This is often echoed by website readers’ comments on bad politics in the country — comments along the lines of: “See, this is what happens when we do things the African Way.”
Of course, what is implied is that somehow the Western way (be it American, British, Australian or whatever) is supposed to be better. But is it?
To the African, the phrase might mean a fair number of things — positive or negative. But it obviously means more than the fact that Africans are now running things.
It means that things should be run according to African ideals and African philosophies — and what are those, exactly?
Is Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe a shining example of African ideals and philosophy? No.
For me, as a South African white male, the African Way used to mean the same as what it means to most Westerners — that there is no efficiency, no progress.
Things have changed over the years, as I’ve become aware of my own paradigms and realised that it represents concepts far larger and more wonderful than I had ascribed to it.
This is because, while not claiming to be racist (and I never was, in the strict definition of the term), I still had something of the colonial mind-set stuck in my head: the attitude that insists that my culture is superior to another culture and it is, therefore, my duty to educate the other culture on how life should be lived.
This awareness of my own way of thinking, and its source, has led me to consider this continent and its leaders in terms of African ideals.
In doing so, I cannot see the African Way as something negative, but rather as a positive concept that includes ideas of community, sharing, compassion, justice and equality .
But seeing the continent through this lens brings with it a new realisation: many African leaders don’t live by African ideals.
In fact, they live by colonial ideals, perhaps without even realising it.
But what does it mean to be African?
I’ve often called myself African in the sense that I was born and raised here. Of course, such a consideration might be laughed at. I am told, rather, that I am European — because I am white.
But is it true that to be African one must be black? Surely not. For African-Americans share little similarity with “African- Africans” — they are in two different worlds.
So it might be that being African doesn’t really amount to where one was born or the colour of one’s skin — but rather the way one thinks.
But if this is a legitimate way of describing a true African identity then it is also the more difficult answer, because who, then, is truly African?
Is the president who runs his country into the ground while he parties and lives the so-called “good life” truly African? Is this an African ideal? What about a sense of community? What about the good of others?
Is the government official who buys himself exorbitantly priced cars while others in the community live in dire poverty truly African? I beg to differ.
The African philosophy expressed as ubuntu espouses principles of compassion and kindness towards our fellow beings; moderation; and doing what is good for all.
These are universal principles of justice, morality and healthy spirituality.
Where does this leave living only for oneself, partying it up, and forgetting the responsibility to the community? I’ve yet to find any African folklore or philosophy that recommends behaving in such a way.
So where does this come from?
It comes from colonial thought.
Here we are, in the midst of post-colonialism, and yet we find African leaders living as the colonialists — interested only in material gain, using others, having power and ravaging the Earth itself.
An image of the village with open arms welcoming the weary traveller is replaced with an image of the village robbing the traveller outright, even as the villagers rob one another.
Of course, colonialism’s evils come from even deeper sources.
There is corruption in all societies (including modern-day Western society) and in all of history there is the grand battle between what is good and righteous, and what is evil and blatantly wicked.
It’s not like this is anything new.
But the point is that African leaders are falling short of their own heritage, history and identity.
This leads me to ask — are they truly African? Are they truly post-colonial? Are they truly all for Africa?
Or are they just colonialists in disguise?
As South Africa continues to move forward and establish its new kind of democracy (one, we would hope, without excessive consumerism and highly individualistic capitalism), we need to move away from the colonial mind-set (after all, isn’t this what Africa is trying to do?) and move towards something greater, grander, and altogether transformational.
Right thinking coupled with right action is the answer, of course — but which modern day African leaders will now truly step up to the plate?
President Zuma, our eyes are on you.
Will you make it happen? Or will you succumb to the social pressure of colonial thought and action, even among your own ranks?
In the end, wisdom shall be proved right by her actions.
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