Why Unlearning the Colonial Legacy is a Necessity for Africa

By Geoffrey Mbosero | @geombos

As far as legacies go, colonialism casts a massive shadow over the African psyche. Everywhere you look, there are constant and ostensibly permanent reminders that Africa is joined at the hip to its former colonial masters and present-day economic benefactors and puppeteers.

The perception of colonialism in Africa is somewhat shifting as the influence of the younger generations – Millennials and Generation Zers – grows. This shift – driven mainly by the globalism trends and the emergence of genuine global citizens – is a double-edged sword.

On the one hand, it is opening up Africa to the world and enhancing the capacity of the younger dynamic demographics to realize the continent’s potential.

On the other hand, these changes are papering over the cracks and preventing these younger generations from addressing the pervasive impact of colonialism in shaping the overall African mind-set.

The African mind-set – how we see ourselves and the lens through which we see the world – was shaped by two equal and opposing forces. The first one is the triumph over colonialism through armed struggle or peaceful means, which tremendously boosted Pan-Africanism and African nationalism.

The second force is the post-colonial world order, which has the entire African continent genuflecting to the rest of the Western World – mainly former colonial powers – for aid and cues on leadership, democracy, human rights, and economic management.

Nuanced Control over Africa

Former colonial powers such as the UK and France have maintained close, asymmetrical relationships with African nations. African leaders follow the lead of London and Paris on a raft of issues including retrenchments, the War on Terrorism, human rights, and democratic ideals. This pattern highlights the West’s maintenance of post-independence neo-colonial structure using nuanced politics and soft power.

This relationship with former colonial masters has established a macro-legacy, which has shaped national politics across Africa. Among the populations across Africa, the mentality is that not only are the Western powers superior but that Africa is inferior.

The greatness of the West cannot be in question. But it is the “African inferiority” perspective that is striking. It underscores a narrative perpetuated by the dominance of Western popular media that has helped embed the colonial legacy in Africa – and seamlessly adopted by the younger generations across the continent. Perhaps nothing highlights this legacy better than the “Shithole” countries comment made by US President Trump in reference to an African state.

Most of the Millennials and Generation Zers have grown up in the world shaped by the War on Terrorism, the post-Arab Spring, and the post-2008 financial crisis world. The impact of these events has been far-reaching, creating a machiavellian reality where the end – sufficiency – justifies the means, which ignores the role of the colonial legacy in creating insufficiency in the first place. The underlying role of the colonialist mentality is often overlooked.

The Extractive Legacy

Nowhere is the legacy of colonialism apparent than leadership styles and approaches across Africa. Ranging from totalitarian states to pseudo-democracies, the continent is filled colonialism proxies – a result of the continuation of the colonial mentality among the ruling class long after the independence struggles.

Repressive regimes are designed to keep strongmen leaders in power across the continent. Dealings with former colonial powers have morphed into practical and pragmatic considerations, with little focus on imposing democratic ideals or fighting for human rights and freedoms.

The increasing surge in populist nationalism across the West and the continued inward turn of most of the former colonial powers’ dealings with the world – including Africa, – coupled with the surge of the pragmatism of Communist China, mean that the reformation of the African continent will have to come from inside rather than outside.

Demonization and De-emphasis on African Culture

The pervasive colonial mentality has led to a deconstruction of the heart and passion that drove African nationalism in the struggle for independence. In its place is an outward look among younger Africans and an increasing belief in globalism at a time when it is beating a hasty retreat in the West.  

The resulting demonization of African ethnicity and culture – as the leading cause of divisions, strive, conflicts, and corruption – has robbed the continent of its ability to establish a homegrown solution to its problems.

There is no dispute that Africa is facing massive socio-economic and political challenges. However, in confronting these problems, Africa needs to be honest with itself by embracing its history as the starting point in devising its solutions.

Unlearning the legacy of colonialism is a crucial starting point. The colonial legacy has pervasively shaped the lens through which we see ourselves as Africans and see the world. The solution here is not to run away from this history; instead, it is by embracing this history can Africans get in touch with what it means to be African, our potential, and only then can we own our future.

Geoffrey Mbosero is a biochemist, passionate about socio-politics, the environment, and curious about the African-West intersection – mboserogeoffrey@gmail.com