Africa does not need money from comic relief

R. B. Silverson once said, "A word is a summary conclusion of broken promises and colossal failure."

Judging by this pithy, perhaps Silversonian wisdom, that is if we may refer to it as such, the word that surprises our calm repose, and not only intrigues us, but forces us to practical contemplation is a four-letter word; the name of a staple dish: R-I-C-E.

Images and words have the puissant ability to stir the emotions; and on this occasion, in all candour, a stinging thought has broken upon my placid mind, tainting my soul with crushing pathos. Now, my head is spinning, and I cannot help it. The torrent of emotions is drowning me, and I am left screaming: How possible?

Are you are already feeling agitated? Listen to a discussion that has given rise to such flare of fiery feelings. In a clip I recently watched, an African lady showing a popular British personality around a mountainous rubbish dump told him that people scavenge food leftovers from that site. In that conversation, the incredulous interviewer retorted, "So they will pull food out of this?" Then we see a clip of a young girl whose mother died in child birth, and has been raised up by her grandmother, whose source of existence for twenty years has been this same chaotic site.

The Briton enquired of this young girl: "What is the best thing you have ever found?" Whether this is curiosity laced with concern, or meant to sound demeaning is another matter for another day, but let's agree it is the former.

Rice, replied this ten-year-old African girl. Rice?

Shocked, the interviewer repeated, "That is the best thing you have ever found?" And if it's not bad enough, she is also the target of abuse from men at this dump site.

A child who is supposed to be at school finds herself with her 72-year-old grandmother as scavengers, and in all her scavenging, the best thing (if there is any such thing) she finds is rice that some have blithely thrown away?

As part of that man's commentary, he rightly states that this young girl "shouldn't have to eat leftovers on the rubbish dump." Right! He then adds, "She shouldn't have to be scared of men who want to abuse her." Right! "She should be in school," and then here comes the worrying and stirring line, "and it's your donations that can make that happen."

Clearly overcome by emotion, he reflects, "I look forward to a day when I never have to come back to a place like this. I am sure we all look forward to a day when we never have to see a film like this." Then he consequently advocates, "You can move us a little closer," before going on to solicit for donations.

I immediately experienced a vertiginous reaction. Like a spasm of volcanic explosion, I quipped: Why should it be people in Britain?

These are just a few of the clips shown to UK TV viewers to urge them to donate their change to solve the problems of our continent. At this rate, every African needs to bow his/her bald or shaggy head in shame, and shed barrels of tears like I am currently doing. We have failed our continent and not just that: the leaders owe the people a sincere apology.

The fragrant effort of comedy scriptwriter Richard Curtis and comedian Lenny Henry in founding Comic Relief is a noteworthy and commendable one. Moreover, due to the generosity of several (British) people, this year (after 30 years) they have surpassed the £1bn mark. It is a clear reflection of the true spirit of brotherhood for people to help each other; and all who do so must be appreciated for treading this beautiful path. But the enduring question we may not escape is: Should one party always have to rely on others, all the time? Should Africa always need others to wipe its mess? Why do dusky people on the continent have to look to farther lands and expect the munificence of fairer people to ensure they can purvey their next meal? This situation is not acceptable in 2015.

However much, this article should not stop the generosity of people who truly want to help. The truth is that people will give because they feel a duty to do so, whether it is a genuine act of selflessness or a means of invigorating catharsis. Whatever motivates people to help is not the issue.

Perhaps some of the African beneficiaries of the money from Comic Relief, may read the headline of this article and even be disgusted by my position. Nonetheless, they will someday see the wisdom of my reasoning, if they sit down and reflect on why they are in such a situation. In truth, that may happen farther in the future, as they may be hungry and destitute and not even have the luxury of intricate ratiocination. After all, when a man is hungry, he may not have the time to sit down and afford certain thoughts. In reality, the pressing need to satisfy life's regular and recurring necessities will be his dominant emotion and practical preoccupation.

That said, it still remains the failure of the leaders of Africa that has given rise to such harrowing circumstances. When a family is well to do, they will not wait for the generosity of people from a distant country to secure their next meal. If African leaders get their priorities right, and start doing what they should be doing, ensuring for example, that people can afford a decent life, and like the young girl I referenced, to be in school rather than having to survive on rice from a rubbish dump, then our people will not have to rely on such handfuls from people abroad.

The abiding truth remains that there is a lot of waste, corruption and mismanagement on the continent; and this is costing us gravely. We should be in a position to fix our situation, and avoid our reliance on money from charities like Comic Relief.

In any case, considering how entrenched and selfish we are as Africans, and how our leaders are wired to be corrupt, I will be living in cloud-cuckoo land, surely lost in a contemplative revelry, if I think our reliance on aid will soon stop. It will be impractical utopia. For, as long as governments are not doing what they are supposed to do, and people need to survive, charities like Comic Relief will be their only saviour and succour.

It is quite painful watching how some few are having a jolly good time on the continent while the masses continue to struggle. My heart beats and hurts seeing what is a continent called Africa. It is quite a sad story and situation.

Let the leaders unclog their ears, and hear distinct wisdom, and realise that we are causing our own downfall. Why should people be shown such clips to urge them to contribute and donate? Will they ever show us any respect? We are in dreamland, if we ever think something like this will happen!

As a rallying call, let those who man the purse of this prosperous continent, please consider the idea of equitable distribution of wealth.

Yes, let's use our resources wisely and we will realise that we would not need money from foreigners. The noonday for us to wean ourselves off the modicum of help we receive from our supposedly well-of neighbours has arrived. But, would we grow up as a continent and seize this grand opportunity?

God help us all.

I shall return with my talking drums!