An African Day in New Zealand...

The history of Africa is a very one-sided story indeed.

It is told in terms of European involvement with Africa. I remember my history lessons in school back then when the earliest dates we had to commit to memory were the dates the Portuguese traders landed on the shores of Africa.

Whatever went on there BEFORE that?

Maria Farres (who is enthralled with Africa by the way) was reading this book while she was here. I forget its name now but the preface described the European powers of the day parcelling out the continent of Africa in London, Berlin and Paris. There was absolutely no concern for the peoples living there and lines were drawn cutting nations and lumping historical enemies together.

It is interesting to note that when the Organization for African Unity (precursor to the present African Union) was being formed in 1963 one of the first things the members incorporated into the charter was that all pre-independence borders would remain the same. They would not even be discussed! This I guess was wise thinking, to prevent the whole continent going up in flames over border disputes. One of the oldest excuses man has, to kill his fellow man!

The resources and natural endowments of Africa were exploited for the empire-building exercise of the European powers. Nigeria was created for instance in 1914 from an amalgation of two admin divisions of the British empire for 'easier' administration.

Of course after WWII, the British's position became untenable and the independence of India in 1947 gave rise to the same nationalist tendencies in Africa. Ghana under Kwame Nkrumah became the first African nation to gain its independence in 1957.

So on Saturday, March 17, the Ghanian community in New Zealand came together to celebrate 50 years of independence. That day turned out to be an African day for Maria, Sean and myself. The festivities were held in a community town hall and it was quite nice to see the national dresses and dances, and generally just to be among so many other Africans!

There was a Maori group who did the haka, and I can tell you it was a whole lot more impressive than when Ryan and Taco did it at IPM in the Netherlands!