreign credentials.
For those whose credentials were acknowledged at all, they can only rise so much at their workplace. Promotion is per cents! No more! They are stopped carefully from advancing. So, the plot to enslave the descendants of Africa is tactical, and subtly planned.

So do we have to stay in these dysfunctionalities? So what is the answer to our messy situation? How can we break free? How do we cross these limits? How can we rise above this static level? How can we rewrite our story? What must be done to be made whole, since we want to be whole? Do we wait for another year of stirring of the waters? Or should we settle for less? Should we give up or keep trying for the rest of our lives? Where do we go from here?

The answer lie in our vision! This is what will determine how our story will end. Africans! What do you see? Where do we go from here? The question is not who is coming next to fight our cause? Thank God for previous freedom-fighters. But we have left that era. We are now in the era of empowerment. Individuals empowering themselves, until a community is greatly empowered! We still work together where necessary, but we must train our generation about the power of deliberate personal growth and development.

Some would not mind working odd jobs forever. Some don't mind working as slaves under oppressive employers, and heartless supervisors. But there are some of us who are different. They may call us difficult. But we are just different. Why because we know who we are. We were not born for less. We were not raised on tress. Not fed with weeds. We were raised on princes' and princess' diet. We grew on King's meals. No, we were not born with silver spoons, but we were fed by golden hearts and richly minds! As a result, we are different.

We understood our identity. We understood time and seasons. We know who we are. We came out of Eden. We might be working in the fields for now. We might have a long way to go, but we will not give up, until we get there. We are from Eden, the symbolism of God's presence. Our ideals remains kingdom's ideals. Our values have been shaped. We don't fight for acceptance. We don't try to belong. We deliberately standout. We create a world, where the world wants to belong! We have seen the Light. Much more, we saw something. We have encountered a Person. We are not crazy religious fanatics. We are light-bearers! We are the salt...the seasonings. We have become a force the world cannot ignore. We are relevant. Our assignment transcends the four walls of any religious organization.

We have bypassed strongholds. We have seen the Truth. We know the truth. We have escaped corruption. Our destiny lie in understanding. So, we are outstanding...with a sense of purpose. We figured out all deception. We reveal manipulations. Because we have seen God! We encountered and triumphed over the devil and his hosts.We are in the company of the Angels! In His light, we see light. It is in these hope we rest. So, in labour we see rewards. For in all labour there is profit. As we hope beyond the present scope. We remain immovable, planted by the rivers of water, to flourish in due season. We will yet blossom because the sun will rise again!

Of the increase of His government, there shall be no end. And through us, He shall reign from sea to seas. His Kingdom will know no end. His glory will know no bounds. For the government shall be upon His shoulders. And as long as the shoulder remains a part of the body, we are reigning as God's body on earth. This light will continue to shine. It will shine in the darkness, and darkness cannot comprehend it. Because this same power that conquered the grave lives in us. Ours, is the Light that lightens the world. Africa will arise. Not just Africans but the West. Not just the West, but as many that believe in this, all over the world. For whoever call on the name of the Lord, shall be saved. Safety is of the Lord. Salvation is unlimited in scope. It transcends church into politics and beyond!

It is important to know! Know what you believe. But much more, who you believe. Know whose you are. It is time to rise. You have a hope and a future. You have a destiny. You have a role in God's script. You are a vital part of something bigger than you. You are making history. The whole world is incomplete without you. There is a call...and it was your name that was called. You have a root. An Identity. A brand. A reputation. So, roll your boat! Don't rock the boat! This is your time. This is your day! Now is your season. It is your moment! It is time to rise and shine again!